Childhood and Youth Studies

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Program Details

The demand for compassionate and skilled professionals who work with children and youth has continued to increase globally. This program provides a critical, interdisciplinary and well-grounded education that equips you with the knowledge and hands-on experiences you need to secure a meaningful and rewarding career in multiple sectors. You will explore the ways that societal structures of power, privilege and oppression shape the identities and experiences of children and youth, and gain skills to support the well-being of young people in Canada and across the world.

The Childhood and Youth Studies program at Carleton, with its focus on youth as well as childhood and its attention to critical intersectionality as well as children’s rights and youth activism, is the only program of its kind in Eastern Ontario.

Work Experience

A practicum placement option provides an opportunity to use the skills and knowledge acquired from the Childhood and Youth Studies program in a community setting.

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Career Outcomes

Explore your passions, refine new skills and discover the career that’s right for you.

A BA degree in Childhood and Youth Studies can help qualify you for a variety of professions in a wide range of settings, such as community-based organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations, humanitarian and philanthropic organizations, childcare centers and schools, and the private sector.

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Sample Courses

CHST 1101 - Introduction to Childhood and Youth Studies

An introduction to multiple approaches to studying childhood and youth through a diverse range of historical periods and cultural contexts. Students will apply an interdisciplinary lens to explore the ways that children and youth have been discussed, researched, and understood.

CHST 3202 - Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Education and Care

A study of historical, contemporary, global, and local conversations about the professional field of early childhood education and care and its diverse practices and contexts. Topics may include reconciliation, anti-racist pedagogies, asset-based practices, inclusiveness, caring in context, and critical reflection.

Visit the Undergraduate Calendar to view a comprehensive list of course offerings for this program and discover the exciting things Carleton students are learning in the classroom!

View more courses for this program