温哥华岛大学

A full range of courses is available to complete a program of studies leading to a B.A. degree in Child and Youth Care at Vancouver Island University. The Child and Youth Care degree program is a four-year course of study (120 credits), which prepares students to enter a variety of child and youth care employment settings. These range from early intervention programs to youth corrections programs, child protection and guardianship work, community-based programs such as day-care, schools, family support and group homes.

The program is designed in response to increasing demand from employers for skilled child and youth care practitioners who are able to work in an integrated, multidisciplinary way. Some of the topics that students will be required to study are child welfare, abuse and neglect concerns, human and family development, theories of practice; and activity-based interventions. Aboriginal ways of knowing and cultural competency skills are integrated throughout the curriculum. The program is offered on a full-time, as well as a part-time basis to accommodate practitioners working in the field.

Child Protection Specialization

A Child Protection Specialization within the program is available for a limited number of students admitted to the Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care degree program. Students in the child protection specialization will be doing their fourth year practicum in a delegated child protection office.

If the number of applicants exceeds the number of practicums available through the Ministry of Children and Family Development then student's GPA in CYC 232, CYC 301, CYC 362, and CYC 310 will be used to determine admittance into the specialization. If necessary, there may also be the possibility of a suitability interview.

Interested students must apply for the specialization once admitted to the program and are required to complete their CYC 410 practicum in a child protection agency. Students may only apply for admittance to the child protection specialization once. They must have all core child and youth care courses completed prior to beginning their practicum.

Child protection practicums are block practicums and are full-time as students are required to complete 400 hours during a 10-12 week term likely during the intersession semester. Consequently, students in the child protection specialization will not be eligible to participate in convocation until January. Practicum locations may occur anywhere on Vancouver Island so travel will likely be required. Students are responsible for any travel costs. For further information, please contact the Child and Youth Care Practicum Coordinator and/or CYC Advisors.