Childhood and Social Institutions
This is the only interdisciplinary program of its kind in Canada. It combines a unique focus on identifying often overlooked child competencies, a constructive questioning of existing understandings of childhood, and an exploration of the implications of the changing status of children and childhood in Canada and internationally. We take a critical view of the social institutions around childhood – the home, the school, the legal system, the educational system, etc. Students will engage with a variety of courses which offer opportunities to deepen their knowledge in the area and will gain skills in critical thinking and social and historical analysis as well as understanding how childhood is experienced by children. Issues around children’s rights and children’s agency are a prominent feature of our courses.
There are two certificate/diploma programs associated with CSI, open to any student at King’s who meets admission requirements. The Certificate is for those currently registered in a degree program, while the diploma is for those who have already graduated.
Cert/Dip in Childhood and the Justice System: There have been significant changes in the legal status of children in Canada within the past decade with respect to both civil and criminal law. This program examines those changes and what they imply for court practices and procedures as well as the supports that are required in order to implement the new legal developments.
Cert/Dip in Advocacy and Childhood: Child advocacy is a growing field within Canada. Child and Youth advocacy offices have been established in each province, and many agencies working with children and youth have advocacy activities. In keeping with our understanding of future trends in advocacy this program examines ways of increasing appropriate forms of child engagement in advocacy environments while meeting mandated child protection and provision requirements.
Opportunities for international student exchange
We have exchange agreements with Malmö University in Sweden and with the University of Winchester in England.
Potential career paths
Many of our students take further studies after graduation (for example, in the health field, in Law, etc.) and many go on to study education. Other potential careers include professional careers in social policy, social work, or academic careers.
Topics covered in the program include
- histories of childhood
- changing images of children and childhood
- children and media
- children's geographies
- children's social worlds
- peer relations
- children, work and labour
- children's rights
- family and child poverty
- the politics of childhood
- children and the legal system
- family and childhood social policy
Student Testimonials
The small size of King’s gives me the opportunity to get to know professors and fellow students one on one.
The program gave me an outlook towards children … the way I look at every client and patient I serve is through a lens of advocacy and respect. I assume capacity and the highest of ability from every person I support … I view them as an equal, and that is largely because [the program] allowed me to understand the limits we put on others because of their social position.
I am working in the youth justice services department in a diversion program for youth aged 12-17 who have been in conflict with the law (…) The program gives youth sanctions that are proportionate to the crime the youth has committed but also strives to support youth and their families. The C.S.I. program was a catalyst for myself and the work that I am doing as I am continuing to strive to be an advocate for young people. I do not think I would be where I am today if it was not for the C.S.I. program
In regards to the CSI program I am very pleased that I chose CSI as my undergraduate degree. As an educator now I have a much broader understanding of childhood relative to time and place, not such a Westernized view of children and childhood as some of my colleagues may have. I am also grateful to have gained experience with research with children as a major component of my Honors degree.