Child and Youth Studies (B.A.)

Get a head start on a teaching career with a direct pathway into Trent’s Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) program. A number of guaranteed spaces are reserved for Child & Youth Studies graduates.

In this immersive program offered exclusively at Trent University Durham GTA, Child & Youth Studies students take a multidisciplinary and practical approach to understanding this crucial period in human development. Advance your knowledge of child and youth studies through sociological, psychological, Indigenous, and educational approaches to the field, and get hands-on experience through work placements and undergraduate-led research opportunities. Graduates of this program also benefit from a direct pathway into the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) program, with guaranteed spaces reserved for Child & Youth Studies graduates.

Career Experience:

Get experience working with young people through a community-based work placement, helping local foster homes, shelters, cultural centres, group homes, or youth centres
Participate in small group workshops exploring important child and youth theory and practices
Lead an independent research thesis which will see you work one-on-one with award-winning faculty and build valuable professional skills that give you the advantage for grad school or jobs after graduation

Career Paths:

Child Protection Worker
Teacher
Autism Specialist
Youth Outreach Worker
Counsellor
Social Worker
Administrator
Youth Program Developer
Researcher
Children’s Rights Activist
Policy Analyst
Arts-based Therapist
Graduate School

Popular Courses:

Child and Youth: Identity Theory and Voice
The Significance of Play in the Lives of Children and Youth
Child and Youth Rights and Legal Issues
Learning Through Arts
Indigenous Knowledge for Children and Youth
Children and Youth’s Perceptions of and Experiences with Legalized Substances
Young Canadians: Exploring the Lives of Immigrant and Refugee Children and Youth
Youth Justice

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
A minimum of six Grade 12 4U or 4M courses, including program specific prerequisites
A minimum 70% overall final average
ENG 4U with a minimum of 60%