Master

Pedagogical Sciences: Youth at Risk (track)

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Study programme

The one-year programme (60 EC) consists of two semesters. The core themes and competencies taught in the master track Youth at Risk are relevant internationally. A first fundament is that child and adolescent development are inherently social in nature. A second fundament of this master track is the preventive focus on child and adolescent development.

Semester 1

The first semester consists of four specialised courses (24 EC in total) on the main topics of the master. In addition, there is one course on Method and Statistics (3 EC) and one on professional skills (3 EC).
Semester 2

In the second semester students write a thesis (18 EC), and do an internship (12 EC) or take a course on developing preventive interventions (12 EC). Both for Dutch and English speaking students internships are possible in the Netherlands as well as abroad.
Teaching model
The teaching model in this master's track has three key features:

It is inherently multidisciplinary in nature, with staff coming from the disciplines of Parenting and Family Science, Educational Science, Developmental Psychology, Sociology, and Public Health.

It has a highly activating didactic approach.

The master's track takes an international perspective. It does so by examining and comparing youth care and prevention policies and programs across countries. The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and working groups.

Students will be assessed by a variety of methods including examinations, papers, course assignments and a thesis.

COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC

Resilience and risk processes in children and adolescents

Period 1

6

Explore risk and resilience in childhood and adolescence, analysing interactions between individual factors and environments, including family, school, and society. This course delves into biological, psychological, and social aspects, covering development from prenatal stages to emerging adulthood.
School Adjustment

Period 1

6

Discover how schools impact children's academic and social-emotional development. This course explores challenges and interventions, analysing factors like background and abilities that influence school success, and discusses strategies to enhance school adjustment.
Intervention essentials: effects, implementation and diversity

Period 2

6

Explore effective interventions for children and adolescents in diverse contexts. This course focuses on evidence-based strategies, assessing intervention outcomes, and understanding the impact of factors like cultural backgrounds and cost-effectiveness. You'll analyse various interventions and create a critical assessment video as part of the learning process.
Parent and peer influences in youth development

Period 2

6

Discover the impact of parents and peers on child and adolescent development in diverse contexts. This course delves into early adversity, family dynamics, and the evolving role of peers. Explore how youths shape their development while navigating various family structures and cultural influences.
Masterclass methods and statistics

Period 3

3

Enhance your communication skills for effective professional interactions. This course emphasizes communication techniques, feedback exchange, and coaching abilities. Gain self-awareness and practice a range of communication tools in real-life scenarios, fostering a strong professional demeanor.
Masterclass professional skills

Period 3

3
Restricted-choice electives

Period 1

Period 2

Period 3

Period 4

Period 5

Period 6

12

There are 3 options to complete your mandatory electives of 12 ec's: 1. do an internship 2. complete the prescribed elective courses 3. complete UvA courses of 6 ec in which the theme and content are connected to the mastertrack Youth at risk. You will need an approval from the programme coordinator.
Masterthesis Youth at risk

Period 1

Period 2

Period 3

Period 4

Period 5

Period 6

18

This course equips students with skills to conduct in-depth research for their master's thesis, encompassing theoretical insights, data measurement, analysis, and ethical considerations. You'll learn to independently develop and execute research plans, critically reflect on methods, and effectively communicate findings. The focus is on the theme of Youth at Risk, fostering autonomous and comprehensive research capabilities with guidance from supervisors.

Compulsory course

Elective

Go to the UvA Course catalogue

'Youth at Risk touches on the most important contexts that youth interact with and it gives you good insight into the mechanisms that can put youngsters at risk.' Read about Pim's experience

Additional options

Internship

The programme offers a range of relevant internship options for you to choose from. Options include both internships in the Netherlands and abroad.

Electives

In the second semester we offer a 12 EC hands-on course aimed at learning how to develop preventive interventions based on the state-of-the-art in scientific knowledge. This course can be followed as a substitute for the Internship.

Workload

A large part of your programme focuses on self-study. In addition to this you have weekly lectures and tutorials.

Lectures:	4 hours per week
Tutorials:	6 hours per week
Self-study:	30 hours per week

Frequently asked questions

I have a broad interest in the field of preventive youth care, is this programme right for me?

Yes, the Youth at Risk programme is multidisciplinary in nature, covering topics like risk and resilience factors in the development of children and adolescents, roles of parents and peers in development, adjustment in school settings, and effectiveness of preventive interventions for at-risk populations.
What is the teaching environment like in the Youth at Risk programme?

We teach in small groups using an approach that actively engages students. Professors are accessible and approachable, and students and professors get to know each other. The international environment results in a diverse classroom, allowing for multiple different viewpoints to meet and learn from each other.
Can I go abroad during the master’s programme?

Yes, students who wish to gain international experience can go abroad for an internship in the second semester. In previous years students have for instance been matched to internship organizations in Nepal, New York and Sweden.
Do you provide internships or do I need to find an internship organisation?

Students in The Youth at Risk programme choose from our offer of high-quality internships with organisations in the field of preventive youth care and do not need to search for an internship themselves. If you would like to do an internship with an organisation that is not provided by us, that is also possible. Our internship coordinator will help in assessing whether the internship activities and context meet the standards of the master’s programme.
I do not want to do an internship, are there other options?

Yes, we offer courses to substitute the internship in the second semester; for instance a hands-on course aimed at learning how to design a preventive intervention.
How do I choose a topic for my thesis?

Professors who supervise the theses provide thesis topics. Students are matched to the topics. Within the topics, students find a specific research question that they would like to answer. This process ensures supervision by leading experts in the topic.
Will I be able to do clinical work after I finish the Youth at Risk program?

No, the Youth at Risk programme trains professionals for the field of preventive care rather than clinical work.
My previous study was not in the field of child development. Can I still apply for the Youth at Risk master’s programme?

Students with a university level Bachelor’s degree in a related field can also apply. Whether you are eligible for the programme depends on to what extent your previous education contained courses in the field of child development, abnormal/clinical psychology, and methods and statistics of social science research. If you are unsure about your eligibility, please contact us before submitting a full application file.