Early Childhood Education (Online) Program C150 Program (Online) (C150)
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Domestic StudentsProgram Description
Leadership Claims
Preparing graduates to work as early childhood educators for more than 40 years.
Program Overview
George Brown's Early Childhood Education Diploma program will prepare you for a rewarding career in a rapidly evolving sector. In this online 16-month program stream, you will learn to work with children from six weeks to 12 years of age in a variety of early childhood education settings.
Full Description
George Brown's Early Childhood Education (C150) Diploma program will give you the knowledge and practical experience you need to support children's learning as they grow. Learning online, you will study the holistic developmental needs of infants (from six weeks), toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children (to 12 years). You will learn how to design inclusive education and care programs and respond to the unique needs and interests of a child.
You will also engage with families and the broader community.
This program alternates between online classes and in-person field placement experiences to solidify your learning as you go. This integrated approach will help you develop confidence in your skills as you progress throughout the program and ensure you are ready to work immediately upon graduation.
Accelerated Online Option (16 consecutive months)
If you are eager to enter the field and can study without significant breaks, apply to this online program stream that begins in January. You will complete your Early Childhood Education Diploma in just 16 consecutive months (four continuous semesters).
Your Field Education Options
As a student in the Early Childhood Education program, you will complete a seven-week field placement each semester. Each field placement will be an in-person experience.
While in the field, you will have the opportunity to work with children of different age groups in a variety of settings. Field placement provides a continuum of experience that will give you an invaluable opportunity to integrate and apply classroom theory as you develop a hands-on practice.
For students studying online who live within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), you will have access to our George Brown child care facilities that model the best practices we consider essential. We are proud to operate Ontario's largest network of college-run lab school child care centres that serve over 1,000 children and their families each year. These 13 child care centres, located across Toronto, will expose you to the kinds of environments where you will eventually work and also provide valuable services to the families and communities they serve.
For students studying online who live outside of the GTA, you will be supported to complete your field placements in or close to your local community.
Please note: Many field placement partners may require you to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 (a person is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after their second dose). As such, if you are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you may be unable to complete your program's required field placement component in the regularly scheduled time frame.
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Industry
Successful completion of this program will make you eligible for entrance to Ontario's College of Early Childhood Educators as a Registered Early Childhood Educator.
Upon graduating from this Early Childhood Education program, you will have learned to:
- design curriculum for child-centred, play-based learning
- support children’s learning and development by responding to their unique needs and interests
- build caring relationships with children, families and communities
- create safe, healthy and inclusive early-learning environments
Educational Pathways
If you complete this Early Childhood Education Diploma program with a GPA of 2.5 or higher, you may apply to complete the bridge courses for entry into the third year of George Brown's Bachelor of Early Childhood Education - Honours (Degree Completion) program.
For information on future study options, see the transfer guide.
Alumni Impact
We are immensely proud of the contributions of our alumni in Toronto and around the globe.
From Michelin-starred restaurants to major construction, entertainment, community and financial organizations, our graduates are truly making an impact across a range of industries.
Courses
Required Courses
Semester 1
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
ECE 1000 | Professional Development Workshop 1 |
ECE 1024 | Field Practice I |
ECE 1069 | Health, Safety and Nutrition |
ECE 1070 | Interpersonal Communication |
ECE 1075 | Foundations of ECE |
ECE 1181 | Integrated Seminar I |
ECE 2045 | Applied Curriculum |
PSY 1075 | Infant and Child Development |
COMM2000 | Communicating Across Contexts* |
Semester 2
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
ECE 1026 | Field Practice 2 |
ECE 1069 | Health, Safety and Nutrition |
ECE 1070 | Interpersonal Communication |
ECE 1075 | Foundations of ECE |
ECE 1089 | Observation, Planning and Evaluation |
ECE 1095 | Anti Racism in Early Years Programs |
ECE 1182 | Integrated Seminar II |
ECE 2045 | Applied Curriculum |
GSSC1064 | Introduction to Sociology |
PSY 1075 | Infant and Child Development |
Semester 3
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
ECE 1080 | Professional Development Workshop 2 |
ECE 1183 | Integrated Seminar III |
ECE 2014 | Field Practice III |
ECE 2048 | Policy, Advocacy, and Legislation |
ECE 2049 | Inclusion in Early Childhood |
ECE 2050 | Working with Families |
ECE 2053 | Curriculum Theory |
ECE 2056 | Creative Curriculum |
ECE 2061 | Social Policy in the Early Years |
GNED | General Education Elective |
Semester 4
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
ECE 1184 | Integrated Seminar IV |
ECE 2017 | Field Practice IV |
ECE 2048 | Policy, Advocacy, and Legislation |
ECE 2049 | Inclusion in Early Childhood |
ECE 2050 | Working with Families |
ECE 2053 | Curriculum Theory |
ECE 2057 | Current Issues |
GNED | General Education Elective |
Additional Notes:
*Based on the results of your placement test, you may be required to take COMM1000 Introduction to College Communication before progressing to COMM2000. COMM1000 does not count as a course required for graduation, and you will be charged for this extra course. Please visit the Assessment Centre for more information.
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- 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' world views and Francophone identity.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Create and engage in partnerships with families, communities, colleagues, interdisciplinary professionals, authorities and child service agencies to advocate for quality early years and child care programs and services.
- 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.
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***
** 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.
*** grade 11 English (ENG3C) cannot be used toward meeting one of the additional 3 credits 12 C, U, M or grade 11 C, U or M credits
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 the Transfer Guide for more information.
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/they 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
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges.
Contact Us
School of Early Childhood
Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 2310
Email: ece@georgebrown.ca
Our office hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
For more information about George Brown College, you may also call the Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 or long distance 1-800-265-2002.