Early Childhood Education

Program Description

If you've completed an undergraduate degree from a post-secondary institution in Ontario or have a degree evaluated for Canadian equivalency, you may be eligible to earn your accelerated Early Childhood Education diploma in three semesters with ECYA.

Our accelerated program begins with a sevenweek intensive full-time May/June semester and continues in the fall and winter with 14-week semesters of full-time early childhood studies. Some evening subjects may be required in order to be eligible to graduate the following June. Additional fees will be incurred for these subjects.

Early Childhood Education teaches you to design learning environments that promote healthy development for young children. You’ll gain important observation skills needed to facilitate a child’s developmental progress, and get the opportunity to apply these skills in a variety of field placement settings related to your career goals.

Program Learning Outcomes

This Seneca College program meets the system-wide standards for all Ontario College Credential programs as set by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

As a graduate, you will be prepared to reliably demonstrate the following:

• plan curriculum that is based on a thorough understanding of child development.
• plan and implement individual programs and curriculum to meet the developmental needs of children.
• utilize a variety of observation techniques to enhance work with children, families, and co-workers.
• maintain responsive relationships with individual children and groups of children.
• establish and maintain safe and healthy environments which best meet the requirements of current legislation, regulatory bodies, and program policies.
• develop and maintain effective written, oral, nonverbal, and electronic communications with children, families, co-workers, employers, and individuals/agencies.
• apply relevant legislation, policies, procedures, and regulations to early childhood education programs and settings in a changing social context.
• apply a personal philosophy of early childhood education within the framework of ethical and professional standards.
• act in a manner consistent with principles of fairness, equity, and diversity to support the development and learning of individual children, within the context of his/her family, culture, and society.

Essential Employability Skills

• Essential Employability Skills (link to information on Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities website)

Admission Requirements

Program Eligibility:

• Successful completion of a recognized Ontario B.A. Degree (or other undergraduate degree) or documentation of assessed degree equivalency.
• Proficiency in English at the college level.
• Documentation which reflects previous paid or volunteer experience with young children.
• Successful completion of all required Summer semester subjects at a minimum “C” grade level in order to enter the Fall session of this program.

Required:

• Current immunization report and report of chest x-ray or tuberculin skin test.
• A valid Standard First Aid Certificate.
• A valid C.P.R. "C" Certificate.
• Current Police Reference Check (vulnerable sector).

Applicant Selection:

• Applicants must meet the admission requirements for the Early Childhood Education program at Seneca College. As part of the admission process, each applicant must submit his/her university transcript, reference letters evaluating professional and academic qualifications, a completed Ontario College Application Service form and participate in an information/assessment session at Seneca.
• To graduate, students must have academic credits equivalent to four general education subjects, and EAC 150 (subject requirements in the regular ECE program).

The Importance of Learning Skills:

Student success in college requires well developed learning skills (such as being able to work independently, participate in a team, be well-organized, develop good work habits, and show initiative). These skills are as important as prior academic achievement. While it is expected that applicants would have developed these skills through previous education and life experiences, Seneca offers support to assist students with further development of these important skills.

Your Career

Accelerate your career with our three-semester diploma program in Early Childhood Education. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared for a fulfilling career working with children from infancy to 12 years. You’ll find employment opportunities in child care centres, after-school programs, nursery schools, parent co-operative centres, private home child care, some centres for children with special needs, and in a kindergarten in the elementary school system.

Accelerated

ECYA is an accelerated, full-time ECE diploma program for those who have completed a Bachelor of Arts or other undergraduate degree. (The standard program is available here: ECE diploma program)

Provincial Registration

In order to practice in Ontario as an "Early Childhood Educator" or a "Registered Early Childhood Educator, graduates must apply for registration in the College of Early Childhood Education (CECE). Graduates of the ECE program will meet the education requirement for registration. For more information, please visit www.collegeofece.on.ca.

Website

For additional information, please visit the School of ECE web site at: http://www.senecac.on.ca/ece/programs.html.

Curriculum

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