COURSE CURRICULUM

The Child and Youth Care program curriculum spans nine semesters, combining theoretical learning, practical skills, and extensive field experience to prepare students for professional practice. In the first semester, students begin with foundational courses including Developmental Psychology, Basic Psychology, The Child and Youth Worker as a Professional, Activities with Children I, Reflective Child and Youth Care Practice, and an elective, establishing essential knowledge of child development, professional ethics, and reflective practice. The second semester builds on this with Child Care Techniques I, Introduction to Treatment, Diversity in CYC Practice, Abnormal Psychology, and Relational and Developmental Practice, emphasizing understanding individual differences and therapeutic approaches. Semester three consists of Field Experience I, providing 16 credits of hands-on practical training. The fourth semester introduces Child Care Techniques II, Family Dynamics, Youth Justice, Observation Skills and Reporting, along with an elective, focusing on family-centered interventions and reporting skills. The fifth semester covers Counselling Process, Progress & Evaluation, Personality Psychology, Activities with Children II, Ethics and Practice in Crisis Intervention, and Health and Wellness for Child and Youth Care, strengthening counseling, ethical, and wellness competencies. Semester six includes Field Experience II with 32 credits of applied learning. In the seventh and eighth semesters, students study Family-Based Intervention, Children and Youth with Exceptionalities, Adolescent Issues & Intervention, Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Intervention, Individual Growth and the Group Process, Child Care Techniques III, Learning Theory and Behavioral Change, Pharmacology, and an elective. The program concludes with Field Experience III, providing 32 credits of immersive professional training. This curriculum equips graduates with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience necessary to work effectively with children, youth, and families in diverse settings.