New
Concentration in
Community Youth
Sport Development
Purpose
To prepare competent, socially responsible physical activity practitioners for work in non-profit settings.
Concentration Description
The program concentration entitled Community Youth Sport Development offers ESS students an option to study in a non-licensure program designed to prepare them to teach and work in community-based youth serving agencies. Students gain competencies in teaching, program design, implementation and evaluation, funds development, community collaboration, volunteer and staff management/supervision, addressing social inequalities, and cross-cultural awareness. This concentration runs parallel to the K-12 licensure program with no requirement for licensure.
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Rationale for Concentration
Within the last decade there has been an influx of school and non-school programs that seek to meet the diverse needs of youth. Shifting social conditions, such as economic hardship, the growing gap between rich and poor, disparate funding of public schools, and the growing elitism and privatization of non-school sport programs make it unlikely that the majority nation’s youth will receive quality physical activity opportunities. Clearly, both school and non-school physical activity programs are required to address the needs of all youth effectively. Likewise, non-school programs, such as those offered through Boys and Girls Clubs, YWCA’s, YMCA’s, Municipal Recreation Departments, and others require well-prepared physical activity professionals to provide leadership, innovation, and dedication in enhancing the lives of all youth. The need for qualified and dedicated individuals to work in and lead these programs has increased dramatically. A recent national study of programs offered through non-profit agencies suggested that approximately 15,000 new professionals are needed each year to fill community service job vacancies. We, in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at UNCG are well-positioned to lead the field toward the systematic education and development of service-oriented physical activity professionals.
Program Content
Students enrolled in this concentration develop skills for volunteer management, fund raising, teaching and program evaluation, and development for community youth sport programs. In addition, knowledge and exposure to the social and cultural conditions that produce underserved communities are gained by students through their course work and field experiences. Four new courses have been developed for this program: a) Physical Activity Programs for Underserved Youth, b) Evaluation of Physical Activity Programs for Youth Development, c) Mentoring in Community Youth Development Programs, d) Internship (may be repeated for credit).
Program Requirements
In order for the
students in the community program concentration to enroll in an internship
the following are required:
• 2.5 or better GPA
• C or better in all ESS and professional classes
• Successful
entry interview
There is no licensure attached to this degree program nor is a second academic concentration required.