CYC
210

CYC 210 is for students who have not previously completed a Human Services diploma. If you have questions regarding this, check with an adviser.

The 210 practicum is an introduction to observation and recording strategies in the field of child and youth care. It's usually conducted in a developmental setting such as early childhood centres, after-school care settings and youth programs.

If you wish to pursue the early years specialization and obtain ECE certification, you must indicate this on your CYC 210 practicum request form so arrangements can be made for you to complete your practicum in a licensed child care centre. You'll be assessed by your practicum supervisor using the ECE Registry's competencies for early childhood educators.

You'll need to retain this assessment for further evaluation by a licensed ECE supervisor for your CYC 410 or 410A practicum as well.

Check the UVic calendar for prerequisites and when the practicum courses are scheduled.

Consider volunteering

First and second year students are encouraged to do volunteer work during their school year. The experience will enhance the learning gained in the 100- and 200-level core CYC courses. A list of volunteer opportunities may be available at your local library for volunteer centre.

CYC
310/310A

CYC 310 is offered in the third year of the program. It's for students with some field experience, and is usually in a developmental setting like:

• elementary schools
• after-school care
• early childhood centres
• youth drop-in
• parent education programs

These placements will help you gain a developmental perspective before moving into more specialized areas.

Are you entering the program with extensive experience working with children/youth? If so, you can challenge this practicum or request a more specialized placement by contacting our practica coordinator.

• 286 hours of direct service time with clients and consultation with supervisors.
• Term placements start in September and end in April.
• You'll be expected to participate in practicum for about 11 hours per week.
• Block placements of 20 to 25 hours per week are also available at various times throughout the year.

Check the UVic calendar for prerequisites and when the practicum courses are scheduled.

Learn about course challenge

CYC
410

CYC 410 is often more specialized, depending on your interests.

Early years specialization

if you're completing an early years specialization you'll complete your practicum in an early years setting.

Early years students who want to be certified as early childhood educators must complete this practicum in a child care centre. You'll need to master any outstanding child care competencies specified by the ECE Registry in your fourth-year practicum.

• 286 hours of direct service time with clients and consultation with supervisors.
• Term placements start in September and end in April.
• You'll be expected to participate in practicum for about 11 hours per week.
• Block placements of 20 to 25 hours per week are also available at various times throughout the year by contacting the practica coordinator.

Check the UVic calendar for prerequisites.

Child protection specialization (applies to BC students only)

Students in the child protection specialization stream will be doing their last practicum with the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) in a child protection office.

These are block practicums only. You must have all core child and youth care courses completed before you can begin this practicum. You are also required to complete 400 hours, which means working full-time during the 12-week term.

To begin the process of being placed in a specialized practicum, you must submit a practicum request form, current resume, cover letter and two letters of reference to Michelle Koroll, practica coordinator, by the due date.

This information is then passed on to the MCFD field placement coordinator for the region where you live. There are five regions in the province: Vancouver Island, Coastal Vancouver, Macro Fraser, North and South Interior, and Northern Region.

Cover letters should be addressed to the MCFD field placement coordinator. They should include your reasons for wanting to specialize in child protection, and three different locations where you are willing to travel to complete the practicum.

Cover letters must include your current address, phone number and email address. Letters of reference should be from a current or recent employer, practicum supervisor or practicum instructor.

Once the field placement coordinator has received the above information, they will contact you to set a time for a pre-screening interview and give you resources to prepare. The pre-screening interview may also include a written questionnaire in addition to a personal meeting.

Following the pre-screening interview, the field placement coordinator will send you to an MCFD Child Protection office where you’ll be interviewed by the team leader and/or a senior child protection worker. Some offices prefer to do panel interviews.

You’ll also need to complete the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General forms for the criminal record check. Get these from the practica coordinator. You cannot start your practicums until your criminal record check forms have been processed and returned to the School of Child and Youth Care.

**For specialization students residing outside of B.C., all efforts will be made into finding practicum placements within your provincial Ministry or agency responsible for child protection.

For more information about the child protection specialization stream or the specialized practicum, please contact Michelle Koroll at 250-721-6371 or mkoroll@uvic.ca.

Practicum request
forms

If you're interested in registering for CYC 210, CYC 310 or CYC 410, you must submit a practicum request form, resume and cover letter by:

Practicum dates	Form due	International practicum due date
May-August (summer block)	January 15	September 15
September-April (term)	March 15	January 15
January (block, 4th year only)	September 15	March 15

International
practicums

About international practicums

About international practicums

Many CYC students have traveled extensively and developed an interest in international child and youth care. Others have developed this interest through their course work or involvement with international agencies like the Red Cross, Canadian International Development Agency or the United Nations.

If you have an interest in international child and youth care we encourage you to develop these interests further through an international practicum. To be eligible you must have successfully completed all required and elective courses in the child and youth care program.

These practicums are only offered in a block format. They can take place in any country that’s considered safe, and where there’s access to technology (specifically email and web access). You’ll be required to do thorough research on your country of choice and the agency where you’ll be placed.

The 410 Advanced Practicum course is demanding at the best of times and, coupled with the adjustment of being in a foreign country, is an option that should only be considered by the experienced, self-motivated and skilled student who works well with minimal supervision.

An international practicum places unique demands upon the student, the most important of which is the demand to integrate learned knowledge, skills and self-awareness into a totally new setting with little time for assimilation and accommodation.

Contact a practicum adviser if you’re interested in an international practicum.

International practicum manual

International practicum manual

Paula Klassen and Nashira Birch have written an international practicum manual based on their international experiences – before, during and after. We hope that their journey will answer some of your questions and give you more to think about.

How to apply

How to apply

The application deadline for international practicums is different than other practicums. Your practicum request form, resume, and application package are due by March 15 for a January practicum, and by September 15 for a May practicum. A committee of internationally-experienced CYC faculty members will review the applications and interview each applicant before final acceptance is given.

The application package includes:

1. A practicum request form
2. A letter of intent -- an essay on why an overseas practicum placement is an appropriate choice. It must include:
   • a self-evaluation on what personal attributes you possess which would assist you in working internationally
   • a description of relevant experiences and how they will contribute to, and enhance, your international practice;
   • an explanation of how you are going to tap into the resources of the country/community you are visiting
   • an explanation of how you will connect with the local knowledge
3. Agency information:
   • name of agency
   • name of contact person/supervisor
   • agency’s address, phone number, email, fax, website
   • type of agency, kind of services, client, population
4. Budget projection that includes:
   • tuition fees and course materials
   • transportation costs to and from placement
   • required inoculations
   • health insurance coverage
   • extended/emergency health insurance for your placement
   • visas for practicum placement (if applicable)
   • accommodation
   • daily living expenses (food, transportation, web access)
   • personal supplies
   • passport expenses
   • other incidentals

If you’re interested in doing an international practicum, please contact Miriam Curtis at 250-721-6475 or mcurtis@uvic.ca after reading the international practicum manual.

Record checks

All SCYC students must complete criminal record checks before beginning their practicum placements. The process may vary from province to province.

Practicums in BC

Students completing practicum placements in BC will follow the criminal record checks (CRC) process regulated by the government of BC for anyone volunteering or working in BC with children and/or vulnerable adults.

If you are completing your practicum placement in BC and have not already completed the new CRC process, you will need to submit the application form to the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General along with your payment of $20.

Once your CRC is completed, the ministry will send the processed form to the school for our records. You’ll also need to send the practicum coordinators copies of two pieces of government-issued ID, one with a picture, to verify your identification. A driver's license or a passport is preferred along with a CARE card. These can be faxed to 250-721-6374. You can also have your ID copied and verified by someone at our general office if you live in Victoria. Please note that until we receive the ministry-processed form, you will not be able to begin your practicum.

Practicums outside BC

If you’re completing your practicum in a province other than BC, you’ll need to follow the legislation and/or agency requirements pertaining to criminal record checks for your particular area.

Previous CRC form submissions

Have you submitted a CRC form, administered by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, to your place of employment or your last practicum site? If so, you need to send a copy to the practicum coordinators. A criminal record check done at the local police department is no longer valid.