Welcome Video Transcript

Hello,

I am Dr. William Quinn, Professor and Youth Development Coordinator, in the College of Health , Education and Human Development, at Clemson University.  A writer, Wallace Thurman, once said that ‘we are mere journeymen, planting seeds for someone else to harvest. ‘ The Youth Development Leadership Masters Online Degree Program  has as its foundation the promotion of positive youth well-being influenced by skilled professionals in youth development leadership.  It is the intention of the program to make children a societal priority by deliberately  preparing leaders to effect the potential of youth serving organizations to promote social, moral, emotional, physical, and cognitive competence among youth so that they are prepared to make significant contributions to our communities and achieve satisfaction and happiness.

Our Masters Degree students are employed in a wide range of work environments, including schools, the military, Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA, faith-based organizations, 4H and Extension, non profit organizations, and therapeutic environments, among others.  Some have plans to move into greater leadership roles within these settings, others hope to utilize the degree in preparation for changing careers, or, affiliating with another youth serving organization. One of the advantages of this program is that students do not have to move to campus, leave a job, or leave or move their family to obtain this degree.  Students take one course at a time for 6 weeks in duration, and yet graduate within the traditional time frame of a Masters program, two years.  Students tell us that taking one course at a time helps them focus on the content without juggling too many class activities while holding down a job, raising a family, and meeting other responsibilities.  This doesn’t mean that the courses are less rigorous, because students are expected to devote more hours per week for that one course, since it is only 6 weeks long, than they might be accustomed to in a typical college course.   Each instructor is a Clemson University faculty member with an appointment in an academic unit within the university.  They represent diverse and varied academic disciplines and have been identified and included due to their competence, interest, and national reputation related to topics embedded in the curriculum.  They prioritize accessibility to students and provide guidance in helping each student succeed.  Typically each course is structured so that there is weekly synchronous time; in other words, students are online at the same time with their instructor to participate in lecture formats as well as team presentations and discussions.  Questions can be answered promptly and assignments can be clarified. Because some students have substantial experience in a wide variety of youth serving organizations, class discussions via chat and discussion board are stimulating and lively.

Students come to campus for a 3 day orientation at the start of the first semester.  While this practice is not universal among distance education programs, here at Clemson we want to provide an opportunity to experience what Clemson University has to offer. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Doctoral/Research University – extensive, a category comprising less than four percent of all universities in America. It is ranked 27th among the top public universities in the country by US News and World Report. But more importantly, the campus orientation gives students a chance to meet and become friends with each other through activities that include meeting the faculty, learning about how to take a course on line, beginning the first course, Foundations of Youth Development taught by Dean Larry Allen, and engaging in outdoor team building activities at the Clemson Outdoor Laboratory.  Students leave campus having made fast-friends and return home after the 3 day orientation to continue their first course.  Students love to return to Clemson, and often schedule lunch or a time to visit when they are traveling in each other’s geographic location. In some cases students who are involved in youth serving organizations have actually helped other students get jobs!

You will be able to gather a great deal of information from this website on the structure of our Youth Development Leadership Masters online Program.  However, if you have further questions after reviewing this website, please feel free to email or telephone me to get answers to your specific questions and discuss your professional plans.  I can also provide you with the names and email addresses of current students and those that are now our alumni who can tell you about the Youth Development Leadership Degree from a student’s perspective.  They have all expressed a willingness to talk with any prospective student because of their satisfaction with the program.

If you find that Youth Development Leadership is the degree for you to facilitate your professional goals and serve youth, then I hope you will apply. If you do, the faculty and I look forward to meeting you.  You can go to the Clemson homepage to find an online graduate application link, and  best wishes for your future professional success.