Child and Youth Care

O.S.S.D. with six Grade 12 U/M courses including Grade 12 U English.

Notes: 

1. ENG4U/EAE4U is the preferred English.
2. A grade of 70 percent or higher will be required in Grade 12 U English.  
3. Applicants are advised that a criminal record check will be required by organizations accepting students for internship placements.
4. Subject to competition, candidates may be required to present averages/grades above the minimum.

The requirements for Direct Entry (full- or part-time) in Child and Youth Care include the following:

• A three year Child and Youth Worker/Child and Youth Care Advanced Diploma, from a public Ontario College, with at least a 'B' average.
  
• Subject to competition, candidates may be required to present averages/grades above the minimum and work experience in the field is beneficial.

Note: Potential students with work experience in the field but with post-secondary academic credentials other than the three-year Child and Youth Worker/Child and Youth Care Advanced Diploma from a public Ontario College will be considered on an individual basis and should apply to the four-year program. Those with out-of-province two-year Child  and Youth Work diplomas will also be assessed on an individual basis.

The curriculum builds upon a multi-disciplinary base to develop the student's understanding of issues facing children, youth, and their families in society today. With a solid multi-disciplinary foundation in sociological and psychological perspectives students are introduced to the theories and techniques of child and youth care. They will develop the ability to work with children, youth, and families with a focus on promoting the rights and participation of children and youth through inclusive practice and advocacy for the highest standards of ethical practice and optimal quality of care. 

Ryerson's Direct Entry program in Child and Youth Care was designed to meet the career and professional needs of experienced Child and Youth Care practitioners. The program builds on the Diploma in Child and Youth Work offered at most Ontario Colleges, and is intended for those who have work experience in the field. Graduates of the degree-completion program will be able to assume greater responsibilities in a variety of areas, including residential treatment centres, school boards, community programs, hospitals, and Children's Aid Societies.

The Direct Entry program in Child and Youth Care is designed to accomplish several related objectives, namely:

• to enhance the student's awareness of the broader intellectual and professional context of the provision of services for children and adolescents;
• to foster the development of critical capacities to understand the role of the educated professional in a social and cultural context;
• to build on the base of knowledge, expertise and practical experience obtained through Diploma studies and subsequent work, to enable the graduate to assume advanced levels of therapeutic and organizational responsibility;
• to develop the capacity to critically evaluate and to contribute to the emerging professional literature in the field;
• to enable interested graduates to qualify for admission to post-baccalaureate educational programs in Child and Youth Care or in related fields.
    

The School of Child and Youth Care offers a full-time four-year degree program. This complements the part-time Direct-Entry program first offered in Fall 1989. Students are able to enter on a full-time basis following high school or Direct Entry on a full- or part-time basis directly into year 3 following the completion of a three-year Child and Youth Work (CYW) diploma from an Ontario College.

Graduates from the Direct Entry program are already obtaining more responsible clinical and supervisory positions including child protection and family service positions in Children's Aid Societies and Children's Mental Health Centres. Graduates may go on to obtain further education as elementary and secondary school teachers and obtain graduate degrees to become private counsellors and educators within the college CYW system.

Graduates of the BA (CYC) who enter at first year will find employment in hospital and outpatient settings, community centres, educational/day treatment settings, school districts as child and youth workers, residential centres (child welfare, young offenders, and children's mental health), and family support programs.  

Part-time Direct Entry students need only follow the requisite structure of the program. Subject to pre-requisites and co-requisites being met, students may take courses from any semester. 

Students must take three lower level liberal studies courses and three upper level liberal studies courses to graduate. Students must not choose courses that are restricted for their program or major.

Please refer to the liberal studies section of the calendar for more information on the Liberal Studies Policy. Further information on liberal studies can also be found at the Faculty of Arts/Liberal Studies website (opens in new window) .

Liberal Studies - Direct Entry

Students must take three upper level liberal studies courses. If an upper level liberal studies course requires a prerequisite, students DO NOT have to apply for transfer credit.

Table A - Lower Level Restrictions

Table B - Upper Level Restrictions

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Ryerson (with some exceptions). Please refer to the Minors section of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and exclusions.

Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible program exclusions. Please refer to the Certificate Registration section (opens in new window)  of the Curriculum Advising website for complete details. 

Revised curriculum begins 2016-2017. Full-time students admitted before Fall 2016 see former curriculum below.

Part-time students admitted Fall 2016 and Fall 2017 see former curriculum below.

Revised curriculum begins 2016-2017.

 

Revised curriculum begins 2017-2018.

 

Revised curriculum begins 2018-2019.

* CYC 60A/B is a two-term course and is graded on a pass/fail basis.

 

Revised curriculum begins 2019-2020.

CYC 60A/B is a two-term course, has a GPA weight of 2.00, and a course count of 2.00.

Students are admitted into 5th semester (3rd Year) of this Direct Entry program. Students should refer to their Offer of Admission for details.

Revised curriculum begins 2018-2019. Students admitted Fall 2016 and Fall 2017 see former curriculum below.

 

Revised curriculum begins 2019-2020. Students admitted Fall 2016 and Fall 2017 see former curriculum below.

Curriculum variations between Direct Entry and 4-Year programs:

• In 5th and 6th Semester, Direct Entry students take CYC 409 in place of one Table I elective.
• In 7th and 8th Semester, Direct Entry students take one Table I elective and one Table II elective in place of CYC 60A/B.

 

Curriculum begins Fall 2018. Part-time students admitted Fall 2016 and Fall 2017 see former curriculum below.

Students are admitted into 5th semester (3rd Year) of this Direct Entry program. Students should refer to their Offer of Admission for details.

 

Revised curriculum begins 2018-2019.

 

Curriculum variations between Direct Entry and 4-Year programs:

• In 5th and 6th Semester, Direct Entry students take CYC 409 in place of one Table I elective.
• In 7th and 8th Semester, Direct Entry students take one Table I elective and one Table II elective in place of CYC 60A/B.

 

In addition to the general criteria used to determine Academic Standing, students in this program must also meet the following conditions: 

• A failure in CYC 30A/B or CYC 60A/B leads to PROBATIONARY status and a second failure in the same course leads to a REQUIRED TO WITHDRAW Standing.
  

In addition to fulfilling the general academic requirements for graduation, students in this program must also meet the following conditions: 

• students in the full-time undergraduate Child and Youth Care program are required to obtain a minimum grade of 'C' in the Required CYC-prefix courses in second, third and fourth year. Students must receive a Pass grade ('PSD') in each of the internship courses (CYC 30A/B and CYC 60A/B and CYC 303) to graduate.
• Child and Youth Care Advanced Standing program students, in addition to fulfilling Ryerson University's Graduation Requirements, must receive a minimum grade of 'C' in the Required CYC-prefix courses taken here at Ryerson.  

A Program Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of volunteers that provides expert advice to a school or department on program related matters such as curriculum, program review, technology and trends in the industry, discipline or profession. For more information, see  (PDF file) Senate Policy #158 (Program Advisory Councils).

Blair Body
Toronto Children's Aid Society

Glenda Brown
Dufferin Peel Catholic School Board

Andrew Buntin
George Brown College

Bill Carty
Bartimeaus

Christine Gaitens
Toronto District School Board

Rebecca Harris
Ontario Association of Residences Treating Youth

Jeff Hawkins
The Family Help Network

Bruce Phillip
Nairn Family Homes

Sheldon Reinsilber
Ex. Officio
Ryerson University

Sal Salmena
Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto

 

Last Offered 2016-2017.

* CYC 30A/B is a two-term course and is graded on a pass/fail basis.

 

Last offered 2017-2018.

* CYC 60A/B is a two-term course and is graded on a pass/fail basis.

Students approved to the Direct Entry program will take CYC 347 plus one Professional course from Table II in place of CYC 60A/B.

 

Last offered 2018-2019.

CYC 48A/B is a two-term courses and has a GPA weight of 2.00.

Students are admitted into 5th semester (3rd Year) of this Direct Entry program. Students should refer to their Offer of Admission for details.

Last offered 2017-2018. Students admitted Fall 2018 and after, see revised curriculum above.

 

* Students approved to the Direct Entry program take CYC 347 plus one Professional course from Table II in 6th semester in place of CYC 60A/B.

 

CYC 48A/B is a two-term courses and has a GPA weight of 2.00.