BASc - Child, Youth and Family (CYF)

The Major - discontinued in 2020 replaced by Child Studies (CSTU) 

Placing a child's physical and social development in the context of the family and the community, the Child, Youth and Family major will prepare students for future careers in a variety of social services geared toward young people. The Child, Youth and Family  major  combines the rigors of the biological and social sciences, enabling students to look at the child from infancy to  adolescence in a variety of family and community settings. Courses in human/child development, physiology, and couple and family dynamics are taught by recognized leaders in their fields and complemented by practicum courses to provide theoretical and first-hand experience with children. 

Our co-op study opportunities enable students to get on-the-job experience which deepens the connection between study and professional work.

The Learning Approach

The academic program in the Child, Youth and Family major  provides a combination of traditional lectures and seminars with the application of theory in practicum courses.

These practicum courses enable students to apply the social and biological components of human behaviour in various family, community and educational settings. Students work directly with children in the University Child Care and Learning Centre or working with Youth in the community for one semester and in a Guelph-based agency or school classroom in their second practicum semester. The variety of experiences affords students greater opportunity to apply the theory obtained in class to real-world issues.

For more information, please consult the CYF Student Handbook - 2019

Possible Career Opportunities

Graduates from the Child, Youth and Family major have obtained employment as: 

  • Early Childhood Educator
  • Teenage Parents Program Co-facilitator, YMCA-YWCA
  • Early childhood therapist, Chedoke-McMaster Hospitals
  • Primary- Junior teacher, Essex County Board of Education
  • Planner co-ordinator, Waterloo-Wellington Autism Services
  • Speech-language pathologist, Orillia Soldier's Memorial Hospital
  • Protection Worker, Family and Children Services
  • Welfare visitor, Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto

List of First Year Courses

Additional Information

An articulation agreement between Guelph and Nipissing University (Faculty of Education) guarantees a number of places in the Primary, Junior Division of Nipissing's B.Ed. Program for qualified Child, Youth and Family graduates. Placement is on a competitive basis. Further details are available from the B.A.Sc. program counsellor at Guelph or from the Faculty of Education at Nipissing University.

College of Early Childhood Educators

The Child Youth and Family program is accredited by the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE).  Please consult the list of required 'Child' stream courses that must be completed in order to receive ECE certification upon graduation.