Child and Youth Care (MA)
Part of the Faculty of Community Services
Format: One year, full-time; Two-year, part-time
Degree Earned: Master of Arts
The Master of Arts program in Child and Youth Care (CYC) intensively explores three thematic streams:
- Clinical Child and Youth Care Practice
- Management and Policy Development in Child and Youth Care
- Child and Youth Care Approaches to Research.
This program focuses on the theoretical and practice-oriented approaches related to young people facing adversity in myriad contexts, and covers issues and themes that include trauma-informed care, resilience, life-space intervention, critical and anti-oppressive perspectives, and management and policy development in child and youth serving settings.
Through innovative pedagogy which incorporates an extensive focus on reflective practice, field learning opportunities, and the integration of social innovation and use of Self and Self in relational practice throughout the curriculum, the MA program teaches and promotes leadership in child and youth care, with an emphasis on children’s rights and the daily experiences of youth within institutional and community-based services.
The program is designed as a one-year (12 months) full-time program. Students are required to attend fall classes in person while the winter term and spring/summer sessions can be completed in class or online. Students must complete five required courses and choose between two options: Research and Policy OR Therapeutic Placement. All required courses are offered from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Thursday.
A part-time option exists for students currently employed in the child and youth care sector on a full time basis. There are limited spots for this option, and admission requires an interview in addition to all other admission requirements.
MA
- Completion of a four-year undergraduate (or equivalent degree) from an accredited institution
- Minimum GPA or equivalent of 3.00/4.33 (B) in the last two years of study
- Statement of interest
- Resumé/CV
- Transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- English language proficiency requirement
More information on admission requirements. Due to the competitive nature of our programs, it is not possible to offer admission to everyone who applies that meets the minimum entrance requirements for the program.
Students are encouraged to submit applications prior to the first consideration date to increase their chances of securing financial support for their graduate studies. Applications received after the first consideration date will be accepted and reviewed based on spaces remaining in the program.
See application dates.
For detailed graduate tuition and fees information please visit Fees by Program.
For information on scholarships, awards and financing your graduate studies visit Financing Your Studies.
- Anti-violence efforts in schools
- Black youth and school discipline
- Child and youth participation
- Child protection
- Child sexual abuse, child sexual abuse images online (CSAIO), child sexual exploitation
- Children’s rights and citizenship
- Clinical CYC practice
- CYC approaches to research
- International CYC practice
- Management and policy development in CYC
- Narratives from Indigenous Elders
- Online relational practice
- Organizational change
- Over-representation of black youth in child welfare
- Peer violence among incarcerated youth
- Relationships among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples
- Residential care and treatment
- Rights-based approaches
- Trauma
- Advanced Clinical Practice in CYC
- CYC Research Methods
- CYC Theory
- International CYC Practice
- Management and Policy Development in CYC
- Online Relational CYC Practice
- Social Innovation in CYC Practice
- Supervision in CYC Practice
Graduate Admissions
Admissions information and how to apply
Graduate Studies Admissions Office
11th Floor, 1 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON
Telephone: 416-979-5150
E-mail: gradhelp@torontomu.ca
For information specific to programs, please see the program contact information below.
Program Contacts
Dr. Julie James
Graduate Program Director
Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 554595
Email: julie.james@torontomu.ca
Amber Rebello
Graduate Program Administrator
Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 552288
Email: cycma@torontomu.ca
“The CYC MA program will open your mind, challenge your assumptions and has the ability to change your life, if you let it.”
Student Profile: Helping young people thrive
Graduate education helped Travonne Edwards (child and youth care MA alumnus) amplify his efforts in helping youths facing adversity.
Once you’ve made an informed choice about which program(s) you are going to apply to, preparing your application requires careful research and planning.
Funding
At Toronto Metropolitan University, we understand that pursuing graduate studies is a significant financial investment. Funding comes from a combination of employment contracts (as a teaching assistant), scholarships, awards and stipends. There are a number of additional funding sources – internal and external – available to graduate students that can increase these funding levels.
Research
As an urban innovation university, Toronto Metropolitan University offers 60+ cutting-edge, career-oriented graduate programs, as well as 125+ research centres, institutes and labs, in a wide range of disciplines. Our close connections with industry, government and community partners provide opportunities to apply your knowledge to real-world challenges and make a difference.