Adolescent and Youth Development (Minor)
Adolescent and Youth Development (Minor)

What is adolescent and youth development?
Studying adolescent and youth development will give you the skills to promote the health and well-being of children and adolescents through research, teaching and service. The interdisciplinary curriculum lets you explore youth culture and programs, as well as developmental perspectives on adolescence and early adulthood. You can combine the minor with a major in areas such as education, recreation management and policy, sociology or social work,preparing you for a variety of in-demand careers.
Why study adolescent and youth development at UNH?
As a major public research university, UNH emphasizes hands-on experience and research. You’ll have multiple opportunities to put theory into practice through the Child Study and Development Center as well as work with faculty who are conducting research in public and private settings throughout New Hampshire and beyond.
Potential careers
- Child and family support specialist
- Childcare director
- Family intervention case manager
- Human rights advocate
- Outdoor youth educator
- Parent educator
- Physical education instructor
- Public school teacher
- Social worker
- Youth development program director
Curriculum & Requirements
The departments of Recreation Management and Policy and Human Development and Family Studies offer an interdisciplinary minor designed to give students an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills regarding adolescence and youth development. The two required courses offer a foundation in theory, research, and practice, and students choose three additional courses in order to better prepare students to work with this age group.
Interested? Contact one of the Minor Coordinators: Dr. Cindy Hartman in Recreation Management and Policy or Dr. Erin Hiley Sharp in Human Development and Family Studies.
The Adolescent and Youth Development minor requires students to complete 20 credits.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Two (2) Required Courses: | ||
RMP 668 | Youth Culture and Programs | 4 |
HDFS 624 | Developmental Perspectives on Adolescence and Early Adulthood | 4 |
Select three supporting courses (12 credits) approved by a minor advisor. | ||
EDUC 556 | Peer to Peer Mentoring for Students with Disabilities | 2 |
EDUC #717 | Growing up Male in America | 4 |
HDFS 444A | Children at Risk | 4 |
HDFS 707 | Practicum | 1-6 |
HDFS 776 | Children, Adolescents and the Law | 4 |
RMP 563 | Recreation Management and Policy Practicum | 2 |
RMP 560 | Recreational Sport Management | 4 |
SOC 525 | Juvenile Crime and Delinquency | 4 |
CMN 714 | Youth and Media | 4 |
SML 565 | Principles of Coaching | 4 |
SW 705 | Child and Adolescent Risks and Resiliency: Program, Policy and Practice | 4 |
Other adolescent or youth-based courses as approved by minor coordinator. |
- RMP majors may use RMP 668 Youth Culture and Programs to meet both major and minor requirements.
- The Adolescent and Youth Development Minor follows UNH's policy on minors. Following University policy, students must complete 20 semester hours with a grade of C- or better and a 2.00 grade point average.
- No more than 8 credits used by a student to satisfy major requirements may be used for the minor.
- Students must submit a Certification of Completion of Minor form during their final semester to one of the Minor Coordinators: Dr. Cindy Hartman in RMP or Dr. Erin Sharp in HDFS.