Program Description

You can make a difference in the lives of children, families, and communities. The 16-month (full-time) Early Childhood Education and Development (ECED) Diploma program (formerly referred to as the Early Learning and Child Care Diploma) 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 in child development, family dynamics, play, and program planning that will equip you to support the healthy development of children through child-centered learning experiences.

This program combines theory and practice and graduates are eligible for Child Development Supervisor certification from Alberta Human Services.

Innovative learning lab and practicum project

The Early Childhood Education and Development learning lab combines classroom space with interactive children’s learning centres that include an artist studio, a reading centre, a dramatic play centre, and a sensory motor centre. This innovative and engaging environment supports the transition of theory to practice as students have an opportunity to engage with children in the lab space.

Practicum project

Learners have the opportunity to participate in the practicum project. You will take your practicum in our lab classroom, be mentored by Bow Valley College ECED instructors, and will work alongside educators, children, and parents from the YWCA at Bow Valley College Child Care Centre. This practicum focuses on emergent, child-centred, and play-based curriculum. You will focus on building strong and healthy relationships with the children and with all parties involved in the practicum experience. You will be involved in observing, documenting, and planning the curriculum to meet children’s individual needs, interests, and development. By focusing on the belief that children, by nature, are unique and competent, we join children in their learning by encouraging exploration and creative expressions in richly designed environments that you create.

Award-winning curriculum

• Program Excellence Award – Association of Canadian Community Colleges, 2010
• Innovation of the Year – League for Innovation in the Community College, 2009

International practicum

You can put your knowledge into practice in an overseas community working with community schools and agencies. In June 2012 and May 2013, learners went to rural Uganda. In 2014, learners went to Jamaica, and in 2015, 2016, and 2018, they went to Guyana, South America.

Scholarship for high school students

Alberta Children and Youth Services provides a $2,500 post-secondary scholarship to successful Career and Technologies Studies learners.

Flexible delivery options

ECED diploma program is offered full-time or part-time with a variety of delivery options including traditional classroom and online learning. It is suggested that learners registered in the traditional full-time Early Childhood Education and Development Diploma program write the Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES) assessment in term one.

Regional campuses

Learners living outside of Calgary can take the program starting in Fall (September) through Regional campuses. Contact Regional or view our locations. Program delivery is blended which includes a combination of online and in-person learning. A full course load is 5 courses per term - students may choose to take fewer courses each term and extend the length of their program. 

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 Bow Valley College Admissions Test

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.

English language proficiency requirements

See English language proficiency requirements for details.

Transferability

Transfer opportunities are available to a variety of institutions.Transfer credits are reviewed and accepted on an individual basis by the institution to which you apply. Here are the most current transfer agreements:

• Athabasca University: Bachelor of Professional Arts – Human Services
• University of Alberta: Bachelor of Elementary Education 
• University of Calgary: Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation