Youth Development Graduate Programs

Master's Degree Course Information

Youth in Cultural Contexts*

University:

Iowa State University

Course Number:

YTH 5300

Credit Hours:

3 credit hours - $622 per credit

Start/End Dates:

January 20, 2026 - May 15, 2026

Overview

Course Description

This course examines youth as a culture, and youth culture within multiple contexts (education, peers, work, sports, family, technology, music, media, politics, and activism). Students will think critically about how society supports and restricts youth culture, and gain further knowledge of how ethnic groups fit historically into society, and how history has shaped current youth culture. Students will address biases and myths about youth, and explore the social and educational processes experienced by youth through in-depth reading, writing, discussion, critical listening, viewing of contemporary videos, and informal interviews with youth.

Contacts

Instructor

Meghan Gillette
Office: 515-294-7050
meghang@iastate.edu

Campus Coordinator

For course access questions, contact the teaching university’s campus coordinator. For enrollment questions, contact your home university campus coordinator.

Textbooks

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race
Tatum, B.D.
Edition: 2017
ISBN: 9780465060689
Publisher: Basic Books

The Young are Making Their World: Essays on the Power of Youth Culture
Kiuchi, Y & Villarruel, F. A.
Edition: 2016
ISBN: 978-0786498840
Publisher: McFarland & Company, Inc.

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
Edition: 7th edition, 2019
ISBN: 978-1433832161
Publisher: American Psychological Association

(OPTIONAL TEXTBOOK) Youth Studies: Fundamental Issues and Debates
Côté, J.
Edition: 2014
ISBN: 978-0-230-36845-3
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Course Access

Canvas at ISU

In the three weeks prior to the start of class, students will receive course information and access instructions via email from the Iowa State campus coordinator, Iowa State Online.

The email will include instructions for how students can set up their Iowa State Net-ID and password which is needed to log into Iowa State’s Canvas system. It typically takes 1-2 business days after setting up a Net-ID before students can log into Iowa State’s Canvas. Courses may not be visible in Canvas until the first day of class.

If students experience problems registering for a Net-ID, they can contact the Iowa State Solution Center for assistance at 515-294-4000. Students will need their 9-digit ISU university ID (provided in the ISU campus coordinator email) for the Solution Center to assist them. The Solution Center is open evenings and weekends. View the Solution Center's hours of operation.

Exam Proctor

This course does not require an exam proctor.

Synchronous Components

This course does not include synchronous components.

Meet Our Faculty

Click on the faculty name to get their contact information. To learn about this program at each institution, click on the university name.

University Contact

Click on the campus coordinator name to get their contact information. Click on the university name to learn more about how IDEA works at that campus.