COURSE CURRICULUM

The Child and Youth Care program curriculum is carefully structured across six levels to provide students with both theoretical knowledge and extensive practical experience. In Level 1, students take foundational courses such as Reason & Writing 1 for Community Studies, Therapeutic Programming, Child and Youth Care (CYC) Skills & Interventions, CYC Relational Practice Introduction, Professional Practice Field Readiness, Diversity in CYC Practice, and Child Development, establishing a strong base in the core concepts and skills needed for the field. Level 2 includes the first Field Practicum, allowing students to apply their learning in real-world settings. In Level 3, students continue with courses focusing on adolescent development, documentation and legislation, communications for community studies, counseling skills tailored for CYC practice, advanced relational practice, professional identity in field practice, and mental health literacy, alongside a general education elective. Level 4 features a second Field Practicum, further deepening hands-on experience. At Level 5, students take an additional general education elective and engage with advanced topics such as addictions, drugs and wellness, career readiness, family dynamics, theoretical frameworks in CYC practice, child abuse and neglect, facilitating group work, and advanced counseling skills. The program culminates in Level 6 with the third Field Practicum, providing a final opportunity to integrate academic learning with practical experience. This carefully sequenced combination of coursework and field placements ensures that graduates of the program are well-prepared, confident, and capable child and youth care workers, ready to support children and youth through emotional, behavioural, social, and mental health challenges in various professional environments.