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Bachelor of Child Studies — Child and Youth Care Counsellor (BCST)
Why study child and youth care counselling?
Support youth through life’s challenges by building real skills in mental health, relationships and resilience.
Support vulnerable children, youth and families facing life’s challenges by building strong, therapeutic relationships. MRU’s Bachelor of Child Studies — Child and Youth Care Counsellor in Calgary helps you develop counselling, advocacy and intervention skills rooted in relational practice and child and adolescent development. You’ll gain important knowledge in mental health and trauma-informed care, preparing you to make a difference in schools, community programs and adolescent residential care settings. Graduate ready to become a certified child and youth care professional and launch a meaningful career supporting youth mental health and resilience.
Program highlights
- Complete practicum placements in schools, shelters and community programs across Calgary
- Design, implement and evaluate youth programs grounded in evidence-based practice
- Develop counselling and case management skills used in child protection and justice settings
- Gain hands-on experience supporting youth with mental health and substance use challenges
Career possibilities
What jobs can I get with a child and youth care counsellor degree?
Graduates go on to support children and youth in schools, treatment programs, residential care, justice settings and beyond. Some of the careers you can pursue include:
MRU gave me real-life, community experience.
— MRU alum, Julia Wenzel
BCST — Child and Youth Care Counsellor (2017)
Curriculum and courses
What courses will I take in child and youth care counselling?
Learn how to build trust, offer meaningful therapeutic support and passionately advocate for young people.
Explore full curriculum and coursesYear 1
|Years 2-4
Curriculum snapshot – Year 1
Experiential learning
Gain hands-on experience supporting vulnerable children, youth and families through practicum placements in diverse care settings.
- Complete your work placements in schools, shelters and community programs
- Build therapeutic relationships while applying counselling, advocacy, and intervention strategies in practical settings
- Take part in Community Service Learning to integrate academic study and community service for hands-on learning experiences
- Broaden your perspective through immersive study abroad and field school experiences
Admission requirements
When you apply to MRU, you’ll need to meet both general admission requirements and any additional criteria specific to your chosen program. Requirements can vary, so it’s important to review what’s needed for your area of interest.
Select your admission category:
High school
Post-secondary transfer
Mature student
Admission category: High school
High school applicants must submit five Grade 12 courses for admission. These five courses must include the required subjects for the program you’re applying to. These required subjects are part of Group A.
To complete your five courses, additional subjects may be used from Group A, B, or C.
More admissions info for high school applicantsWhat are the requirements for the Bachelor of Child Studies — Child and Youth Care Counsellor?
- English Language Arts 30-1 - 60%
Practicum requirements
All Bachelor of Child Studies students preparing for practicum must provide a current Police Information Check and Intervention Record Check, at their own expense.
Applying from another province or country?
If you're applying from outside Alberta, you'll need to know which of your courses match Alberta Grade 12 courses.
Check out our provincial equivalencies chart if you're from another Canadian province or the international credentials chart if you're applying from outside Canada.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to meet two separate English requirements to be admitted to Mount Royal:
- You’ll need to successfully complete an English course if it’s part of your program’s admission requirements
- Show that you meet Mount Royal’s English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements
Admission deadlines
Fall 2026 intake
Early admission
Oct. 1, 2025 - Feb. 1, 2026
Ongoing admission based on program space and availability
Feb. 2, 2026 - programs closed
What is early admission?
During the early admission period, all applications are treated as though they were received at the exact same time. This means all competitively qualified applicants will be accommodated. At MRU, we actually receive most of our applications and fill many of our programs from applications submitted during early admission. It is an ideal time to apply and helps expedite the process so you hear back earlier too.
Early admission deadlines
Fall Semester:
Early admission is open from Oct. 1 to Feb 1.
Winter Semester:
Early admission is open from Oct. 1 to Nov. 1.
Costs
We know your investment in post-secondary education is a big deal. Make sure you’re on the right financial track by reviewing the costs, scholarships and financial support available.
How much does Bachelor of Child Studies — Child and Youth Care Counsellor cost?
The cost of your studies depends on a few things, like the program you choose and whether you’ll live at home or in Residence.
To get a better idea of what you might spend, try using our first-year student budget estimator. It gives a detailed breakdown of estimated costs.
You can also visit our tuition and costs page for full details on tuition and fees for a full year.
Does MRU offer scholarships or financial aid?
At Mount Royal, we want you to focus on your education, not worry about how to pay for it. There are many ways to help cover the cost of your studies.
Scholarships and bursaries
Mount Royal gives out over $5 million each year in scholarships and bursaries! These awards look at things like your grades, financial need and your involvement in school or the community.
Financial aid
There are financial aid options from the provincial and federal governments for both full-time and part-time students. These include student loans, grants and bursaries.
Other resources
You can also explore other ways to pay, like using RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans) or CPP (Canada Pension Plan) benefits.
How do I apply for scholarships and bursaries?
To be eligible for scholarships and bursaries, you must apply for Early Admission from Oct. 1 to Feb. 1. You can apply for scholarships and bursaries from Nov. 1 to March 1.
Have questions?
Our info sessions are a great way to explore MRU programs, learn how to apply and connect with people who are here to help.
Book an info sessionConnect with the Admissions and Recruitment Office for more one-on-one support.
Contact us
Why MRU
At MRU, learning is about more than lectures and textbooks. It’s about evolving through experience. With small class sizes, supportive faculty and hands-on opportunities, students are encouraged to think critically, push boundaries and uncover what they’re capable of. MRU helps students build the skills, confidence and curiosity to shape meaningful futures in Calgary and beyond.
Discover why MRULearn about the additional supports and services we have available specifically for:
International students Indigenous studentsFaculty of Healthy, Community and Education
Mount Royal is pleased to offer the Bachelor of Education — Elementary, the Bachelor of Social Work, the Bachelor of Child Studies degree, including majors in Child and Youth Care Counsellor and Early Learning and Child Care, and a diploma in Social Work.
Virtual information sessions
Select a session that suits you. Choose from general information, specific by program, drop in Q&A, or attend an Indigenous or international student session.
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