Frequently Asked Questions

What is Children's Studies?

Children's Studies is an interdisciplinary program based in the Humanities that seeks to understand the human condition from the perspective of children over time throughout the world and to develop appreciation for both the philosophical and social sources of the range of lived childhoods and the personal, societal, and human consequences of them. In such studies, the child is perceived as the subject rather than an object, as has been typical of most child-focused research historically.

Therefore, children are considered to be authoritative sources that ought to be not only included but also valued in academic efforts to develop knowledge of child and childhood. The Children's Studies Program explores the experiences of children and adult constructions of childhoods lived , adopting a "childist" (child-centered) and children's rights approach that recognizes children as subjects in their own culture. It is, then, for children what a Women's Studies Program is for women.

Students in Children's Studies will therefore learn practical techniques to hear from contemporary children and to discern children's voices in a wide range of historical documentation. Further, they will develop appreciation for what is involved in determining the best interests of the child as well as in developing best practices of working with children to promote their best interests.

What is distinctive about York's Children's Studies Program?

• It is based in the Humanities rather than in the Social Sciences.
• It considers children to be authoritative sources on childhood.
• It is both interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary.
• It is both rights-based and child-centered.

How is the Children's Studies Program different from an Early Childhood Education Program?

• York's Children's Studies Program defines children according to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as all humans under 18.
• It is a 4-year Honours BA program, not a 2-year certificate course.
• It has many possible applications apart from education.

If I transfer to York from a college, will I get advanced standing?

• Depending on your course of study, you will receive a certain number of credits towards a 120-credit university degree, the number of credits being determined by York's Office of Admissions.
• You will have to fulfill all of the core requirements for the Major or Minor in Children's Studies plus any designated child-related course requirements for which you have not received specific credit.

Is Children's Studies considered a "teachable" by the Ontario Ministry of Education?

• All Humanities courses have teachable equivalents which are available through York's Faculty of Education.
• At this point, Children's Studies is not specifically a teachable, but Family Studies is, and most Children's Studies courses qualify as Family Studies courses.

Where can I get more information about York's Children's Studies Program?

Download the Children's Studies Program Brochure. Download the Children's Studies Supplemental Calendar.

What career paths are possible after completing the Children's Studies Program?

The Children's Studies Program opens doors to further study that would lead to a very wide range of possible options of working with and for children in advocacy, counselling, education, health and wellness, international development, law, librarianship, media, parenting, publishing, recreation, social work and much more.

Such child-centered study and skills as the Program involves are central to creating a better world for children and, as such, will be highly valued by private and public child-related organizations and institutions.

Are there international opportunities connected with the Children's Studies Program?

Through "Right to Play" and "Free the Children" as well as existing internships programs managed by York International, there are already opportunities for Children's Studies majors and minors to undertake child-related work abroad.

Further opportunities for international exchanges, partnerships with various institutions for study around the world, and virtual international experiences are being vigorously explored.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is central to the Program, which is international in philosophy, methodology, and course content such that children and childhood will be approached as an international agenda of concern.

How do I apply for the OESC Vulnerable Sector Police Check

This is needed by all Children's Studies majors and minors and all students in the Children's Studies core courses?

As a major or minor in York's Children's Studies Program or as a member of one the four core courses in that program (AP/HUMA 1970 9.0A, AP/HUMA 2690, AP/HUMA 3695, and AP/HUMA 4142), you will be working with children in school settings and therefore must obtain a vulnerable sector screening police check by following the instructions below:

To get a vulnerable sector screening police check, required for you to work with children in Ontario schools, as soon as possible you need to go online to Police Record Checks at Ontario Education Services Corporation at www.oesc-cseo.org/English/checks.html .

Follow the OESC instructions on the payment form exactly regarding how to send the forms and the payment.

Keep your receipt (from your money order, VISA, or MasterCard) and a photocopy of your application to indicate that you have applied for your police check to prove that your application is in process.

Do this immediately. You will be required to carry your wallet-sized OESC card with you during each visit to the school.

You need only one OESC card even if you are involved with more than one of the above courses.

No other type of police check is acceptable.

Please do this immediately so that there is no delay in the start of your program.