Youth development and social justice minor shapes student experience

MEDIA, Pa.—Looking to focus on a specific area in your field or interested in exploring an additional passion? At Penn State Brandywine, students have multiple ways to enhance their education. One popular option is adding a minor, with over a dozen to choose from.

For second-year student Precious Thompson, picking up a minor would not only allow her to expand her knowledge, but also develop new skills related to her major that would support her future career plans.

Thompson, who is a human development and family studies (HDFS) major, always knew she wanted to work with youth and adolescents. She believed adding a minor that aligned with her passion would allow her to take it to the next level.

This led her to choose youth development and social justice, a 19-credit minor that helps students understand the challenges adolescents face in today’s world.

“The youth development and social justice minor focuses on understanding the social issues that impact youth and their development and equips students with skills to create a difference,” said Thompson. “It connects to my major by strengthening the importance of development and how it can be impacted by positive and negative factors throughout life.”

The minor combines sociopolitical analysis with hands-on experience, making it an ideal complement for anyone interested in supporting the next generation.

Thompson noted that she was first introduced to the minor by Marinda Harrell-Levy, associate professor of human development and family studies, who encouraged her to explore it further.

Inspired by this guidance, she decided to pursue the minor. “I chose it because I’ve always known that no matter what career path I pursue, I want to work with youth and adolescents and make a meaningful difference in their lives. I hope to help guide them through life’s challenges, including inequality, family dynamics and mental health struggles. More than anything, I am passionate about creating positive change and supporting them as they go through life,” said Thompson.

Some of the prescribed courses for the minor include Introduction to Youth Development and Arts-based Social (HDFS 175N), Adolescent Development (HDFS 239), Contemporary Urban Issues and Social Justice Frameworks (HDFS 345), and Youth Development and Social Justice Capstone Seminar (HDFS 400) — a course Thompson particularly highlighted for her experience.

“As part of the capstone seminar course, I completed service-learning hours with community-based organizations, gaining real world experience,” said Thompson. “I contributed to promoting child-abuse prevention and supported efforts to address food insecurity, which gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges communities and families face.”

She explained that her additional research through the project allowed her to identify the needs of struggling families with children, including counseling services, food assistance, transitional housing, mentoring programs, parental support and youth programs.

Building on her experience and coursework from the minor, Thompson is well on her way to achieving her goal of becoming a licensed therapist. She explained that she hopes to “focus on working with young adolescents and help them navigate their mental health, healing journey and personal growth.”

For those considering a similar path, Thompson believes students should consider the minor because of its “strong focus on youth development, empowerment and social change. It really highlights how social issues and challenges directly impact young people, which is relevant and important.”