COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Arts in Child and Youth Studies requires students to complete a set of core courses including CHYS 5F90 (MA Thesis), CHYS 5N01 (Professional Seminar in Child and Youth Studies), CHYS 5P00 (Foundation I: Childhood, Youth and Society), CHYS 5P01 (Qualitative Research Methods), CHYS 5P02 (Quantitative Research Methods), and CHYS 5P10 (Foundation II: Issues in Child and Youth Development), along with one half-course elective. Students are encouraged to consult their thesis advisor when selecting their elective, which may take the form of an independent guided study, a graduate-level course within the Department of Child and Youth Studies, a graduate course from another department (with supervisor and Graduate Program Director approval), or an equivalent course from another Ontario university (also requiring approval). Additionally, all students must attend the Colloquium Speaker Series annually, which features guest lectures related to the field. Candidates with insufficient pre-admission background may be required to complete additional credits. The central component of the program is the research-based thesis, which demonstrates the student’s ability to conduct independent, high-quality scholarly work. Thesis topics are chosen in consultation with the Supervisory Committee, which includes the student’s supervisor and two other faculty members. Before beginning research, students must submit a thesis proposal for evaluation by their thesis committee. Upon completion, the thesis must be defended orally in an open session attended by the thesis committee and an external examiner. This process ensures that graduates are well-prepared to contribute original research and advanced knowledge in Child and Youth Studies.