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Child and Youth Care (MA)

Immerse yourself in leading-edge theory, research, policy and practice related to young people facing adversity in a variety of contexts. Learn to integrate trauma-informed care, resilience, life-space intervention and critical and anti-oppressive perspectives into your work. An emphasis on children’s rights and the youth experience within institutional and community-based services, along with a focus on reflective practice, field learning, social innovation and relational practice, will prepare you for career advancement opportunities across the sector.

Program Details
Degree Earned: Master of Arts (MA)              
Program: Child and Youth Care
Start Date: September entry

Program Formats:

  • One-year, Full-time
  • Two-year, Part-time (for students currently employed in the child and youth care sector on a full-time basis)

Program Options:

  • Research and Policy Option
  • Therapeutic Option
Tuition Fees Range

Today’s child and youth care practitioners need advanced knowledge and skills to flourish in a variety of practice, management, research and policy roles within complex and demanding environments:

  • Psychiatric centres
  • Health care
  • Hospitals
  • Government
  • Child welfare
  • Community-based child and youth developmental/disability/rehabilitation programs
  • Child and youth advocacy
  • Youth justice system
  • Parent education/training
  • Family support programs

Valuable learning opportunities in the classroom and in the field will prepare you to:

  • Lead effectively within the complex world of cross-sector collaboration, policy alignment and organizational change
  • Contribute evidence to the field, while taking account of stakeholder diversity, inclusion and anti-oppressive practices
  • Develop child and youth care-focused, evidence-based and evidence-informed approaches to practice
  • Work in line with current demands to deliver on client-level outcomes and have a broader social impact

Child and Youth Care at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) draws upon the latest trends and knowledge in the field.

Our curriculum is relevant and responsive to community needs and the changing context of professional practice.

Our faculty members are dedicated teachers, researchers and strong advocates for social change.  

Achieve your learning goals with flexibility and convenience:

  • Students are required to attend classes in person in the fall term
  • All graduate Child and Youth Care courses are offered in the evenings
  • Winter and Spring/Summer courses can be completed in class or online

There is more to the TMU Child and Youth Care experience than just lectures, books and studying.

TMU offers countless opportunities to get involved.

Our engaged graduate students help create a vibrant campus life. The TMU Graduate Students Union (external link)  ensures that your voice is heard, and helps build a strong community.

And that’s without mentioning TMU's innovative and world class facilities. The Student Learning Centre provides an outstanding environment in which to study, collaborate and share ideas, and the Mattamy Athletic Centre (external link, opens in new window)  offers TMU students an NHL-sized hockey rink, basketball court and fitness centre.

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