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Youth and Children's Studies (BA)
Experience and Career Guide

Make the most out of your university career by taking advantage of all that Laurier has to offer you and learning about the many ways you can extend your classroom experience into the real world. There are so many opportunities to learn, lead, and embrace new opportunities all while having an exceptional student experience.

In this Guide

Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.

Year-to-Year Academic Experience Co-Curricular Opportunities Knowledge and Skills Career Options and Graduate Outcomes

Your Year-to-Year Experience

Enhance your academic experience by learning about the opportunities available in your program.

Explore Co-Curricular Experiences

Participate in co-curricular experiences to complement your Laurier
academic journey and gain meaningful learning opportunities.

As a Youth and Children's Studies student, you can: 

  • Join student clubs such as the Youth & Children’s Studies Association and build leadership skills through joining an executive team.
  • Volunteer for the Child and Adolescent Research and Education (CARE) Lab to gain research experience, support children’s programming, share knowledge, and support children and youth in the community.
  • Get your First Aid/CPR certification.

Outside of your program, there are many co-curricular opportunities for you to participate in. 

Design Your Degree

These are a few popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge. See undergraduate options, minors and courses for more information.
  • Indigenous Studies minor
  • Psychology minor
  • Criminology minor
  • Education minor

Develop Your Knowledge and Skills

As a Laurier student, you will develop the following competencies through your curricular and co-curricular experiences.

Competency Framework

Competencies are categories of transferrable skills that appear on your online Experience Record to help you reflect on what you've learned from your experiences. The competencies include: 

  • Adaptability and Resiliency
  • Collaboration and Teamwork
  • Communication
  • Creativity and Innovation
  • Critical Thinking
  • Digital Literacy
  • Diversity and Intercultural Understanding
  • Functional Knowledge
  • Leadership
  • Problem Solving
  • Professional Attributes
  • Self-Awareness

Functional Knowledge

  • Integrate and synthesize complex ideas in a multidisciplinary context.
  • Develop an interdisciplinary understanding of the lives of children and youth.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the major themes and changes over time in the history of childhood.
  • Gain experience working with children and/or youth in a community setting through a supervised field placement.
  • Evaluate and analyze research and theory on issues facing children and youth.
  • Use analytical tools from various disciplines to assess current problems, issues and trends affecting children and youth.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the physical, social and psychological development of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.

Discover Career Options

All your experiences at Laurier can help you prepare for your future. Attend Career Centre events and workshops or book a career consulting appointment to explore career and further education options.
%
Pursuing Further Education
%
Employed
%
Other

38 Youth and Children's Studies respondents from the 2023 Laurier Graduate Survey conducted by the Career Centre. Graduates were surveyed within 12 months of graduation.

Alumni Careers and Pathways

Sample Further Education Programs Within the First Year After Graduation

  • Bachelor’s Degree - Education
  • Master’s Degree - Social Work, Education, Counselling Psychology
  • College Program - Early Child Education

Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation

  • child protection worker
  • early learning site supervisor
  • program coordinator
  • respite worker
  • volunteer recruitment and engagement coordinator
  • youth worker

Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation

  • early childhood educator
  • human resources coordinator
  • program advisor
  • social worker
  • special education assistant
  • supervisor/case manager
  • teacher
  • technical instructor

Career Options and Resources

Need some guidance on what you can do with your degree? Discover some career options and find resources to help guide you. 

Career and Industry Options

  • community development
  • counselling/social work
  • education/teaching
  • entertainment/digital media
  • event planning
  • government
  • healthcare/rehabilitation
  • law/legal field
  • library/archives/museum
  • mental health
  • non-profit/advocacy
  • recreation
  • research
  • writing/publishing
  • youth justice
  • youth policy

Career Resources

Your Experiences Tell Your Story

Share your story through your Laurier Experience Record. An interactive, shareable and official record of your hands-on experiences and learning opportunities at Laurier – the first of its kind in Canada!



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