Early Childhood Education Program (C100)
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Domestic StudentsProgram Description
Leadership Claims
Preparing graduates to work as Early Childhood Educators for more than 20 years.
Program Overview
Full Description
Early Childhood Education is a two-year diploma program that combines alternating blocks of classroom theory and field practice to provide students with both theoretical and practical training. Students learn to work with infants, toddlers, preschool and school-aged children in a variety of early childhood education settings.
Each semester is divided into blocks of seven weeks. One block is for academic study, the other is for field placement.
ACCELERATED OPTION (16 Consecutive Months)
For students who are eager to enter the field of Early Childhood Education and are able to study without any significant breaks, we offer an accelerated stream that runs for 16 consecutive months (4 continuous semesters). For more details visit our Early Childhood Education (Accelerated) (C160) program.
FAST-TRACK – DIRECT ENTRY (10 MONTHS)
You may qualify for the fast-track program if you have a diploma or degree in a related field. For details visit program C130.
Your Field Education Options
Students complete a seven-week field placement in each semester of the program. During this time, students have the opportunity to work with children of different age groups in a variety of settings.
Field placement provides a continuum of experience that gives students the opportunity to integrate and apply theory to practice.
To support student learning outcomes and ensure you have access to facilities that reflect the best practices we consider essential, we own and operate 12 child care centres located across the Greater Toronto Area. These lab schools expose you to the kinds of environments where you will eventually work and provide valuable services to the families and communities that they serve.
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Your Career
Graduates of this program may find employment in:
- child care centres
- early years centres
- full-day Kindergarten
- parent resource centres
- pediatric playrooms
- special education settings
- integrated kindergartens
- therapeutic nursery programs
- in-home care
Courses
Required Courses
SEMESTER 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ECE1075 | Foundations of ECE |
| PSY1075 | Infant and Child Development |
| ECE1069 | Health, Safety and Nutrition |
| ECE1070 | Interpersonal Communication |
| ECE1181 | Integrated Seminar 1 |
| ECE2045 | Applied Curriculum |
| ECE1024 | Field Practice I for ECE |
| COMM1007 | College English |
SEMESTER 2
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ECE1075 | Foundations of ECE |
| PSY1075 | Infant and Child Development |
| ECE1069 | Health, Safety and Nutrition |
| ECE1070 | Interpersonal Communication |
| ECE1026 | Field Practice II |
| GSSC1064 | Introduction to Sociology |
| ECE1089 | Observation, Planning and Evaluation |
| ECE1182 | Integrated Seminar II |
| ECE2045 | Applied Curriculum |
| ECE1000 | Professional Development Workshop 1 |
SEMESTER 3
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ECE2048 | Policy, Advocacy and Legislation |
| ECE2049 | Inclusion In Early Childhood |
| ECE2050 | Working with Families |
| ECE2014 | Field Practice III |
| GHUM1041 | History of Social Policy in Canada |
| ECE1080 | Professional Development Workshop 2 |
| ECE2053 | Curriculum Theory |
| ECE2056 | Creative Curriculum |
| ECE1183 | Integrated Seminar III |
| GNED | General Education Elective |
SEMESTER 4
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ECE2048 | Policy, Advocacy and Legislation |
| ECE2049 | Inclusion In Early Childhood |
| ECE2050 | Working with Families |
| ECE2017 | Field Practice IV |
| GHUM1041 | History of Social Policy in Canada |
| ECE1080 | Professional Development Workshop 2 |
| ECE2053 | Curriculum Theory |
| ECE1184 | Integrated Seminar IV |
| GNED | General Education Elective |
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Design, implement and evaluate inclusive and play-based early learning curriculum and programs that support children’s holistic development and are responsive to individual children’s and groups of children’s observed abilities, interests and ideas.
- Establish and maintain inclusive early learning environments that support diverse, equitable and accessible developmental and learning opportunities for all children and their families.
- Select and use a variety of screening tools, observation and documentation strategies to review, support and promote children’s learning across the continuum of early childhood development.
- Establish and maintain responsive relationships with individual children, groups of children and families.
- Assess, develop and maintain safe, healthy and quality early learning environments which meet the requirements of current legislation, agency policies and evidence-based practices in early learning.
- Prepare and use professional written, verbal, nonverbal and electronic communications when working with children, families, colleagues, employers, and community partners.
- Identify, select and apply relevant legislation, regulations, College of Early Childhood Educators Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, policies and evidence-based practice guidelines, and interpret their impact on a variety of early learning environments.
- Apply a developing personal philosophy of early learning in accordance with ethical and professional standards of early childhood education practice.
- Advocate for quality early learning environments and collaborate with members of the early learning team, families and community partners to establish and promote such settings.
- Engage in reflective practice, develop learning goals and maintain an ongoing professional development plan in accordance with evidence-based practices in early learning and related fields.
- Plan, implement and evaluate Indigenous early learning curriculum, programs and environments that promote children’s, families and communities knowledge of and respect for Indigenous peoples and their cultures.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Fall 2018. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2019 and at later dates.
International students: Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are selected on the basis of their academic achievement, including the required courses, and any other selection criteria outlined below.
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent**
- Grade 12 English (C or U) PLUS any additional (3) Grade 12 C, U, M or Grade 11 C, U or M credits
- Mandatory Information session – Only applicants who receive a conditional offer will be required to attend the information session. Other arrangements will be made for applicants who live outside the Greater Toronto Area and/or are unable to attend the information session.
** Mature Student status (19 years of age or older and no OSSD)
Mature Students may take the Admissions Assessment for English, OR may consider upgrading to achieve the credit(s) needed in English.
Please note that George Brown is committed to ensuring that applicants will succeed in their program of choice and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Applicants may be required to have grades higher than the minimum requirements stated.
Course Exemptions
College or university credits may qualify you for course exemptions. Please visit georgebrown.ca/transferguide for more information.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
Special Requirements
Field placement is a mandatory and complex component of the program. Should accommodation issues arise, an Accessible Learning Consultant may be called upon to assist the applicant in determining whether she/he can meet the requirements necessary for safe caregiving for young children.
In compliance with requests from our student placement partners and requirements from Public Health and Ontario legislation, all students in this program must have completed the following prior to beginning field placement:
- Standard First Aid with CPR level C course
- Police Vulnerable Sector Check
- Medical Clearance
Students who are unable to provide completed field clearance documents may be unable to complete their field placement and, therefore, be unable to complete the program.
For more information on the ECE Field Placement requirements, please email ece@georgebrown.ca
How to Apply
Apply To
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown College Online Application System.
Contact Us
School of Early Childhood
Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 2310
Email: ece@georgebrown.ca
Our office hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
For more information about George Brown College, you may also call the Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 (TTY 1-877-515-5559) or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
