Key topics

Key topics in this Master’s track are:

• individual susceptibility to risk (genes, neurobiology, personality and cognitive ability)
• oppositional, defiant, and antisocial or delinquent behaviour in youths
• psychosocial problems, (social) anxiety and depressive moods
• child abuse, and foster and adoption family constellations
• learning disabilities, truancy, dropout, and school and teacher support factors
• intervention (induced) effects, effective elements, and implementation practices

Why study Youth at Risk at the University of Amsterdam?

In this Master's track students will:

• develop advanced insight into the typical development of children and adolescents, and into the multiple and complex ways in which major social contexts - parents, peers, school, - work to influence this development. Students will also learn about youth who are at risk for problems in their social-emotional and academic development, and for mental health problems, and will learn about how preventive interventions work to counter developmental risks.
• discuss and evaluate scientific theories and research on resilience and risk factors in social-emotional and cognitive development across childhood and adolescence.
• learn about the important role of culture and diversity in child development, and identify the specific populations of young people that are most in need of preventive treatment provided by for instance social work.
• learn to translate scientific evidence into effective prevention and intervention programs and into educational and youth care policies that positively impact parenting and family functioning, peer networks, and educational settings.

Who can apply for the Master’s track Youth at Risk?

Students with an academic Bachelor’s degree in Child Development Science (Pedagogische wetenschappen), (Developmental) Psychology, Sociology or a closely related discipline are invited to apply.

You can find a full description of the entry requirements on the following page

Career prospects

After completion of the Master's track Youth At Risk you have the knowledge and skills to become professionally active in working with youth at risk in different professional areas: policy, practice, and research and development of prevention and intervention programmes. 

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