Community, Youth, and Education Studies
What courses should I take in my first year to see if this is the right major for me?
If you are interested in the CYES major, we recommend that you take an FYI in the education department in your first semester. In the Spring semester of your first year or in the Fall of your second year, we recommend taking EDUC 152 to confirm that the CYES major is right for you.
Are there any courses I am required or strongly encouraged to take in my first semester if I know I want to declare this major? Do any AP credits count for these requirements?
There is no required class in your first semester, though you should feel free to take any available classes in the CYES and EDUC department that will work towards the CYES program. We do not currently have any AP exams that count towards the major.
What is the latest semester that I can start this major and still graduate in four years?
You should declare the Community, Youth, & Education Studies major by the end of your sophomore year as it requires 11 courses for completion. That said, we have had people declare in the Fall of their junior year and successfully graduate. But we have a 3-course capstone component that starts in the spring of your junior year, and you will progress through three courses to develop your praxis project and senior thesis. So, you have to be part of the major when that first praxis course begins.
I am interested in many different subjects. What other majors, minors, or concentrations go well with this major?
CYES is interdisciplinary already. We have coursework from different departments (psychology, sociology, geography, SSJ, and more). Any course work that helps you understand social inequality, positionality, social justice and social change would be beneficial.
What else do you want incoming first year students to know about this major?
CYES is unique as majors at Clark. All CYES students are expected to complete a community-engaged social change project and write about it in order to graduate. Also, CYES students develop a digital portfolio and they join a cohort of other majors and a professor in the major where they work together for the last three semesters of their time at Clark. There are high expectations coupled with high levels of support.
If I want to declare this as a major, who should I talk to and where do I go?
If you are ready to declare CYES as your major, you can reach out to the Director of CYES, Professor Jie Park. You can also learn more by visiting our website here.
Summer Point of Contact:
Professor Jie Park – jpark@clarku.edu
Professor Eric DeMeulenaere – edemeulenaere@clarku.edu
