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Youth Work Diploma

Graduate Diploma (GrDip)

Offered by:
Department of Applied Human SciencesFaculty of Arts & Science

Program overview

The Graduate Diploma in Youth Work gives you an understanding of the various approaches and practices used in the field, combining the latest principles of youth development with training in clinical interventions. You will develop the skills needed to support young people aged 10 to 30 while gaining exposure to a variety of professional settings. Under the guidance of our faculty members you will learn about a wide range of clinical approaches with young people, including an emphasis on relational, emancipatory and psycho-educational techniques. Montreal’s culturally diverse population offers work opportunities with groups in need such as First Nations and refugee youth, as well as programs in addiction and residential care. Our courses are designed to support your development of professional competencies including your professional autonomy and responsibility, while building your professional identity and advancing your career goals or leveraging your pursuit of further graduate studies. 

Program details

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
  • Prerequisites at the undergraduate level include at least three credits in adolescent development and three credits in social science research methods.
  • Evidence of some volunteer or work experience with children or youth is required.
  • Candidates must be aware that a Police Check is required prior to an internship placement.
  • Proficiency in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate that their knowledge of English is sufficient to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. Please refer to the English language proficiency page for further information on requirements and exemptions.

Degree Requirements

Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 33 credits.

Please see the Applied Human Sciences Courses page for course descriptions.

Youth Work Graduate Diploma (33 credits)

24

credits of Required Courses:

  AHSC 510 Advanced Research Methods in Youth Work (3.00)
  AHSC 520 Psychoeducation and Youth Work Ethics in Practice (3.00)
  AHSC 522 Fundamentals of Child and Youth Care Work (3.00)
  AHSC 525 Individual and Group Intervention with Youth (3.00)
  AHSC 527 Advanced Youth Work Intervention: Case Management and Supervision (3.00)
  AHSC 530 Community Youth Development (3.00)
  AHSC 540 Mental Health and Addictions: Youth Work Perspectives, Policies and Practices (3.00)
  AHSC 565 Parent-Child Relations (3.00)

9credits chosen from Youth Work Graduate Diploma Electives or Youth Work Graduate Diploma Required Fieldwork courses.

Youth Work Graduate Diploma Electives (12 credits)

In cases where cross-listed courses at the undergraduate level have already been completed, the candidate is required to select electives from the courses listed below to fulfill the 33-credit requirement. All substitutions must be made in consultation with the program advisor.

  AHSC 512 Sexuality in Human Relations (3.00)
  AHSC 513 Family Communication (3.00)
  AHSC 551 Counselling Skills and Concepts (6.00)
  AHSC 560 Health Promotion (6.00)
  AHSC 598 Special Topics in Youth Work (3.00)
  AHSC 599 Independent Study (3.00)

Youth Work Graduate Diploma Required Fieldwork

9

credits chosen from one of the following:

Internship in Youth Work I and II

Extended Internship

Internship in Youth Work I and II

  AHSC 533 Internship I in Youth Work (3.00)
  AHSC 537 Internship II in Youth Work (6.00)

Extended Internship

  AHSC 538 Extended Internship in Youth Work (9.00)

Your completed application will include:

  • Application form and Fee
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Two Letters of Reference and assessment form
  • Statement of purpose (a maximum of 2 pages) should outline:
    • your related volunteer and/or work experience and why the Youth Work program is of interest to you
    • how the Youth Work program is aligned with your professional or personal goals
    • your strengths and areas for growth in your professional/personal development
    • your planned commitments in contributing to the Youth Work cohort community as a student in the program
    • the Youth Work program in Applied Human Sciences is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and accessible learning community. Social justice and addressing inequities are central features of Youth Work professional practice. As part of your Statement of Purpose, we ask that you speak to your understanding of, and contribution to, equity, diversity and inclusion in your personal, professional and academic journeys. Applicants from underrepresented and marginalized groups are encouraged to self-identify. 
  • Transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended
  • Proof of Canadian citizenship (if applicable)
  • Applicants whose primary language is not English, are required to submit official language test scores, unless exempted.

Please apply online. Read the how-to guide for application procedures. 

  DEGREE
 
FALL
(September)
WINTER
(January)
SUMMER
(May/June)
Youth Work Diploma Feb. 1 n/a n/a

  • Fundamentals of Child and Youth Care Work
  • Individual and Group Intervention with Youth
  • Community Youth Development
  • Parent-Child Relations
  • Mental Health and Addictions: Youth Work Perspectives, policies and practices 
  • Youth Work Ethics

Consult the Graduate Calendar for a list of courses.

Timeline for full-time students:

TERM 1: FALL 
TERM 2: WINTER TERM 3: SUMMER

AHSC 510
AHSC 522*
AHSC 525
AHSC 540
*elective to be taken in fall to replace 522

AHSC 520
AHSC 527
AHSC 530
AHSC 533
AHSC 565*
*elective to be taken in winter to replace 565
AHSC 537 or 538

 

Timeline for part-time students:

2 courses per term

  TERM 1: FALL
TERM 2: WINTER TERM 3: SUMMER
 

AHSC 525

AHSC 522*

*elective to replace 522 to be taken in fall

AHSC 527

AHSC 565*
*elective to replace 565 to be taken in the winter

There are no courses during Term 3 for part-time students.

 

 

TERM 4: FALL

TERM 5: WINTER

TERM 6: SUMMER
 

AHSC 510

AHSC 540

AHSC 520
AHSC 530

AHSC 533 (subject to approval)

 

 

AHSC 537 or 538

 

*Cross-listed from Human Relations undergraduate program

A number of teaching assistantships are available and awarded on a competitive basis.

Students who have been admitted in the program are also encouraged to consult with the Graduate Program Director to discuss funding opportunities.

The internship component of our program provides you with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in a clinical or community youth work setting. The aim of the internship is to allow you to fully assume the duties and responsibilities of a youth worker in a designated placement site. Under the supervision of an on-site field supervisor, you are required to successfully complete 320 to 420 hours in an approved internship setting.

Sectors where students usually complete their internships include child protection, schools, rehabilitation centres, community organizations, hospitals, youth and family centres and clinics. A selection of sites placements are organized by the program or selected in consultation with the Graduate Program Director.

Our research-active faculty members are practitioners who are actively involved in a wide variety of fields, including child and youth care, counselling, family life education, human relations, leisure sciences, psychology, social work, organizational and community development, and therapeutic recreation.

Faculty research interests include:

  • adolescent development
  • applied research methods and methods planning
  • at-risk youth
  • bullying
  • chaos and complexity theories in human systems
  • community youth development
  • emerging adulthood
  • gay and homosexual men sexuality
  • homophobia, violence and applied interventions
  • Indigenous youth identity and healing
  • stereotyping processes
  • transitions to independent living
  • youth in care
  • mental health literacy

Our alumni are highly sought after by youth and family centres, hospitals, school boards, community organizations, clinics, and drug rehabilitation centres. Recent graduates are working as child and family workers, behaviour specialists, social counsellors, therapeutic interventionists, educators, and human relations agents.

Examples of organizations our alumni are currently working for include:

  • ACCESS Open Minds
  • Agence Ometz
  • Batshaw Youth and Family Centres
  • Bartimaeus Inc.
  • Douglas Mental Health University Institute
  • McGill University Health Centre
  • Portage
  • SNAP West Island

“The biggest thing I took from the program was how hands-on it is. Even before our internship placement, we were interviewing youth, visiting schools and community centres, and doing projects that really built my confidence.”

Jennifer Singer

“This is definitely a place where you’ll experience some personal and professional growth, and where there’s value for whoever walks through the door.”

Kathryn Suchostawaski

“The professors in the program really challenge your own belief systems and the ways that you engage with child and youth work as a professional.”

Marianne Scarfo

“The sense of community begins in the class because the program allows us to work in groups and learn from one another. We get to engage with each other inside and outside the classroom.”

Sibusiso Moyo

1. Can the Graduate Diploma in Youth Work be completed on a part-time basis?

Yes. However, students’ learning experience is enhanced when taking the Youth Work program on a full-time basis. The core courses are offered sequentially, and once per year. The minimum recommended course load for part-time is 2 courses (6 credits), which would allow the completion of the diploma in 5 semesters over a 2-year period.

2.  What does an internship mean? How is it different from the undergraduate one? Are there limits on the duration of the internship (over what time period?) Can I take my internship before completing all courses?

An internship is an apprenticeship in Youth Work where you assume a professional role with the support of a site supervisor and a program instructor. The Youth Work internship in the provides an opportunity to build upon your prior work or internship experience and apply what you have learned from the courses in the program. The internship is completed over 2 semesters – Winter and Summer. Commencing your internship requires completion of core courses in the program and permission of the Department. Prospective applicants are advised that some internship opportunities require access to a vehicle, proof of COVID-19 vaccination, and fluency in French. 

3.  Can the internship be paid?

Internships are not paid positions. If your place of work has opportunities for you to take on a new role, that may be an acceptable internship but must be negotiated with the Graduate Program Director. The intent of the internship is to provide an opportunity for developing new skills, rather than provide credits for a job you are already engaged in and to provide for a learning experience.

4. Can I take courses in the program in the evening or online?

Some courses in the program will be offered in the evening.  There will also be courses that are scheduled intensively, in complete days rather than weekly over the course of the semester. However, it will be necessary to take a significant proportion of the courses in this diploma during the day. Working full time may not be possible for the whole length of the program.

5. Can I apply without having completed a course in adolescent development and/or research methods? What if I take it over the summer?

Yes. However, you must complete the required prerequisites before you begin the Youth Work program in September. If you can provide evidence that you will be taking the prerequisite course(s) over the summer, you may be considered for conditional acceptance pending the successful completion of the course(s).

6. Can in-service training or professional workshops count as the prerequisites for admission?

If you have taken professional training or workshop in Human Development or Research with Youth, you can ask for those trainings to be considered towards the prerequisite for the program. To do so, you must submit documentation about the training, either a written outline provided by the trainer or a letter from the organization.

7.  What if I don’t have any experience working with youth?

An important prerequisite of this program is some experience with children or youth. This can be volunteer experience, work at a camp, and can be a time limited experience. Please avail yourself of the many volunteer experiences in the local community. Prior internship experience with youth, such as completion of AHSC 436 Youth and Family Internship, is advantageous.

8.  When will notices for acceptance be sent out?

You will be notified of our decision by mid-late April.

9.  Will you have interviews?

We will be conducting telephone interviews when the admissions committee judges that an interview is required to clarify some aspects of the application.

10.  What do I include in my Statement of Purpose?

The Statement of Purpose is your opportunity to explain your reasons for coming in to the program, and how your background has prepared you for this program. It is your opportunity to communicate anything you think is important for us to know when we are considering your application.

11.  Can my reference letters come from out of country? Can they deal with work with young children?

Your reference letters can come from anywhere as long as they arrive in time to complete your file. Experience with young children is considered relevant for admission.

12. What are the job opportunities for graduates of this program?

There are a range of excellent job opportunities for graduates of this program, depending on their interests, their choice of internship and prior experience. Qualified youth workers are in high demand in the community sector as well as in youth mental health, education and child welfare. 

13. How does the Graduate Diploma in Youth Work contribute to my application to a professional order in Quebec?

Past graduates of the Youth Work program have successfully used their coursework to build towards an application by equivalency for membership in professional orders in Quebec. If you are planning on applying to a professional order after completing the Youth Work program, you are advised to contact the Order of interest directly for more information on applying by equivalency in relation to your overall individual profile (e.g., work experience, undergraduate degree, etc.), including information on any requirements for additional courses completed outside of Concordia University.

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