Bachelor of Arts in Youth Studies

Format: Online, Synchronous, Asynchronous
Application Deadlines
  • Spring 2025 Priority Deadline: November 4, 2024
  • Spring 2025 Regular Deadline: December 2, 2024

There are over 73 million people under the age of 24 living in the United States who face multiple inherited crises with defiance and creativity. In the US, there are approximately 2.5 million youth workers and counting. This continued growth confirms the urgent need for credentialed, professional development opportunities for those who are partnering with young people to co-create a better future. The BA in Youth Studies degree program helps fill this critical need by ensuring that staff have the skills, knowledge, competencies, and commitments to ally with young people. The degree provides the concrete skill development needed to work with this age group while infusing an approach rooted in critical youth studies and a commitment to a social justice orientation.

The degree offers multiple paths towards successful completion of the program such as Credit for Prior Learning, which acknowledges a candidate's experience in the world of work. The program also offers multiple opportunities to acquire and stack credentials in the field through agencies such as the Department of Youth and Community Development, the Administration for Children's Services, and the New York State Network for Youth Success.

Mode of Learning

The BA in Youth Studies offers students the flexibility of completing their degree while working full-time, part-time, or at a distance, while offering genuine connection to professors and colleagues,all from the comfort of your own home! Meeting the needs of today’s student, each course has a mix of asynchronous and synchronous components. In a 15 week course, students will meet 6-7 times in a synchronous (live virtual meeting) from 6:15-9:15 pm EST via zoom. All other weeks, coursework is to be completed independently.

The Youth Studies program is excited to introduce a new online asynchronous pathway, providing students with the opportunity to attain their degree entirely online, starting with incoming students in the Fall 2024 semester. Furthermore, we are committed to maintaining our online synchronous option, catering to students who prefer real-time virtual classroom interactions with their professors and peers.

Career/Educational Prospects

Educational Career
BA to MA in Youth Studies fast-track: students can earn up to nine credits towards the 30 credit MA in Youth Studies degree Run or work in programs for youth, communities, and families in the out-of-school time, community centers, credible messenger networks, juvenile justice, child welfare, arts and sports-based youth development, advocacy/activism, college access, and success and workforce development for young adults.
Graduates eligible to enter an MA in Social Work program Higher levels positions at youth-serving organizations/city agencies
Graduates eligible to enter an MA in Education program Higher salary ranges for positions requiring a BA

Research Labs

For students interested in learning how to do intergenerational critical participatory action research, we have opportunities to develop skills by becoming a co-researcher in one of our Socially Engaged Participatory Research Labs!

Articulation Agreements

Articulation agreements are formal agreements between CUNY School of Professional Studies, (CUNY SPS) and two-year colleges and universities, allowing students to transfer the maximum number of credits with ease to our BA in Youth Studies program from institutions with which we have an established transfer process in place.

Meet our Faculty


Elizabeth Bishop
Elizabeth Bishop

Adjunct Faculty, Youth Studies

Headshot of Manijeh Hart
Manijeh Hart

Adjunct Lecturer

Lisette Gomez
Lissette Gomez

Adjunct Lecturer

Nicole Hamilton
Nicole Hamilton

Adjunct Lecturer

Head Shot
Whitney Hollins

Substitute Lecturer

Laura Jankstrom
Laura Jankstrom

Adjunct Lecturer

Admissions Criteria

Applicants must possess at least 24 transferable credits from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. For applicants with GPAs below 2.5, please see CUNY SPS’s Jump Start program as a supportive pathway to admission.  Applicants need to demonstrate basic proficiency in reading, writing, and math, per CUNY standards. Students can transfer up to 60 credits from other undergraduate institutions, Credit for Prior Learning, and CLEP exams.

Application Deadlines

  • Spring 2025 Priority Deadline: November 4, 2024
  • Spring 2025 Regular Deadline: December 2, 2024
Apply Now

Recent News About Bachelor of Arts in Youth Studies

CUNY SPS student in New York City

Amid Record-Breaking Enrollment, Students Reflect Upon the Appeal of CUNY SPS

October 17, 2024

Exemplifying CUNY SPS' registration surge, students Wanda McNeill-Jones, Victor Otero, and Safiyah Tate share stories about the School's impact on their lives. 

First Cohort Of Youth Mental Health Advocates

CUNY SPS Recognizes the Office of Innovative Learning Solutions’ Impact on City and State Workforce

September 30, 2024

The unit reflects upon recent program highlights as part of its observance of Workforce Development Month.

Bold Solutions to Re-Engage

September 23, 2024

The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation

CUNY SPS' efforts to support students through credit for prior learning opportunities, as well as the Youth Studies program's work with young adults through the Working the Gap initiative, were discussed in the learning brief "Bold Solutions to Re-Engage." This report, published in Summer 2024 by The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation, highlights the latest programs and practices funded by the Foundation that strengthen college and career pathways for low-income New Yorkers.
CUNY SPS Student Holding Laptop Smiles with School Sign Behind Her

Why I Chose CUNY SPS

July 29, 2024

Several CUNY SPS students describe why they chose the School and the ways that their education is changing their lives.