MA Program Requirements 

Program Outcomes

By the end of the MA program, graduates will be able to demonstrate:

  1. Knowledge of decolonial, critical and justice-oriented approaches to research, practice and leadership in diverse local, national and global contexts for the purposes of promoting child, youth, family and community well-being.
  2. Respect for and commitment to the wellbeing, resurgence and self-determination of Indigenous nations globally, with responsibilities to local First Peoples.
  3. Ethical, strengths-based, relational approaches to working with diverse children, youth, families and communities, and ability to respond to intersecting forms of historical and ongoing structural and systemic exclusion based on race, gender, sexuality, class, ability, and citizenship, among others.
  4. Capacity for responsive and collaborative leadership, advocacy, activism and systems-level change in preparation for leadership roles in diverse human service sectors that serve children, youth and families (including organizations, government, private, not-for-profit, community, other).
  5. Knowledge and application of diverse research methods, methodologies and knowledge mobilization approaches that reflect multiple contexts, knowledges and research paradigms.

Program Requirements

  • Courses - Six required core courses (see list below)
  • Practicum - 1.5 unit/200 hour required practicum course
  • Thesis or Applied Research Project
  • No required electives

Courses

Course Title Term Offered Format
CYC 541: Decolonial, Critical and Justice-Oriented Theories in CYFCS Fall (September-December) Online with weekly live class meetings
CYC 544: Research Design and Knowledge Mobilization Fall (September-December) Online with bi-weekly live class meetings
CYC 550: Program Planning, Policy, Advocacy and Leadership Spring (January-April) Online 
CYC 558: Applied Research Seminar Spring (January-April) Online with weekly live class meetings
CYC 546: Global Practices for Human and Social Change Summer (May-July) On-campus in May/June (3-week institute)
CYC 586: Advanced Land-based Approaches in CYFCS Summer (May-July) On-campus in May/June (3-week institute) 
CYC 553: Practicum in CYFCS All terms - after all core courses completed Online and on-site at field placement

Counselling Certification / Credentials

The MA in CYFC Studies may be used as partial fulfilment towards a provincial or national counselling certification or credential. It is the student’s responsibility to understand eligibility requirements for a counselling credential or certification in their local jurisdiction.

Please note: Given the very high number of inquiries and the significant diversity and changing nature of licensing requirements for clinical counselling certification provincially and nationally, we are unable to provide students with any individual guidance and information about clinical accreditation options. It is the responsibility of students to contact the regulating bodies directly and to determine which aspects of their individual graduate program might meet the requirements. Students are also responsible for arranging their own applications for certification. The CYFCS Graduate Program cannot provide guidance or support in meeting these requirements.