Location
Start Dates
- January 10, 2022
Duration
2Terms
Program Delivery
- Any-time Online
- Off-Campus
Tuition & Fees
Domestic: CAD
$4,688
Estimated Book Costs:
CAD
$670
This program is not open to international applicants.
Program Description
You can make a difference in the lives of children, families, and communities. The full-time eight-month (two terms) Early Childhood Education and Development Certificate program prepares you to provide quality child care in a wide variety of settings and plan emergent play experiences for the children in your care. You will gain knowledge of child development, family dynamics, play, and program planning that will equip you to support the healthy development of children through child-centred learning experiences.
This program combines theory and practice and graduates are eligible for Level 2 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Worker) certification from Alberta Human Services.
Interested in advancing even further in Early Childhood Education and Development?
Bow Valley College also offers a two-year Early Childhood Education and Development Diploma program.
Delivery mode
The Early Childhood Education and Development Certificate program is delivered through our online learning platform and learning activity takes place at the times and locations of the learners choosing. Practicums include on-site activity and online seminars.
Students may choose to take fewer courses each term and extend the length of their program.
International Learner Applicants
International Education
North Campus – Third Floor
international@bowvalleycollege.ca
403-410-3476
Domestic Applicants
Welcome Centre
South Campus – Main Floor
info@bowvalleycollege.ca
403-410-1402
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
*Subject to change
- Credit in either English 30-1 or 65% in English 30-2 or equivalent
OR:
- Successful completion of the General Educational Development test (GED) test, that consists of five tests, with a minimum score in the following sections:
- Writing Skills: 520 minimum standard score
- Interpreting Literature and Art: 520 minimum standard score
OR:
- Satisfactory results on the BVC Admissions Test
English Language Proficiency Requirements
- See English Language Proficiency Requirements for details.
Pre-practicum Requirement
- A current Police Information Check (PIC) with a Vulnerable Sector Search (VSS) must be submitted prior to practicum placements. The existence of a criminal record may postpone or prevent clinical, practicum, or field work placements and, subsequently, successful completion of the program.
Transferability
*Subject to change
Graduates of this program may be accepted into:
- Bow Valley College - Early Learning and Child Care Diploma Year 2
- Grand Prairie Regional College - Early Learning and Child Care Diploma Year 2
- Lakeland College - Early Learning and Child Care Diploma Year 2
- Medicine Hat College - Early Learning and Child Care Diploma Year
Some transfer available from:
- Calgary Board of Education
- College of the North Atlantic
- Heritage College
- Lethbridge College
- Medicine Hat College
- Mothercraft College
- Mount Royal University
- Prairie College of Applied Arts and Technology
- Red Deer College
- St. Joseph College
International Learner Applicants
International Education
North Campus – Third Floor
international@bowvalleycollege.ca
403-410-3476
Domestic Applicants
Welcome Centre
South Campus – Main Floor
info@bowvalleycollege.ca
403-410-1402
Semester 1
Required CoursesCredit
This introductory course addresses the cognitive and physical development of the child from conception to twelve years of age. Learners evaluate theories and principles informing child development from a world view, including multicultural and indigenous perspectives. Learners also address the application of evidence-based practice in the area of outdoor play as it relates to child development.
Course Delivery
This survey course focuses on understanding the goals and essential components for the development of successful early childhood programs. Through the study of the role of early childhood professionals, students will gain insight into their own philosophy of early childhood education.
Course Delivery
This first-year composition course introduces learners to academic writing and critical thinking. They read and analyze sociopolitical, cultural, and gender issues in texts with an emphasis on experiences of people whose voices were historically silenced, particularly those of Indigenous communities in Canada. Learners develop strategies to communicate their own ideas and integrate them with those of others by quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing source material. Learners present their written assignments professionally according to APA formatting guidelines.
Course Delivery
ELCC1998 - Introduction to Emerging Practices in Early Childhood Education and Development Credits 6
This introductory practicum provides learners with the opportunity to develop a foundation in play-based skills and knowledge. Seminar topics can include health and safety, intercultural awareness, emergent curriculum, and prevention of child maltreatment. From interviews with current educators to touring childcare programs, learners establish understanding of their image of the child and of the educator in practice. This practicum is a combination of professional observation, practical experience in the lab classroom at the College, and integrated class seminars.
Course Delivery
This course is an introduction to Indigenous cultural experience and perspectives. Learners analyze the foundations for stereotypes, bias and false narratives that impact Indigenous ways of being in Canada. Learners consider how legal and social policy impacts Indigenous identity. Euro-Canadian perspectives and beliefs toward Indigenous people are discussed. Learners explore the experience and Indigenous worldview in the Canadian context.
Course Delivery
Semester 2
Required CoursesCredit
This introductory course explores the role of play in children's development and how play is integral to a child's developmental needs. Students explore the relationship of play to the different developmental stages, as well as the role of the environment and the early childhood educator in enhancing children's play. This course focuses on the planning of inclusive and appropriate play environments including indoor and outdoor play experiences. Learners explore a variety of play situations and materials used in
childcare settings.
Course Delivery
In this course, learners explore how families are integrated within larger social systems; how patterns of social power and inequality shape Canadian families; as well as how and why the family is critical to the socialization process. The course culminates in the critical assessment of issues affecting families in Canada.
Course Delivery
Through practice and reflection, learners nuture personal and professional relationships using interpersonal communication skills. With a focus on other-oriented communication, learners demonstrate how inequities and power dynamics influence relationships.
Course Delivery
This practicum provides learners with further opportunity to apply play-based skills and knowledge under the supervision of the college practicum supervisor and a designated mentor. Observation and documentation as well as appropriate practice with children across curricular areas are included through practice and seminar. This practicum is a combination of practical experience in a community work site and integrated seminars in class.
Learners work 14-16 hours each week for 15 weeks for their practicum hours and attend the 3 hour integration seminar each week.
Prerequisite: ELCC1998
Current Police Information Check including Vulnerable Sector Search (PIC/VSS)
Be in good academic standing with a minimum 2.0 GPA
Course Delivery
Through the lens of cultural context, this course provides an understanding of Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory and its relationship to social-emotional wellbeing. Learners inform and modify curriculum experiences through observation, documentation, and reflection to model learning environments that support the social-emotional development of children. Support strategies to foster social-emotional development and respectful cooperative relationships with children, family and community are developed.
Course Delivery
Optional International PracticumCredit
Prerequisite: Departmental approval
Course Delivery
Program FAQs
If you have prior work experience or have taken courses comparable to those required under this program at another institution, you may be eligible for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) or transfer credit. For more information, please contact our Registrar's Office at (403) 410-1400.
All requests must be submitted prior to the start of the program.
The transferability options are listed on the Early Childhood Education and Development Certificate and Diploma pages from the School of Community Studies programs and courses pages.
Planning your course schedule according to availability and prerequisites requires some consideration.
Plan the sequence of your courses with this 2018/19 schedule.
Once you are a registered student in a program one of the Academic Advisors in the Office of the Registrar can also assist you with planning.
If you are taking an online course, you should make sure your computer has the following applications:
- Reliable internet access – DSL or cable connections are highly recommended.
- We recommend Windows 7 or 10 (preferred) or Mac OS software; Microsoft Office 2013 (minimum); Adobe Acrobat Reader; and a media player such as Adobe Flash Player, QuickTime, or Windows Media Player.
- Some courses might require additional software or applications packages. You will be given this information before starting the course.
- We recommend Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari as browsers. D2L does not work well with Internet Explorer.
