Youth and Community Studies

Bachelor’s Program

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Youth and Community Studies (YCS) prepares you to work with people of all ages in a variety of settings that do not require teacher certification. If you are interested in teaching, there are options to prepare for Texas certification in middle school and high school English language arts or social studies.

When you major in YCS, you will prepare for a variety of careers:

  • 7th – 12th-grade teacher certification in English language arts
  • 7th – 12th-grade teacher certification in social studies
  • Youth sports programs
  • parks and recreation departments
  • Child development centers or after-school programs
  • Assisted living communities
  • Government agencies
  • Non-profit organizations related to criminal justice and advocacy programs

As a Youth and Community Studies major, you will take 24 hours of courses that focus on individual differences, cultural and linguistic diversity, human learning in multilingual and multicultural context, social concerns, children’s cognitive, social and emotional developmental theories, motivational value of play, effective physical education, health education, educational leadership and social justice.

  • ALD 320 Cognition, Human Learning, & Motivation
  • ALD 321 Play in Early Childhood Development
  • ALD 322 Individual Differences
  • ALD 327 Sociocultural Influences on Learning
  • ALD 329 Acquisition of Language & Literacies
  • ALD 331 Restorative Practices
  • EDC 350G Adolescent Development
  • ELP 354K Special Topics in Higher Education
  • HED 329K Child & Adolescent Health
  • Early Childhood – Coursework deals primarily with child and adolescent development and family relationships.
  • Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (ELPS)– Courses cover topics on issues in K-12 and higher education, including the environments of schools, public policy, community organizations and families. With an emphasis on equity and social justice, students will be prepared for assessing and working for the improvement of these arenas with a focus on leadership and the analytical skill sets needed in educational settings.
  • Coaching – Coursework covers fundamentals of coaching, theory, and practice as well as physiological and psychological aspects of sport.
  • Special Populations – Coursework comes from such areas as communication science disorders, kinesiology, and social work, and provides an overview of communication disorders, increasing cultural awareness, and developing systems for individuals with disabilities.
  • Urban Teachers – Prepares you to obtain secondary teacher certification in English Language Arts or social studies. 
  • Youth and Social Services–Required courses cover topics in substance abuse prevention, intervention, and treatment. Elective topics range from the psychosocial aspects of aging to juvenile delinquency and criminal justice.

In addition to the YCS coursework, you will need to complete the UT Urban Teachers Program Professional Development Sequence. This is a teacher preparation program that includes coursework, fieldwork and observations, and student teaching.

Certificates and Minors

In addition to the YCS major, you can complete a minor or certificate program that complements your studies.

These are the most common certificates and minors:

Specializations

If you are interested in furthering your education in kinesiology and health, you are encouraged to choose a specialization. The Department of Kinesiology and Health Education offers seven specializations. For details, please visit our KHE Specializations page.

Check your degree plan for course options.


2022-2024 2020-2022 2018-2020 2016-2018

All Youth and Communities Studies are encouraged to explore their professional interests and network with professionals in their fields of interest by obtaining an internship. It’s never too early to start gaining valuable experience that will jumpstart your career!

Learn more

Photo of Jennifer Adair

Jennifer K. Adair

Professor
Curriculum & Instruction

ALD 321 Play in Early Childhood Development

Photo of Keffrelyn Brown

Keffrelyn Brown

Professor
Curriculum & Instruction

ALD 327 Sociocultural Influences on Learning 

Photo of Aileen Bumphus

Aileen Bumphus

Assistant Professor of Practice
Educational Leadership and Policy

ELP 354K Special Topics in Higher Education, ELP-CI Concentration

Photo of Denise Davila

Denise Davila

Assistant Professor
Curriculum & Instruction

ALD 333 Children’s Literature

Photo of Noah De Lissovoy

Noah De Lissovoy

Professor
Curriculum & Instruction

ALD 327 Sociocultural Influences on Learning

Toni Falbo

Toni Falbo

Professor
Educational Psychology

EDP 350G Adolescent Development

Photo of Stella Flores

Stella Flores

Associate Professor
Educational Leadership and Policy

ELP 354K Special Topics in Higher Education,  ELP-CI Concentration

Photo of Michael Goodman

Michael Anthony Goodman

Assistant Professor of Practice
Educational Leadership and Policy

ELP 354K Special Topics in Higher Education, ELP-CI Concentration

Lorna Hermosura

Lorna Hermosura

Assistant Professor of Practice
Curriculum & Instruction

ALD 331 Restorative Practices, ELP-CI Concentration

Arcelia Hernandez

Arcelia Hernandez

Assistant Professor of Practice
Curriculum & Instruction

ALD 331 Restorative Practices, ELP-CI Concentration

Photo of Laura Latimer

Lara Latimer

Assistant Professor of Instruction
Kinesiology and Health Education

HED 329K Child & Adolescent Health

Nora Luna

Nora Luna

Assistant Professor of Practice
Curriculum & Instruction

ALD 329 Acquisition of Languages & Literacies

Katherine Muenks

Katherine Muenks

Assistant Professor
Educational Psychology

ALD 320 Cognition, Human Learning, & Motivation

James Patton

James Patton, Ed.D.

Adjunct Associate Professor
Special Education

ALD 322 Individual Differences

Kathryn Tackett

Kathryn Tackett

Associate Professor of Practice
Special Education

ALD 322 Individual Differences

Luis Urrieta

Luis Urrieta, Jr.

Professor, Program Coordinator
Curriculum & Instruction

ALD 327 Sociocultural Influences on Learning

Veronica Yan

Veronica Yan

Assistant Professor
Educational Psychology

ALD 320 Cognition, Human Learning, & Motivation

Program Benefits

Small Class Sizes

Experiential Learning

Study Abroad Options

Professional Concentration Options

Multiple Career Paths

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