May 21, 2026

Undergraduate Record 2026-2027

Youth and Social Innovation, B.S.Ed.

Return to: School of Education and Human Development: Degree Programs

Youth and Social Innovation (YSI) is an undergraduate major for students interested in working with and/or on behalf of youth in a variety of settings.

Through the YSI program, we aim to facilitate meaningful educational experiences that prepare students to be thoughtful practitioners, researchers, advocates, change makers, social innovators, and decision-makers in the youth sector. The YSI program supports students in understanding and critically analyzing youth issues through basic and applied research, policy analysis, and program and system innovations. Students work collaboratively, engage with youth, and critically reflect on positionality and assumptions.

Residency Requirement (60 credits)

A recipient of a B.S.Ed. degree from the School of Education and Human Development must complete at least 60 of the 120 credits required for graduation at the University of Virginia.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement

Students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all courses attempted at the University.

General Education Requirements (36 credits)

See the section School of Education and Human Development: Academic Rules, Regulations, and Information: General Education Requirements for more details.

Competency Requirements (12 credits)

First Writing Requirement, 3 credits
Second Writing Requirement, 3 credits
Cultural Literacy, 3 credits
Data Literacy/Statistics, 3 credits

Area Requirements (24 credits)

Mathematics and Natural Science, 9 credits
- Courses must be from at least two different departments
Humanities, 6 credits
Social Sciences, 9 credits

Major Requirements (36-39 credits)

Courses used to satisfy the Core Coursework requirement may not also be applied to the Applied Child & Youth Development concentration or to YSI electives for students not pursuing a concentration.

A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for the major. The major GPA is calculated using all GPA-eligible courses used to satisfy the Major Requirements.

Core Coursework (24 credits)

Students must earn a minimum grade of C- on all courses used for the major’s Core Coursework requirement. Students earning a grade below a C- on a course in this section will be required to retake the course.

A course used to satisfy the Core Coursework requirement cannot be used to satisfy Applied Child & Youth Development concentration or applied to YSI electives if not pursuing a concentration
- Only one child development course (PSYC 2700, EDLF 3150, EDLF 5010) can count toward the Core Coursework requirement. PSYC 2700 can only be applied to this requirement if taken prior to declaring the YSI major.
- Only one adolescent development course (PSYC 3480, EDLF 3170, EDLF 5011) can count toward the Core Coursework requirement

EDHS 1120 - So You Want to Change the World: Foundations of Community Engagement Credits: 3
EDHS 2840 - Intro to Youth and Social Innovation Credits: 3
EDLF 3000 - Research Design for Social Innovation with Youth Credits: 3
EDLF 3150 - Introduction to Child Growth and Development Credits: 3
OR EDLF 3170 - Introduction to Adolescence Credits: 3 OR EDLF 5010 Child Learning and Development Credits: 3 OR EDLF 5011 Adolescent Learning and Development Credits: 3 (PSYC 2700 - Introduction to Child Psychology Credits: 3 OR PSYC 3480 - Adolescence: Theory and Development Credits: 3 can satisfy requirement if taken before admission to the School of Education and Human Development)
EDLF 3200 - Examining the Effectiveness of Social Innovation Credits: 3
EDLF 4080 - U.S. Education Policy Credits: 3
EDLF 4000 - Dream it, Design it, Do it: Youth and Social Innovation Capstone Credits: 3 (taken directly before EDHS 4400, offered fall semester)
EDHS 4400 - Youth and Social Innovation Capstone II Credits: 3 (taken directly after EDLF 4000, offered spring semester)

YSI Electives (12 credits)

Students may take any four elective courses listed below (12 credits). Certain combinations of electives fulfill the requirements for one of the optional concentrations.

Applied Child & Youth Development Concentration

To complete a concentration in Applied Child & Youth Development, students must complete all other requirements for the Youth & Social Innovation major and select one course from each of the following four categories for a total of 12 credits.

Developmental Science - (select 1 course not used to satisfy the Core Coursework requirement)

EDLF 3150 - Introduction to Child Growth and Development Credits: 3
EDLF 3170 - Introduction to Adolescence Credits: 3

Cognition & Context (select 1 course)

EDLF 3160 - Introduction to Educational Psychology Credits: 3
EDLF 5040 - Education and Neuroscience Credits: 3
EDLF 5260 - Cognitive Psychology and Education Credits: 3

Socioemotional Development & Context (select 1 course)

EDHS 2895 - Mental Health and Schools Credits: 3
EDLF 3620 - The Art and Science of 21st Century Parenting Credits: 3

Development in Society (select 1 course)

EDLF 3450 - Growing Up in the U.S.: Identity and Youth Development in Media Credits: 3
EDLF 3460 - Race and Identity in Youth Development Credits: 3
EDLF 3610 - Immigrant Youth and Families Credits: 3
EDLF 4605 - Anthropology of Education Credits: 3
EDLF 5700 - Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity in Youth Development Credits: 3

Education, Culture, & Society Concentration

To complete a concentration in Education, Culture, & Society, students must complete all other requirements for the Youth & Social Innovation major and complete the required course and any 3 of the additional courses:

Required Course

EDLF 3240 - Education Across Cultures and Communities Credits: 3

Additional Courses (select 3 courses)

EDIS 2020 - Disability in the Media Credits: 3
EDLF 3010 - History of Education in the U.S. Credits: 3
EDLF 3220 - What is Education For? Credits: 3
EDLF 3470 - Hip-Hop, History, and Education Credits: 3
EDLF 3490 - Education and Democracy Credits: 3
EDLF 3491 - Inequality in US Social Policy Credits: 3
EDLF 3492 - Political Dialogue Credits: 3
EDLF 4605 - Anthropology of Education Credits: 3
EDLF 4606 - Schools & Society: Culture, Politics, & Globalization of Western Education Credits: 3
EDLF 4610 - Civil Rights Movement and Education Credits: 3
EDLF 5711 - Globalization, Childhood, & Culture Credits: 3
EDLF 5720 - Education and the Making of America: Historical and Contemporary Debates Credits: 3

Policy & Data Analysis

To complete a concentration in Policy & Data Analysis, students must complete all other requirements for the Youth & Social Innovation major and complete:

Foundational Courses (both courses are required)

Policy Electives (select at least 1 course; courses not used for this requirement may be used for the Additional Electives requirement)

EDLF 3491 - Inequality in US Social Policy Credits: 3
EDLF 4082 - The Politics of Public Education Credits: 3
EDLF 4110 - Smart Data, Hard Choices: AI, Data, and Decision-Making in Education Credits: 3

Additional Electives (select 1 course, courses not used for Policy Electives requirement may also be applied to this requirement)

EDLF 2050 - What the Innovators Do: Strategies to Transform the Lives of Youth Credits: 3
EDLF 5310 - Data Management for Social Science Research Credits: 3

Program Design

To complete a concentration in Program Design, students must complete all other requirements for the Youth & Social Innovation major and complete the following 4 courses:

ARCH 2070 - Design & Thinking Credits: 3
EDHS 2895 - Mental Health and Schools Credits: 3
EDIS 3452 - Designing Games for Learning Credits: 3
EDLF 2050 - What the Innovators Do: Strategies to Transform the Lives of Youth Credits: 3

Youth Mental Health

To complete a concentration in Youth Mental Health, students must complete all other requirements for the Youth & Social Innovation major and complete any 4 of the following courses:

EDHS 2895 - Mental Health and Schools Credits: 3
EDHS 3055 - Development and Prevention of Youth Violence Credits: 3
EDHS 3110 - Understanding Autism Credits: 3
EDHS 3120 - Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3
EDHS 3130 - Blood, Sweat and Tears: Exploring Psychological Impacts of Traumatic Events Credits: 3
EDHS 3850 - Introduction to Counseling Credits: 3
EDIS 2600 - Introduction to Applied Behavioral Analysis Credits: 3

YSI Practice (0 credits required. Students who choose a for-credit option must complete a minimum of 3 credits.)

Option 1: Direct Work with Youth, Academic Service-learning Program

EDHS 2891 - Mentorship Skills with Adolescent Girls Credits: 4 (Fall)
AND
EDHS 2900 - Practice in Community and Youth Engagement Credits: 1 (Spring)
EDHS 2889 - Fostering Leadership in Teenage Boys Credits: 3 (Fall)
AND
EDHS 2900 - Practice in Community and Youth Engagement Credits: 1 (Spring)

Option 2: Research Assistantship (135 hours total: credit, paid, or structured volunteer)

EDHS 4995 - Directed Research Credits: 1 to 6
EDLF 4995 - Directed Research Credits: 1 to 6
EDIS 4995 - Directed Research Credits: 1 to 6

Option 3: Internship (135 hours total: credit, paid, or structured volunteer)

EDHS 3895 - Peer Counseling Theory and Skills Credits: 3
EDNC 3986 - Youth and Social Innovation Internship Credits: 0

General Electives (45-48 credits)

Choose courses from across the University to reach 120 credits.