Program Overview

Early Childhood Education

Overview

Quality early childhood education (ECE) is critical in preparing children for future learning. Early childhood educators play an integral role in promoting children’s development from birth to age 12 within the following five domains: cognitive, social, emotional, language and physical.

Program Details

This program will prepare you to meet the diverse needs of the early childhood education profession. You will acquire the knowledge and practical skills necessary to foster social, emotional, cognitive and physical development in children from infancy to age 12. Key areas of practice will focus on building relationships and guiding children; curriculum development and implementation; health, wellness and safety and professionalism.

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
• Grade 12 English (C or U) (minimum 60 per cent)
• Recommended: Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Tuition

• Year one domestic: $2,722 (CAD)
• Year one international: $15,309 (CAD)

Courses

Semester 1

• Child Development 1 (CHLD 1100)
• Communication Foundations (COMM 1100)
• Curriculum Development 1 (EDUC 1105)
• Field Placement Preparation (FDPL 1101)
• Wellness for Children (HLTH 1305)
• Indigenous Elective (INDG 0000)
• Introduction to ECE Practices (LAWW 1100)

Semester 2

• Guidance Of The Young Child (CHLD 1200)
• Observing The Young Child (CHLD 1201)
• Child Development 2 (CHLD 1202)
• Academic Writing for Success Strategies (COMM 2715)
• Field Placement 1 (ECEP 1200)
• Curriculum Development 2 (EDUC 1201)
• Field Placement Preparation 2 (FDPL 1200)

Semester 3

• Introduction to Exceptionalities (CHLD 2100)
• Field Placement 2 (ECEP 2100)
• Curriculum Development 3 (EDUC 2100)
• Field Placement Preparation 3 (FDPL 2102)
• General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
• General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
• Personal and Professional Wellness (HLTH 2305)

Semester 4

• Field Placement 3 and Seminar (ECEP 2200)
• Partnerships With Parents (EDUC 2200)
• Ethics and Professional Practice (ETHC 2203)
• Prevention and Identification Of Child Abuse (LAWW 2203)
• Philosophies Of Early Childhood Education (PHIL 2200)

Career Options

• Early childhood educator
• Early learning and care supervisor

Experiential Learning

Your learning experience will be complemented by three separate field placements (one in Semester 2, one in Semester 3, and one in Semester 4). All placements happen under the supervision of a Registered ECE. These field placement opportunities will be chosen from a variety of early learning settings that serve young children and their families.

Tech Requirements

• Processor: i3
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional or Education x64 SP1
• Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Google Chrome (newest version) or Firefox (newest version)
• Network Adapter: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter
• Camera: Webcam/built-in camera
• Internet connection

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Qualified graduates can apply to Durham College’s Communicative Disorders Assistant, Autism and Behavioural Sciences and Victim Justice and Interventions graduate certificate programs.

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:

• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Educational Studies and Digital Technology - Ontario Tech University (Ontario Tech)
• Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) bridge - Ontario Tech
• Bachelor of Professional Arts Human Services - Athabasca University
• Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Hons) - Brock University
• Bachelor of Business Administration – General Business - Davenport University
• Bachelor of Arts, majoring in: Creative Writing, History, Journalism, Screen Studies, or Sociology - Griffith University
• Bachelor of Child, Youth and Family Practice - Griffith University
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Child Studies - University of Guelph
• BASc in Early Childhood Degree Completion - Guelph University
• Bachelor of Arts – Early Childhood Education & Care - Institute of Technology Carlow
• Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Care and Education - Institute of Technology, Tralee (Ireland)
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education - Lakehead University
• Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Studies - Toronto Metropolitan University
• Bachelor of General Studies -Thompson Rivers University
• Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education - University of New Brunswick
• Bachelor of Social Work - University of Windsor
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Disability Studies - University of Windsor

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Create learning contexts to enable, build and maintain caring, responsive relationships in partnerships with children, families and communities that value and respect social, cultural and linguistic diversity including Indigenous peoples’ worldviews and Francophone identity.
2. Co-create, facilitate and reflect upon inquiry and play-based early years and child care programs and pedagogical approaches to support children’s learning, holistic development and well-being following children’s capabilities, interests, ideas and experiences.
3. Co-design and maintain inclusive early learning environments to value and support equitable, accessible and meaningful learning opportunities for all children, their families and communities in a range of early years and child care settings.
4. Collaborate with children, families, colleagues, agencies and community partners to create, maintain, evaluate and promote safe and healthy early learning environments to support independence, reasonable risk-taking and healthy development and well-being.
5. Use observation strategies to identify children’s strengths and challenges and to ascertain when children and families might benefit from additional support or community resources.
6. Use professional communication in interactions with children, families, colleagues, employers, the regulatory body, government authorities and children’s service agencies to meet legal and ethical standards of the early years sector.
7. Act in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations, College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, agency policies and procedures and principles of evidence-informed practice and reflect upon their impact on one’s own role in early years and child care settings.
8. Identify, report and document when a child is in a situation of perceived risk for, or actual neglect or abuse, in accordance with legislation, the College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, policies and procedures.
9. Create and engage in partnerships with families, communities, colleagues, inter-disciplinary professionals, authorities and child service agencies to advocate for quality early years and child care programs and services.
10. Engage in reflective practice and continuous professional learning in accordance with principles of lifelong learning, evidence-informed practices in the early years sector and requirements of the College of Early Childhood Educators.