Child & Youth Studies
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.
Degrees Offered:
- B.A. (Honours)
Locations:
- Durham GTA
Resume Boosters:
- 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

"I can take knowledge I’ve learned and apply it to the classroom to try to optimize learning, and help with development."
Career Paths:
Featured
Child & Youth Counsellor
Family, marriage and other related counsellors assist individuals and groups of clients to identify, understand and overcome personal problems and achieve personal objectives. They are employed by counselling centres, social service agencies, group homes, government agencies, family therapy centres, and health care and rehabilitation facilities, or they may work in private practice.
Career Opportunities
- 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 Vice
- 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 Requirements:
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
- A minimum of six Grade 12 4U or 4M courses, including program specific prerequisites
Program Requirements:
- A minimum 70% overall final average
- ENG 4U with a minimum of 60%
Discover Ontario's
#1 Undergrad University
Where urban vibe meets close-knit community.
Visit Trent Durham GTAReady to Take the Next Step?
Tell us more about yourself and we’ll tell you all the reasons you belong at Trent.
Stay in Touch