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Children, Childhood & Youth

Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Honours

Understand the human condition from the perspectives of young people. Our program takes a child-centred and children's rights-based approach to this relatively new field of study. You will explore the many facets of global childhoods from award-winning faculty members and distinguished researchers.

Our interdisciplinary and humanities-based approaches include courses from sociology, psychology, literature, history, anthropology, and human rights and equity studies. You will gain knowledge, skills and experience for working in child- and youth-focused settings and organizations. This program also opens doors to further study, including advocacy work, counselling, education, health and wellness, international development and much more.

You will learn:


  • Gain new and critical understandings of children and youth, their cultures and their rights.
  • Get a solid background in youth social justice advocacy and community engagement practices. 
  • Develop vital career skills including effective communication, teamwork, critical thinking and problem solving.

Hands-on experiences 


  • Lead research with young people in the wider Toronto community in our 4th-year honours research project. 
  • Participate in a wide range of experiential activities in the classroom and community.
  • Participate in a range of experiences with young people, both globally and locally.

Our focus is on understanding the human condition from the perspectives of young people. You will have the opportunity to explore experiences and representations of young people across time and space, engage in advocacy work concerning young people and focus on the rights of young people and the cultures they produce. Through our classes, our students refine their critical thinking skills - making them very competitive in the job market.

— Alison Halsall
Associate Professor & Program Coordinator, Children, Childhood & Youth

male and female student in front of dahdaleh building on keele campus