BCYC program requirements

Your program requirements are governed by the year in which you were admitted to the program. This year’s program requirements can be viewed in the current calendar. Please note: Some CYC undergraduate courses may only be offered in an online format.  This may have implications for student loan eligibility for international students. Some funding organizations may also have specific requirements for face-to-face coursework.

SCYC updates program requirements periodically. In alignment with university regulations, SCYC provides transitional planning for five years following changes to our curriculum. For information on program requirements:

Specialization requirements

Customize your degree by choosing a specialization stream as part of your BCYC degree. 

Child Protection stream

Students pursuing the child protection specialization will be introduced to and will explore the latest policy, legislation and practice frameworks in child welfare practices. Students will work with critical theories, contextual analysis, and decolonizing praxis, with an emphasis on ethical and responsive frameworks. The courses explores child welfare systems across Canada, however learners will need to consider there is a specific focus on BC provincial legislation and policies. There is one required course and a practicum specific to child protection that need to be fulfilled. The courses are CYC 350 and CYC 411 practicum block. Please note, CYC 250 is a required prerequisite for CYC 350.

BC Students in the child protection specialization must complete all core CYC courses and a 4th year practicum with the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) or a Delegated Aboriginal Agency. These are block practicums only (CYC 411). Students must have all pre and co-requisite courses completed before they can begin this practicum. This is a full-time practicum for approximately 35 hours per week, for a total of 400 hours.

There are five possible regions that students may be accepted to work or practice for the child protection specialization; Vancouver Island, Coastal Vancouver, South/East Fraser, North and South Interior, and Northern Region. 

Students are required to meet a minimum grade of 65% (C+) in the course in order to fulfill their specialization requirement.

Courses required for the child protection specialization:

Course number Course title Units Notes
CYC 250 Law, Indigenous People and the TRC Calls to Action 1.5 Core course needed as prerequisite for CYC 350.
CYC 350 Applying CYC Practice in Child Welfare Contexts 1.5 Required for child protection specialization.

CYC 411

 Advanced Supervised Block Practicum 4.5 400 hour block practicum. Must be completed at MCFD or Delegated Aboriginal Agencies (otherwise known as DAA's)

Early Years stream

An Early Years Specialization is one of the features that makes the Bachelor of Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria truly unique! Early Years specialization courses recognize the critical importance of children’s early experiences on their life journey and the growing demand for early years CYC practitioners to work in a diverse range of settings that support the health and wellbeing of infants, young children, and their families. The courses, including one dedicated practicum, emphasize developing knowledge, skills and leadership in program development and evaluation, critical policy analysis, and advocacy in local and global contexts with an overarching commitment towards advancing social justice and equity for all families raising young children.

All Early Years specialization courses are offered online (distance) during third and fourth year of the Bachelor in Child and Youth Care (BCYC) program.

CYC students who enter the program in first year can apply to begin the Early Years specialization in their third year.

NOTE: The Early Years Specialization does NOT lead to Early Childhood Education (ECE) certification. Various ECE programs are available throughout BC and some may be available online.

Required Early Years courses include:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
CYC 382 Early Years Program Approaches 1.5 CYC 382 is a prerequisite for CYC 482.
CYC 482 Leadership, Advocacy and Program Planning in the Early Years 1.5
CYC 410/CYC 411 Advanced Supervised Practicum/Advanced Supervised Block Practicum 4.5 Must be completed in an agency or organization relevant to early years, depending on previous early years experience and education.

 

Indigenous stream

The Indigenous specialization stream will introduce you to applied cultural, professional and theoretical frameworks for respectful practice with Indigenous children, youth, families, communities and nations.

This specialization is intended for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. Priority is given to Indigenous students. Core required courses are outlined on your academic advising form, and you must also complete the following courses to attain an Indigenous specialization:

Indigenous specialization requirements
Course number Course title Units Notes
CYC 330 Applied Practice in Indigenous Contexts 1.5 Prerequisites:CYC 250. Replaces CYC 370.
CYC 355 All My Relations Practice with Indigenous Families 1.5 Replaces CYC 356.
CYC 430 Research Practice in Indigenous Contexts 1.5 Replaces CYC 423.
CYC 410/CYC 411

Advanced Supervised Practicum*/Advanced Supervised Block Practicum*

*Must be completed in an Indigenous setting

 4.5 410 prerequisites: all third year courses; corequisite: fourth year courses; 411 co/prerequisite: CYC 475, all other core courses must be completed before starting 411. 

In addition to the Indigenous Specialization courses, the following electives are reserved for Indigenous students:

Course Number Course title Units

CYC 105

Circle Course

 ŚELEJSET XENEṈ OX̱ EṮ TŦE ŚW̱ ÍY, NOṈETs Sage 1.5

CYC 305

Circle Course

 ŚELEJSET XENEṈ OX̱ EṮ TŦE ŚW̱ ÍY, NOṈETs Cedar 1.5

 

Distance learning technical requirements

We’re committed to providing a high-quality learning environment for you. All distance courses are complemented by a web-classroom. Each web-classroom contains a course overview, assignments, communications tools, and a number of other valuable resources. You’ll find all the communications tools you need to interact with your fellow students.

All students admitted to a SCYC undergraduate program or taking child and youth care courses must have regular and reliable access to an up-to-date computer and high-speed internet for the duration of their program of studies. Students will also need to ensure their computer or other devices have the technology to allow them to participate in webconferencing and to record digital and audio for some assignments. Students require a UVic Netlink ID with a UVic e-mail address.

Once your course has begun, please use the web-classroom tools to communicate with your instructor and fellow classmates.

Please see the UVic Learn Anywhere online resources page for details.