Courses & Descriptions

Current Courses

The diploma program includes a variety of courses which focus on how children think, learn and develop and the role adults play in supporting this development.

Course Exemptions

If you have successfully completed relevant courses at other post-secondary institutions, you may be eligible for course exemptions. Bring the transcript and course outlines from your previous college and/or university and present them to the Executive Director for review. Appropriate forms must be completed and filed with the college Registrar. Course exemptions will not affect student tuition.

Course Descriptions

Semester I

COM 100 COMMUNICATIONS — 30 Hours
This course focuses on becoming proficient in basic communication and writing skills expected at the post-secondary level. Students will have the opportunity to become aware of appropriate form, style, and level of analysis/detail, based on message, audience and purpose of communication.

ECE 101 CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT — 60 Hours
This course focuses on the genetic and environmental factors which influence child growth and development from preconception to age twelve. Students will be introduced to the major theories of child development and their connection to our own theories on human behaviour. Social, physical, language, cognitive/intellectual, and emotional development will be considered during the major stages of growth.

ECE 111 OBSERVING AND RECORDING — 30 Hours
This course offers students opportunities to develop skills in selecting and utilizing appropriate data collection techniques in order to understand child development, plan and implement developmentally appropriate experiences, and share developmental information with parents, co-workers and other professionals.

ECE 113 INTRODUCTION TO CURRICULUM I — 60 Hours
This course offers a framework for providing developmentally appropriate curriculum. Using active learning as a foundation, students will be introduced to developing positive adult-child interactions, designing learning environments, and group times for young children.

ECE 137 NUTRITION — 30 Hours
This course provides students with information regarding nutritional needs of young children. Students will be introduced to menu and snack planning, label reading, and many other nutritional issues while being challenged to prepare healthy snacks and planning for hands on activities for young children in the classroom setting.

ECE 147 BEHAVIOUR GUIDANCE I — 30 Hours
This course focuses on assisting adults in a child care setting to understand children’s behaviour as it is influenced by developmental and environmental factors. Students will learn practical skills for supporting and guiding healthy interaction between children and between adult and child.
PREREQUISITE ECE 101, ECE 111

ECE 105 PRACTICUM I — 150 Hours
This practical course offers students a field placement opportunity in a licensed child care setting working with children from infancy to school age. Students will demonstrate skills in communication, professionalism, curriculum planning and implementation, and behaviour guidance of children during the practicum experience.
PREREQUISITE OR CONCURRENT ECE 101, ECE 111

Semester II

ECE 203 CURRICULUM II — 60 Hours
This course provides an extension to designing, implementing and evaluating developmentally appropriate curriculum experiences for children. Students will continue to explore the value of play as the foundation to curriculum development and will design, implement and evaluate anti-bias curriculum experiences for infants, toddlers, preschool and school aged children.

ECE 204 INFANT/TODDLER CHILD CARE — 60 Hours
This course offers a framework for developing quality curriculum for infants and toddlers. Using developmental considerations as a foundation, students will be introduced to designing environments, schedules, and learning experiences for infants and toddlers which support the whole child and reflect an anti-bias philosophy.
PREREQUISITE ECE 101, ECE 111

ECE 217 Health and Safety — 30 Hours
This course focuses on the practical considerations in ensuring for a healthy and safe environment of young children. Students will be challenged to promote the well-being of young children and professionals in a child care environment. Topics such as communicable diseases, indoor and outdoor safety, and hygiene practices will be discussed. Students will plan, implement and reflect upon curriculum experiences that promote health and safety with young children.

ECE223 Movement, Active Play and Wellbeing — 30 Hours
In this course students will explore the various aspects involved in creating and offering indoor and outdoor early learning environments that will support the recommended levels of active play for young children. Content will focus on Active Start Guidelines and the creation of developmentally appropriate active play opportunities throughout the routines and activities of the day.

ECE 229 Inclusive Environments for Families – 60 Hours
This course provides students with an opportunity to study and comprehend the sociology of the family,the challenges families face in today’s society and their effects on the child. Students will give serious consideration to the role of the early childhood educator and their support of the family. Students will explore the various aspects of human diversity and will focus on the ways early childhood educators have an important role to play in the design of inclusive environments. This course will support the early childhood educator in acquiring the knowledge, perspectives and skills in including all children and families in their practice.

ECE 205 PRACTICUM II — 150 Hours
Building on previous practicum experience, students will continue field placement opportunities in licensed child care settings working with children from infancy to school age. Students will strengthen skills in communication, professionalism, curriculum planning and implementation, behaviour guidance of children during the practicum experience, and will function as more effective team members during this time.
PREREQUISITE OR CONCURRENT ECE101, ECE111

Semester III

ECE 306 CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS — 60 Hours
This course offers students the opportunity to gain knowledge of exceptionalities experienced by young children and their families. Students will give consideration to how the environment can be adjusted to include children with special needs and explore strategies to work with and support families while gaining knowledge of relevant community resources.
PREREQUISITE ECE 101

ECE 307 BEHAVIOUR GUIDANCE Part II — 30 Hours
This course focuses on assisting adults in a child care setting to understand children’s behaviour as it is influenced by developmental and environmental factors. Students will develop the ability to be sensitive to the child’s interests, need for interaction and support; and to be able to use a variety of developmentally appropriate positive guidance strategies while meeting the child’s need to develop competence, dependence, independence, and conflict resolution skills.
PREREQUISITE ECE 147

ECE 309 PARENTS AS PARTNERS — 30 Hours
This course provides students with an opportunity to build on their exploration of families as an extension to children. Students will explore and research various strategies and barriers to communicating effectively with parents. Specifically, students will be introduced to both theoretical and practical strategies involved in partnering with parents to support families.

ECE 311 RESEARCH ISSUES IN ECE —30 Hours
This course focuses on expanding the students’ awareness and understanding of current issues which are affecting the field of early childhood education. Students will develop skills which will assist them in reading and critiquing relevant research, debating various issues and presenting a professional argument.
PREREQUISITE COM 100

ECE 320 EMERGENT LITERACY — 30 Hours
This course is designed to assist students in appreciating the value of literature in programs for young children. Building on child development and curriculum knowledge, students will explore the theoretical and practical issues regarding language and literacy. Through active participation, students will be given practical methods to support the development of language as it emerges.

ECE 330 PROFESSIONALISM AND ADVOCACY — 60 Hours
This course provides students with information which will assist them in working as professionals and advocates for children, families and the profession. Students will identify criteria of a profession and role of professionals. They will be introduced to various local, provincial and national professional organizations and will analyse historical and current issues facing the early childhood profession. Students will be introduced to advocacy issues in the field of early childhood education. Students will demonstrate effective strategies for becoming advocates for children and families.

ECE 305 PRACTICUM III — 150 Hours
Building on previous practicum experience, students will continue field placement opportunities in licensed child care settings working with children from infancy to school age. Demonstrating skills in communication, professionalism, curriculum planning/implementation and behaviour guidance, students will continue using observations as a springboard for planning developmentally appropriate experiences for children and will function as an effective team member. Students may require periodic assistance in demonstrating the required skills.
PREREQUISITE OR CONCURRENT ECE 101, ECE 111

Semester IV

COM430 INTERPERSONAL SKILLS — 30 Hours
Students will have the opportunity to become aware of appropriate form, style, and level of analysis/detail, based on message, audience and purpose of communication. The course will introduce communication skills for dealing with a variety of situations that are both professional and personal in nature. The student will examine a basic theoretical foundation through which to view her/himself and others. Students will explore a variety of topics that involve thinking critically, assertiveness, effective communication and the importance of intercultural communication.

ECE 403 SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE — 30 Hours
This course offers a framework for developing quality curriculum for school age children. Using active learning as a foundation, students will be introduced to designing environments, schedules and learning experiences for school age children which support the whole child and reflect an anti-bias philosophy. Special emphasis will be placed on child development of the school age child and behaviour guidance principles which support pro-social development.
PREREQUISITE ECE 101

ECE 406 PROGRAM PLANNING FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS — 60 Hours
This course offers students an opportunity to extend their knowledge of working with children with special needs and the skills needed to support children in a variety of settings. Students will explore various formal and informal assessment tools and will use them to collect information about children in order to support the child’s growth and development. Students will also explore the legal, ethical and professional responsibilities in supporting children with special needs in early childhood education settings.
PREREQUISITE ECE 101, ECE 111, ECE 306

ECE 418 EMERGENT CURRICULUM — 60 Hours
Students will be introduced to the historical and theoretical origins of early childhood education and the significant educational models and approaches that have influenced the field in an effort to understand the basic foundations of contemporary programs. This course offers students the opportunity to study the Emergent Curriculum Model of program design used in early childhood education environments.

ECE 425 ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT — 30 Hours
This course provides students with information about the administration practices applicable to the child care organization. Topics of special consideration will include leadership, enrollment and public relations, human resource management, financial management, facilities, regulations, parent relations and program development.

ECE 405 PRACTICUM IV — 150 Hours
Building on previous practicum experience, students will continue field placement opportunities in licensed child care settings working with children from infancy to school age. Students will consistently demonstrate skills in communication, professionalism, curriculum planning and implementation, and behaviour guidance. Students will combine skills in observation, knowledge of child development and curriculum planning in order to demonstrate an understanding of the holistic approach to program planning.
PREREQUISITE OR CONCURRENT ECE 101, ECE 111