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Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Youth and Community Development—BS

Western Michigan University's youth and community development major prepares change agents to transform communities through an intentional investment in youth with interdisciplinary coursework and community-based experiences.

Beyond the classroom
As a youth and community development student at WMU, you will complete a semester-long internship that is aligned with your area of study. Internships are designed to enhance your understanding of current issues and practices, help you gain valuable work experience and grow your professional network and resume.

You can also gain valuable networking and professional development opportunities through student and community organizations, including the Child Life Student organization.

After you graduate
Studies in youth and community development prepare students for effective practice in a range of human service roles and settings. Recent WMU graduates with degrees in child development and services are working as:

Child, youth and family extension agents
Parent educators
Home visitors
Adoption and foster care specialists
Senior activity directors
Juvenile court workers
Childcare center directors
Youth advocates
Sexuality educators
Among the public and private human service organizations and agencies they work for are:

Community, child and youth engagement programs
Adoption, foster care and refugee services
Childcare and out-of-school programs
Summer camps
Parks and recreation programs
Senior programs
Senior and youth residential services
School-based services
Museums
Nature centers
Children’s hospitals
Adult and child protective services

Intakes

  • Jan
  • May
  • Aug

Application Processing Time in Days: 30

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description IELTS (1.0 -9.0) TOEFL IBT (0-120) TOEFL CBT (0-300) PTE (10-90)
Expert 9 120 297-300 86-90
Very Good 8.5 115-119 280-293 83-86
Very Good 8 110-114 270-280 79-83
Good 7.5 102-109 253-267 73-79
Good 7 94-101 240-253 65-73
Competent 6.5 79-93 213-233 58-65
Competent 6 60-78 170-210 50-58
Modest 5.5 46-59 133-210 43-50
Modest 5 35-45 107-133 36-43
Limited 4 32-34 97-103 30-36
Extremely Limited < 4 < 31 < 93 < 30

Job Opportunity Potential

Career and student employment services supports students by empowering them to develop the skills necessary for reaching their career goals. Through career advising, and learning about career pathways, WMU students get ready for the world of work or service after graduating.

Specific services and programs include:

  • Access to Bronco alumni to help answer career questions.
  • Assistance finding a campus job.
  • Career coaching to learn about career pathways.
  • Creating a professional “brand” using social media and technology.
  • Eight job fairs every year to meet with potential employers.
  • Getting an internship.
  • Perfecting resumes, curriculum vitae, cover letters and job applications.
  • Practice interviewing sessions with professional HR recruiters.

Evaluation training at Western Michigan University is offered at the following levels:

Master's prepares graduates for staff positions in evaluation in diverse settings.
Ph.D. prepares graduates for leadership positions in evaluation in many settings.
Career possibilities

  • Assessment specialist
  • Data analyst
  • Evaluation coordinator
  • External evaluator
  • Internal evaluator
  • Measurement consultant
  • Monitoring specialist
  • Policy associate
  • Program officer
  • Project manager
  • Quality assurance manager
  • Research analyst
  • Statistical programmer

PSW Opportunity

Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.

Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).

STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.

Contact our PSA counselor for more information

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

WMU is committed to assisting in the education goals of our future students. Increasing access to higher education is an institutional focus, and to support this effort, we have established an Assured Admission Program for incoming first-year students. A student's academic performance (including a minimum GPA 3.00+ {on a 4.00 scale}) and conduct/behavior are the main criteria for the program.

Minimum English proficiency test scores (for most programs):

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): 71 iBT undergraduate, 80 iBT graduate (WMU Institutional Code: 1902)
  • TOEFL Essential: 7 Undergraduate; 8 Graduate
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic: 6.0 undergraduate, 6.5 graduate
  • Pearson Test of English, Academic Module (PTE): 48 undergraduate, 54 graduate or
  • Duolingo: 100 undergraduate, 115 graduate.
  • International Baccalaureate, grade of 5 in English at the Higher Level.
  • General Certificate of Education: A grade of A, B, or C in English from one of the five British-based examining boards undergraduate, a grade of A or B in English from one of the five British-based examining boards graduate.
  • Successful completion of ESL level 112.
  • Successful completion of either four years of upper secondary school or one year of full-time, tertiary (university-level) education from select countries meets WMU English language proficiency requirements.
  • Successful completion of a WMU Pathway II or the final level in the WMU Center for English Language and Culture for International Students (CELCIS).
  • Completion of a WMU degree. 
  • Cambridge Advanced English Certificate: A grade of A, B, or C undergraduate, a grade of A or B graduate.
  • SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing Subscore (EBRW): 500 (for most programs).
  • Michigan English Test (MET): 48 undergraduate, 57 graduate (for most programs).
  • Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): B2 undergraduate, C1 graduate (for most programs).