Location
Start Dates
- September 01, 2020
- January 07, 2021
- May 05, 2021
- September 01, 2021
Duration
4Terms
Program Delivery
- In Class
- Blended
- Real-time Online
- Off-Campus
Tuition & Fees
Domestic: CAD
$9,064
International: CAD
$26,739
Estimated Book Costs:
CAD
$1,500
We are no longer accepting applications for the September 2020 and January 2021 Online intakes.
September 2020 and January 2021 intakes are no longer accepting international student applications.
The May 2021 intake is limited to graduates of a recognized Early Childhood Education and Development Certificate Program and requires completion of a paper application to proceed.
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 to write the Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES) assessment in term one.
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
- 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
*Currently subject to change
Graduates of this program may be granted transfer credit to:
- Athabasca University – Bachelor of Professional Arts – Human Services (60 block credits)
- Griffith University (Australia) – Bachelor of Arts in Education (one and a half years of advanced standing towards a three-year degree)
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
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
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
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 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
Semester 3
Required CoursesCredit
This course focuses on the development of creative activities and engaging program for children in child care. In this course, learners examine ideas for the development of two- and three-dimensional activities, creative language experiences, science and mathematics, music and movement, indoor and outdoor play, dramatic play, and media. In addition, learners also explore the impact of creativity on the development of the child and how caregiver interactions with the child contribute to the child's overall sense of self.
Prerequisite: ELCC1999
Course Delivery
This course focuses on language, literacy, and communication in the early years. Learners design literacy-rich environments following an emergent curriculum approach. Learners use quality literature and scaffolding strategies to stimulate interest and enhance literacy development. The course includes the connection between language and culture. In addition, the course explores the importance of engaging children, family, and community partnerships in support of literacy development.
Prerequisite: ELCC1999
Course Delivery
This advanced course focuses on observation, documentation, and assessment in early childhood education. Through the lens of early childhood development and play, the learner examines methods of observation, documentation, and practices in authentic assessment. In order to provide effective learning environments that support child development, the learner engages in reflective practice while analyzing their observations. Curriculum experiences are designed based on the learner's findings and support strategies are proposed to stimulate learning and positive relationships.
Prerequisite: ELCC1999
Current Police Information Check including Vulnerable Sector Search (PIC/VSS)
Course Delivery
This course focuses on leadership and collaborative skills for early childhood professionals who have direct responsibility for the care and education of young children. Learners examine the attributes of leaders, personal leadership strengths, professional identity and working in teams. Benefits and challenges in the relationship between families and educators are examined and strategies for effective partnerships are also explored. Additionally, the family in the context of the community is also investigated. Respecting diverse family structures, child rearing practices and an understanding of effective teamwork is critical to this course.
Prerequisites: ELCC1999
Course Delivery
This practicum provides learners with the opportunity to continue to apply play-based skills and knowledge under the supervision of the college practicum supervisor and a designated workplace mentor. This practicum focuses on observation, documentation, reflective practice, and emergent curriculum. In addition, observation and documentation also serve to support educators, children, families, and community. The practicum is a combination of practical experience at a community work site and integrated class seminars.
Learners work 14-16 hours each week for 15 weeks for their practicum hours and attend the 3 hour integration seminar each week.
Prerequisite: ELCC1999
Current Police Information Check including Vulnerable Sector Search (PIC/VSS).
Be in good academic standing with a minimum 2.0 GPA.
Course Delivery
Semester 4
Required CoursesCredit
This course addresses the goals and essential components of programs for school aged children. In addition, the course also explores the historical and social influences of such programs in Canada. Learners examine the role of school age caregivers while evaluating their own personal qualities and philosophy for working in early learning and child care.
Course Delivery
This course addresses the development of appropriate strategies and skills to provide quality care for infants and toddlers. The course examines the central role of the caregiver, daily routines, and the importance of effective communication. Focus falls on infant and toddler development and emerging practice.
Pre-requisite: ELCC1999
Current Police Information Check including Vulnerable Sector Search (PIC/VSS)
Course Delivery
This advanced course focuses on the needs of children whose development is atypical. Learners explore a range of exceptionalities and evaluate strategies to support children with exceptionalities. In addition, learners examine the values and philosophy of inclusion in early childhood education and development; the strategies that promote, enhance, and evaluate inclusive child care settings; and strategies to accommodate children within those settings.
Prerequisite: ELCC1999
Course Delivery
This course offers an introduction to the research process and addresses issues and advocacy in early childhood. Students examine the various components of the research process including ethical considerations, the problem statement, literature review, research questions, research designs, data collection and analysis and reporting of results. Learners examine current issues and their impact on practice in early childhood education and development settings and design advocacy strategies to advocate for the rights of children, families, and quality care.
Pre-requisite: ELCC1999
Course Delivery
In the final practicum placement, learners have the opportunity to further develop their reflective teaching practices. This practicum focuses on reflective learning and topics include the mighty learner and connecting with the child, family and community. Learners have the opportunity to research a topic of their choice pertaining to keeping their passion alive for early childhood education. This capstone course demonstrates their understanding of the program objectives.
Learners work 14-16 hours each week for 15 weeks for their practicum hours and attend the 3 hour integration seminar each week.
Prerequisite: ELCC2998
Current Police Information Check including Vulnerable Sector Search (PIC/VSS)
Be in good academic standing with a minimum 2.0 GPA
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.
