A deep understanding of the issues affecting the lives of young people, a unique perspective focused on learning through play, and a hands-on placement opportunity to gain real-life experience are just a few of the unique aspects of the new Bachelor of Arts degree in Child and Youth Studies starting at Trent University Durham in September.

Following recent approval from the Ministry of Training College and Universities, the new interdisciplinary Child and Youth Studies program, which will be offered exclusively at Trent University Durham, is accepting students for fall 2016.

The program places the themes of play and creativity at the forefront of understanding child and youth development, and will prepare students for the pursuit of numerous different types of careers, including counselling, teaching, legal practice, health and wellness, advocacy work, social work, and graduate studies. 

“I am excited about the opportunity for Trent to build a Child and Youth Studies program,” said Dr. Karleen Pendleton Jiménez, coordinator of the Child and Youth Studies program at the Durham campus. “Given our expertise and commitment to social and ecological justice at Trent, this is a chance to bring a progressive approach to the understanding of children and youth.” 

Students in the program will learn about child and youth rights and legal issues, and how children develop emotionally, socially, intellectually, and physically. With a strong foundation in Sociology and Psychology, the degree will inspire students to think about child and youth development through the eyes of a child and will offer students a deep understanding of the field through a full-year experiential learning course that will see them on placement in the community at local school boards, health centres, community agencies, group homes, or youth services

As part of this placement course in students’ fourth year, graduates will also be provided with a direct pathway into Trent’s Consecutive B.Ed. program through a limited number of reserved spaces. 

“The Child and Youth degree is another great addition to the growing roster of wide-ranging program offerings at our Durham campus in the GTA,” said Joe Muldoon, head of Trent University Durham. “We recognize that students are looking for experiential learning as part of their education and this program will give students just that, offering them an invaluable work placement in their fourth year of study.”