Full-time Programs
ECEP - Early Childhood Education
ECEA - Early Childhood Education - Accelerated Program
Program Entry
SEPTEMBER
Program Length
Two-Year Ontario College Diploma
| Contact: | E-mail: |
|---|---|
| Linda Whiteford | LWhiteford@Loyalistc.on.ca |
On This Page
Highlights
- Learn evidence based practices in early childhood education in an on-campus lab school.
- Opportunity to develop authentic relationships with children during three placement experiences.
- Design and implement curriculum to meet diverse learning needs of children.
- One-on-one faculty student mentoring relationships help students develop reflective practitioner skills.
- The Loyalist ECE program consistently ranks high in student and graduate satisfaction.
- My Faculty – Watch the video.
Career Opportunities
Graduates work as Early Childhood Educators in settings that include full day early learning kindergarten programs, child care centres, nursery schools, private home child care, live in/ out nanny, resource centres, cruise ships and resorts.
Program Description
This two-year program prepares graduates to work with children individually and in groups in a variety of early childhood education settings. The program emphasizes inclusive practices, partnerships with families, multiple intelligences, and evidencebased practices based on current research. Ongoing personal and professional growth is encouraged to meet revised national Occupational Standards.
The first year of study concentrates on all aspects of development in children from conception to 30 months of age. Students will develop appropriate experiences for children’s learning at different stages. Second-year studies focus on preschool and school-aged children. Students devote an equal amount of time to theory and practice. They transfer theory to practice during practicum experiences. During three practica, students may gain experience in child care centres, kindergartens, and school-age programs in the community. All students have the opportunity to observe best practices in an on-campus lab school run by early childhood educators.
ECEA ACCELERATED PROGRAM
A formal Accelerated Program is available to entrants who have already completed a related Loyalist diploma in CYW, DSW or SSW. Prospective entrants with degrees and unrelated diplomas will be required to complete a Prior Learning Assessment portfolio in application for course exemptions/advanced standing consideration.
Approximate Cost
Tuition/Ancillary Fees: $3,393 (two semesters)
Tuition (Accelerated): $4,599
Consumables Fee: $130
Books, Practicum Clothing, and Supplies: $1,600
Additional costs, such as travel and parking, may be incurred during placements, internships and practicums.
Admission Requirements
(a) Required academic preparation –
- OSSD/OSSGD or equivalent with courses at the general, advanced, (C), (U), (M) or (O) level, and
- Grade 12 English (C) level or equivalent
OR
(b) Health: A completed Health Centre form including medical history, immunization record, and Tuberculosis (2 step TB) test is required as part of the registration process. The form is provided in the registration package and must be submitted in order to complete course work in the lab school and for practicum.
(c) Criminal Record Check: In order to participate in prac
tica/field placements, students are required to produce a clean criminal record check, including the screening for vulnerable populations, by their local police service. If you have been convicted of an offence under the Criminal Code for which you have not been pardoned, you may be ineligible for field/clinical placements.
(d) CPR, First Aid and Anaphylaxis: Prior to entering Year Two, ECE students are required to produce evidence that they have successfully completed Standard First Aid and Level “C” CPR Certification approved by the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation and a certificate in Dealing with Anaphylaxis.
Opportunities for Further Study
Expand your opportunities with a double diploma or an applied degree. Graduates of the Early Childhood Education program are eligible for direct entry to the following programs at Loyalist:
- Developmental Services Worker, Accelerated Stream
- Social Service Worker, Accelerated Stream
- Child and Youth Worker, Year Two
Loyalist / University Transfer
Turn your diploma into a degree. Credit transfer agreements are in place with the following institutions as of September 2011:
- Algoma University College
- Athabasca University
- Carleton University
- Davenport University
- Griffith University
- Laurentian University
- Nipissing University
- Ryerson University
- Seneca College
- University of Ontario Institute of Technology
Click here for details. Graduates may contact the university to make individual arrangements. Informal agreements are in place with other institutions and new transfer agreements are added annually.
Curriculum
First Year - Semester One
CADW 1000 Personal Development
This course gives an overview of self understanding including learning styles, biases, and thinking styles. The concept of healthy living and the promotion of healthy practices for continued health while a learner at Loyalist College are explored. Goal setting, self evaluation and developing personal strategies for success are examined.
COMM 1004 Communications 1
This course is an introduction to applied communication in reading and writing for academic purposes. The content covers document design, word choice, grammatically correct sentences, punctuation, oral presentation, and research. Computer software is used for writing, editing, and controlling readability levels.
CADW 1004 Introduction to Child Development
This course gives an overview of the domains and key theories of child development. Genetics and heredity including the interaction of heredity and the environment is described. Prenatal development is discussed as a process of inherited potential within a controlled environment. This course concludes with the childbirth process.
ECEP 1006 Intro to ECE
This foundation course introduces the field of early childhood development in Canada and the historical perspectives that have lead to joining education and child care into early learning and care programs striving to offer seamless experiences for children from birth to age 6. The policies and legislation that shape the range of models, services and settings are explored, along with evidence based practices in regard to quality of service delivery. The opportunities and challenges for the early childhood workforce and for the individual’s professional growth are established as themes that will be further investigated in later courses.
CADW 1005 Creative Play
Based on the principle that children learn through play, this course provides the student the opportunity to use a “hands-on” approach to explore materials that enhance creative expression in young children. Students will be introduced to a variety of forms of creative expression including visual arts, drama, music creative movement.
ECEP 1007 Observing Early Development
This course examines the critical importance of observation in the field of early childhood education. Observation techniques used in early childhood environments, objective recording and the use of observation data, quality indicators and facilitator interactions to create responsive learning environments for children aged 18 months to 5 years will be studied. Observation in the Lab School as preparation for community practicas will be an integral part of this course.
First Year - Semester Two
PRAC 1002 Practicum Seminar 1
Students will research and plan a variety of infant and toddler experiences that cover all domains of development. The importance of demonstrating a high level of professionalism will be addressed.
CADW 1006 Infant Toddler Development
This course is an in-depth study of child development from birth to 30 months of age. Issues related to current research on infant and toddler development and applying developmental theory to practice in the field of early childhood education is an integral part of this course.
HLTH 1003 Health, Safety and Nutrition
This course provides students with the foundation knowledge for establishing healthy and safe environments for infants to school aged children. Curriculum strategies for promoting children’s learning regarding personal safety, health and nutrition are explored. The impact of current research on legislation and policies is investigated regarding children’s environments and occupational health practices for the ECE practitioner.
COMM 1037 Interpersonal Communication
This course prepares students to become effective communicators in both their personal and professional lives. It explores new methods of communication through technology; personal communication skills through self-assessment exercises and application of communication principles through reflection, discussion.
ECEP 1008 Infant Toddler Learning Environment
This course examines the role of the early childhood educator in creating responsive environments to promote infant and toddler development. Students will identify best practices and determine developmentally appropriate learning experiences for infants and toddlers.
ECEP 1009 Responsive Relationships Part 1
This foundation course identifies the adult role in adult-child interactions and the factors that influence various adult interaction styles and the characteristics of effective ECE practitioners. The course identifies strategies for forming close relationships with infants and toddlers and promoting positive, supportive teacher-child interactions in guidance situations. The self-reflection process is used to explore adult biases in thinking and responding to typical child guidance scenarios with infants and toddlers.
PRAC 1018 Practicum 1
In an infant or toddler practicum setting, students will develop skills in planning, implementing, and evaluating learning experiences that reflect information collected about the children's needs and interests. Demonstration of appropriate health and safety practices is critical.
Second Year - Semester Three
PRAC 1003 Practicum Seminar II
Students will research and plan a variety of infant and toddler experiences that cover all domains of development. The importance of demonstrating a high level of professionalism at practicum will be addressed.
CADW 2001 Preschool Development
This course examines the contributions of key theorists in all domains of development for children aged 30 months to 5 years. Examining related current child development research and the application of that research and developmental theory to practice is a key focus of this course.
ECEP 2002 Preschool Learning Environment
This course provides students with a foundation in play, strategies to establish a responsive environment, and curriculum approaches that promote holistic development in the preschool years in a variety of early learning and care settings. The partnership role of the ECE with the child and family is explored in relation to evidence based practices that support the parent role.
ECEP 2003 Responsive Relationships 2
This course expands the student's repertoire of developmentally appropriate techniques appropriate for guiding preschool and school aged children in a variety of early learning and care settings. The emphasis is on the adult as role model and guide to help children identify the influence of their thinking and behaviour in responding to situations, conflict and stress. Specific problem solving strategies including resilient thinking are explored.
ECEP 2004 Child and Family and Community
In this course, students will be introduced to the role of the early childhood educator in developing partnerships with the children, their families and the community. The issues facing contemporary families and the impact of multi-faceted and complex problems such as child abuse are an integral part of this course.
PRAC 2039 Practicum 2
This course supports the student in acquiring effective ECE facilitation skills relating to: providing a responsive environment, communicating effectively with adults and children, promoting positive team work, using positive child guidance techniques, engaging in self-reflection, and identifying professional goals. Curriculum planning and implementation demonstrates an inclusive, child centered approach across all domains.
COMM 2012 Communication for the Workplace
This course provides an opportunity to develop effective writing, speaking and computer skills with emphasis on workplace communication skills and knowledge. It provides communication skills for professional and career applications.
Second Year - Semester Four
CADW 2002 Children with Exceptionalities
The course explores children's exceptionalities from a developmental framework and examines inclusive programming based on current research and developmentally appropriate practice. Policies that reinforce or deter inclusive practices will be examined.
ECEP 2005 School Age Learning Environments
This course explores the issues relating to school aged children¿s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development and their impact on the types of services required for children and their families. The ECE role in providing a responsive environment to meet the ranges of ages and abilities is described, along with considerations for engaging children in meaningful curricula projects and recreational pursuits. Quality indicators and evidence based practices are researched and incorporated into curricula planning.
ECEP 2006 Management and Advocacy
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to outline the principles and procedures involved in the administration of an early childhood learning environment including the advocacy for child care issues relating to children, family and child care programs.
ECEP 2007 Evidence Based Practices
This course will examine evidence based practices as they relate to the field of early childhood education. A specific focus in collaboration with the Lab School staff on emergent curriculum projects and portfolio documentation with learning stories will be an integral part of this course.
PRAC 2040 Practicum 3
This course supports the student in designing, implementing and analyzing developmentally appropriate inclusive curricula projects while demonstrating effective ECE facilitation skills that support individual children's involvement. Children's active involvement in the curriculum project is documented through portfolios and learning stories.
CADW 2003 School Age Development
TBA
