Early Childhood Education
The need for early childhood educators to work with young children in child day care centers and other early childhood education facilities has increased significantly in recent years. Reasons for this increase include women in the work force, the research that shows the benefits early education for young children, inclusion of children who need additional support in ECE programs and the growing numbers of infants and toddlers requiring care outside the home.
To meet this need, Douglas College offers an Early Childhood Education Diploma Program which prepares women and men for employment in this challenging and rewarding field.
In each semester, courses reflect the following content themes: growth and development, methods, curriculum, self and others and the professional community. The theoretical material is integrated with laboratory and field experience. Embedded in each course are the philosophical strands of cultural diversity, the child in the context of the family and inclusion of all children in early childhood education programs.
Department Website
For an overview of this program, including faculty listings and frequently asked questions plus other resources, visit the departmental website.
Career/Further Educational Opportunities
The program is approved under the Provincial Child Care Regulation. Graduates from this program receive transfer credit to the Bachelor in Child and Youth Care at Douglas, University of Victoria, University of the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island University. Transfer possibility to the University of Calgary, Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation (BCR). Douglas College ECE Diploma students may transfer credits to the Bachelor of General Studies (Education) program at Simon Fraser University. Consult the British Columbia Council on Admissions and Transfers (BCCAT) for extensive BC transfer agreements with public post-secondary institutions offering ECE in BC (www.bctransferguide.ca)
Location
The Early Childhood Education program is offered at the New Westminster Campus.
Intake Dates/Application Deadline
Applications for the full-time program in September must be submitted by April 1 each year. Enrolment is limited and students are advised to complete the application process early. The application deadline for the part-time program in September is April 1 and the application deadline for the part-time program in January is October 1. Applicants are encouraged to discuss their plans with an Academic Advisor.
EARLY ADMISSION
Although application and document deadlines may be identified for this program, we encourage all
applicants to apply early and to submit all supporting documentation as early as possible. Those
applicants who apply early and submit all documents early may be offered early admission.
Other Information
This program offers a free information session. For more details about dates, times and locations, please check on-line at www.douglascollege.ca/new-students/information-sessions
Please refer to the section on the Faculty of Child, Family and Community Studies regarding an English Competency exit requirement.
Admission Requirements
(Certificate Level Program)
Admission to the Early Childhood Education Program is contingent upon availability of seats and applicant ranking as determined by a process of selective admission evaluation. To be considered for a seat in the program, applicants must meet all admission criteria. The selective admission process uses a structured format to evaluate all applicants in relation to the admission criteria established for the program. Following this review, applicants are ranked according to the degree to which they have met the admission criteria and their demonstration of communication skills, motivation to enter the program and knowledge of the demands of the profession.
NOTE: Applicants are advised to meet all admission criteria as early as possible to demonstrate preparedness and motivation for obtaining a seat in the program.
In addition to Douglas College General Admission Requirements, students entering the certificate program must:
- Meet the admission requirements for the Faculty of Child, Family and Community Studies.
- Submit at the time of the required ECE Program Orientation Session letters of reference from two persons, who are not related to you (character references from reputable community members and/or persons familiar with the applicant's experience in working with young children). Reference letters should not be written by the person who completes your volunteer verification form.
- Complete and show evidence of 50 hours of supervised volunteer or work experience in a ECE-related
setting. Preferred experience: work with children from birth to age six. The 50 hours documentation must
be completed and submitted at the time of the personal suitability interview.
Readiness of an applicant to enrol in the program will be determined by the faculty selection team based upon specific criteria. - Attend and participate in a personal interview with ECE faculty.
Graduates of the Douglas College Continuing Education School Age Child Care Certificate Program are eligible for selected transfer credit to ECE courses. Applicants for this CE program should consult the ECE Coordinator.
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
The Early Childhood Education Department provides PLAR for ECE Licensing and for course credit. If you have knowledge or skills that relate to this field, contact the ECE Coordinator at 604-527-5481 for more information.
Credentials
Courses are developed leading to a three-semester (44.5 credit) Certificate in Early Childhood Education and a four-semester (61.5 credit) Diploma in Early Childhood Education.
Program Content
The courses in the program are listed below and a brief description of each can be found under Programs and Courses. Detailed course outlines are available for reading in the Student Services office.
Semester I
| Course | Title | Credits |
| CFCS 1110 | Introduction to Community | 3 |
| CFCS 1121 | Personal and Professional Development | 1.5 |
| ECED 1100 | Growth and Development: Infants and Toddlers (Introduction) | 3 |
| ECED 1121 | Transforming Teaching: Observing and Documenting the Learning and Care of Infants and Toddlers | 3 |
| ECED 1122 | Health, Safety and Nutrition in ECE Settings | 1.5 |
| 12 |
Semester II
| CFCS 1221 | Wellness: Self and Professional Practice | 1.5 |
| ECED 1200 | Growth and Development: Preschool Years | 3 |
| ECED 1211 | Professional Growth and Communication | 3 |
| ECED 1220 | Methods for Inclusive Play-Based Programs for Pre-School Children | 3 |
| ECED 1231 | ECE Curriculum I | 3 |
| ECED 1282 | ECE Practicum I | 3.5 |
| 17 |
Semester III
| ECED 2300 | Growth and Development: Early School Years | 3 |
| ECED 2312 | Perspectives on Families | 1.5 |
| ECED 2320 | Methods for Inclusive Play-Based Programs for Young Children | 3 |
| ECED 2331 | ECE Curriculum II | 3 |
| ECED 2382 | ECE Practicum II | 3.5 |
| ECED 2330 | Change and Development: Families | 1.5 |
| 15.5 |
Students are required to achieve a "C" grade or better in the courses ECED 2300 and ECED 2312 before they will be permitted to register in fourth semester ECE courses.
*See Faculty of Child, Family and Community Studies section for the English Language Entrance and Exit Policy
Students must achieve a "C" grade or better in all fourth semester ECE courses requiring a letter grade in order to receive an ECE Diploma or an ECE Post Basic Citation in Special Needs or Infant/Toddler Care.
Semester IV Special Needs (Inclusive Practices)
All Diploma graduates are required to complete the Special Needs (Inclusive Practices) courses in Semester IV.
| CFCS 2410 | Advanced Issues: Reflection and Integration | 3 |
| ECED 2412 | Administrative Skills for ECE Centres | 3 |
| ECED 2401 | Advanced Growth and Development | 3 |
| ECED 2450 | Inclusion in Early Childhood Settings | 3 |
| ECED 2483 | Demonstration Laboratory: Special Needs Project Practicum | 5 |
| 17 |
After completion of Diploma requirements, the student may return for an additional post-diploma citation by completing the remaining Infant/Toddler courses.
Douglas College students who completed their certificates under a previous model may "bridge" into the new diploma program by completing three credits of course work in each of the three areas of study shown below:
1. CFCS 1110 Introduction to the Professional Community (3 credits)
2. CFCS 1121 Personal and Professional Development (1.5 credits) and CFCS 1221 Wellness: Self and Professional Practice (1.5 credits); CFCS 1130 Change and Development: Lifespan; CFCS 1262 Community Practice: School-Based; or ECED 1100 Growth and Development: Infants and Toddlers (Intro) (3 credits)
3. ECED 2330 Change and Development: Families; and ECED 2312 Perspectives on Families in ECE settings (1.5 Credits)
Students may then complete the Special Needs (Inclusive Practices) courses offered in semester IV. Students with ECE Certificates from other programs should consult the Program Coordinator for advice and assistance with course planning.
Along with the diploma option, certificate graduates from accredited ECE programs in BC can choose to complete post-basic citations in Infant/Toddler and/or Special Needs (inclusive practices). Admission requirements are the same for students wishing to acquire post basic citations as they are for ECE certificate graduates wishing to complete their diploma. See the Admission Requirements for "returning certificate level graduates" in the Faculty of Child, Family and Community Studies section of the College calendar for details.
The courses for each post-basic citation are as follows:
Infant Toddler Citation
| ECED 2312 | Perspectives on Families in ECE Settings | 1.5 |
| ECED 2330 | Change and Development: Families | 1.5 |
| CFCS 2390 | Directed Studies in Community Practice | 2 |
| ECED 2401 | Advanced Growth and Development | 3 |
| *CFCS 2410 | Advanced Issues: Reflection and Integration | 3 |
| ECED 2412 | Administrative Skills for ECE Centres | 3 |
| ECED 2420 | Infant/Toddler Care Advanced | 3 |
| ECED 2482 | Infant/Toddler Preceptorship Practicum | 5 |
| 22 |
Special Needs (Inclusive Practices) Citation
| ECED 2312 | Perspectives on Families in ECE Settings | 1.5 |
| ECED 2330 | Change and Development: Families | 1.5 |
| ECED 2401 | Advanced Growth and Development | 3 |
| *CFCS 2410 | Advanced Issues: Reflection and Integration | 3 |
| ECED 2412 | Administrative Skills for ECE Centres | 3 |
| ECED 2450 | Inclusion in Early Childhood Settings | 3 |
| ECED 2483 | Demonstrating Laboratory Special Needs Project Practicum | 5 |
| 20 |
*The prerequisite for CFCS 2410 is CFCS 1110 and ECED 2382 for ECE students.