Location
Start Dates
- January 10, 2022
Duration
2Terms
Program Delivery
- Blended
Tuition & Fees
Domestic: CAD
$4,688
Estimated Book Costs:
CAD
$670
Start Dates
- January 10, 2022
Duration
2Terms
Program Delivery
- Blended
Tuition & Fees
Domestic: CAD
$4,688
Estimated Book Costs:
CAD
$670
Start Dates
- January 10, 2022
Duration
2Terms
Program Delivery
- Blended
Tuition & Fees
Domestic: CAD
$4,688
Estimated Book Costs:
CAD
$670
Start Dates
- January 10, 2022
Duration
2Terms
Program Delivery
- Blended
Tuition & Fees
Domestic: CAD
$4,688
Estimated Book Costs:
CAD
$670
Program Description
You can make a difference in the lives of children, families, and communities. The eight-month (2 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 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.
It is suggested that learners who plan to register in the Early Childhood Education and Development Diploma program, write the Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES) assessment in term one.
Practicum placement
Practicums will be held at regional licensed child care facilities approved by the Program Chair.
Delivery options
The Early Childhood Education and Development Certificate program offered by Regional Campuses is provided through a blended delivery mode that combines online and in-person learning activities.
Airdrie Campus
403-355-1910
bvcairdrie@bowvalleycollege.ca
Cochrane Campus
403-851-0463
bvccochrane@bowvalleycollege.ca
Okotoks Campus
403-476-2233
bvcokotoks@bowvalleycollege.ca
Strathmore Campus
403-983-1221
bvcstrathmore@bowvalleycollege.ca
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
- 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
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
Airdrie Campus
403-355-1910
bvcairdrie@bowvalleycollege.ca
Cochrane Campus
403-851-0463
bvccochrane@bowvalleycollege.ca
Okotoks Campus
403-476-2233
bvcokotoks@bowvalleycollege.ca
Strathmore Campus
403-983-1221
bvcstrathmore@bowvalleycollege.ca
Course Listing
Semester 1
Required CoursesCredit
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 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
ELCC1998 - Introduction to Emerging Practices in Early Childhood Education and Development Credits 7
This practicum provides learners with the opportunity to apply play-based skills and knowledge under the supervision of the college practicum supervisor and a designated workplace mentor. Through practice and seminar, basic health, safety, nutrition, observation, documentation, and appropriate practice with children are the learners' focus. The practicum is a combination of practical experience at a community work site and integrated class seminars.
Pre- or Co-requisite: 6 credits of Year 1 Early Childhood Education and Development
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
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
Learners explore principles of interpersonal relationships and communication, considering the importance of self-awareness including such values as empathy, respect, genuineness, and humility therein. Learners practice verbal, nonverbal, emotional, conversational, and technology-mediated messaging necessary for effective communication in personal and professional contexts. Through this exploration and this practice, learners improve their ability to communicate assertively and respectfully with others in various contexts, taking care to understand the social and cultural contexts that affect communication, including the impacts of colonization on Indigenous groups in Canada in relation to interpersonal relationships and communication.
Course Delivery
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
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
ELCC1998 - Introduction to Emerging Practices in Early Childhood Education and Development Credits 7
This practicum provides learners with the opportunity to apply play-based skills and knowledge under the supervision of the college practicum supervisor and a designated workplace mentor. Through practice and seminar, basic health, safety, nutrition, observation, documentation, and appropriate practice with children are the learners' focus. The practicum is a combination of practical experience at a community work site and integrated class seminars.
Pre- or Co-requisite: 6 credits of Year 1 Early Childhood Education and Development
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
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.
Certificate learners get a maximum of three years to complete the program, and diploma learners get five years.
Learners at Regional Campuses can take three to four courses per semester including practicum and complete the certificate program in three semesters. At the same pace, Regional learners can complete the diploma program in six semesters.
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.
