Diploma in Early Childhood Education
Fanshawe College
Key Information
Select location
Campus location
London, Canada
Languages
English
Study format
Distance Learning, On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
CAD 7,007 *
Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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* total fee for Canadian students. $31,078.28 for international students. Online fee for Canadian students is $6,470.92
Scholarships
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Introduction
The Early Childhood Education program combines theory and coursework with real experience in the field. Students will learn the importance of play in children's learning, family involvement, and curriculum design. Graduates will be qualified to work in a variety of jobs including child care centers, early learning, and family centers.
Your Learning Experience
Does shaping and nurturing young minds of the future while enjoying a satisfying, in-demand career interest you? Fanshawe’s Early Childhood Education program will give you the skills and hands-on experience to get you on your way.
Our unique program blends theory and coursework with real experience in the field. You’ll develop knowledge and professional skills in child development with the assistance of our diverse courses and learn about the valuable and specialized role you play in the community.
Graduates from this program will gain diverse and dynamic skills for the evolving world of childhood education. You’ll be qualified to work in a range of jobs including child care centers, early learning, and family centers, before and after school programs, and with school boards.
This two-year Ontario College Diploma program will develop students' knowledge and professional skills in the early childhood educator's role and responsibilities. Your work placement will expose you to a wide variety of age groups and multiple organizations. You’ll have had dynamic and eclectic experiences that will make you more valuable to the field of Early Childhood Education
Additional Information
- Students are required upon graduation and prior to working as an Early Childhood Educator to join the College of Early Childhood Educators.
- Certification by the Association for Early Childhood Educators, Ontario may be applied for after completion of the program.
- Students who graduate from this program and wish to transfer to another Community Services program at Fanshawe College may qualify for some internal credits that have already been achieved.
- Graduates of this program, once they have completed a bridge program, can enter into Level 5 of the Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership Degree program at Fanshawe College.
- Students registering in this program at the Clinton Site should be aware that all four academic Levels are delivered continuously from September to December of the following year; there is no break between Level 2 and Level 3.
- Students registering for the online offering of ECE should know that there are mandatory field placements in semesters 2, 3, and 4 of the program.
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
Courses
Level 1
General Education - Take a 3-credit General Education elective course.
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
- WRIT-1094 ---- Reason & Writing 1 for Community Studies
- ECED-1084 ---- Foundations of ECE
- ECED-1003 ---- Emotional Development & Early Relations
- ECED-1074 ---- Child Development: Intro
- PSYC-1101 ---- Interpersonal Development
- FLDP-1021 ---- Field Orientation
Level 2
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
- COMM-3082 ---- Communications for Community Studies
- ECED-1075 ---- Child Development: 0-3 Years
- FLDP-1022 ---- Field Practicum 0-3 Years
- ECED-1076 ---- Curriculum & Pedagogy: 0-3 Years
- ECED-1005 ---- Health Safety & Nutrition in ECE
- ECED-3022 ---- Partnerships with Families
- FLDP-1024 ---- Field Seminar: 0-3 Years
Level 3
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
- ECED-3003 ---- Educational Perspectives
- ECED-3037 ---- Inclusive Practice
- FLDP-3023 ---- Field Practicum 3-6 Years
- ECED-3038 ---- Child Development: 3-6 Years
- ECED-3042 ---- Curriculum & Pedagogy: 3-6 Years
- ECED-1053 ---- Promoting Pro-Social Behaviour
- FLDP-3027 ---- Field Seminar: 3-6 Years
Level 4
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
- ECED-3039 ---- Child Development: 6-12 Years
- ECED-3041 ---- Understanding Child Abuse & Neglect
- ECED-3040 ---- Professionalism, Ethics & Advocacy
- ECED-3044 ---- Best Practices: Reflective Practitioner
- SOCI-3003 ---- Canadian Families Change & Diversity
- FLDP-3024 ---- Field Practicum 0-12 Years
General Education - Electives
Take 3 General Education Credits - Normally taken in Level 1
Program Residency
Students Must Complete a Minimum of 20 credits in this program at Fanshawe College to meet the Program Residency requirement and graduate from this program
Program Outcome
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Create learning contexts to enable, build and maintain caring, responsive relationships in partnerships with children, families, and communities that value and respect social, cultural, and linguistic diversity including Indigenous peoples’ worldviews and Francophone identity;
- Co-create, facilitate, and reflect upon inquiry and play-based early years and child care programs and pedagogical approaches to support children’s learning, holistic development, and well-being following children’s capabilities, interests, ideas, and experiences;
- Co-design and maintain inclusive early learning environments to value and support equitable, accessible, and meaningful learning opportunities for all children, their families, and communities in a range of early years and childcare settings;
- Collaborate with children, families, colleagues, agencies and community partners to create, maintain, evaluate, and promote safe and healthy early learning environments to support independence, reasonable risk-taking, and healthy development and well-being;
- Use observation strategies to identify children’s strengths and challenges and to ascertain when children and families might benefit from additional support or community resources;
- Use professional communication in interactions with children, families, colleagues, employers, the regulatory body, government authorities, and children’s service agencies to meet legal and ethical standards of the early years sector;
- Act in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations, College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, agency policies and procedures, and principles of evidence-informed practice and reflect upon their impact on one’s own role in early years and child care settings;
- Identify, report, and document when a child is in a situation of perceived risk for, or actual neglect or abuse, in accordance with legislation, the College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, policies and procedures;
- Create and engage in partnerships with families, communities, colleagues, interdisciplinary professionals, authorities, and child service agencies to advocate for quality early years and child care programs and services;
- Engage in reflective practice and continuous professional learning in accordance with principles of lifelong learning, evidence-informed practices in the early years sector, and requirements of the College of Early Childhood Educators.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of Fanshawe’s Early Childhood Education program will have the knowledge and skills to work with children, families, and the community in the context of early learning and development programs for children from birth to 12 years of age. Graduates will be prepared to find employment in a variety of early childhood settings, including:
- child care centers
- early learning and parenting centers,
- best start programs
- nursery schools
- pre-kindergarten and kindergartens
- social and family centers
- before and after-school programs
- community centers
- hospital playrooms
- centers or programs for children with exceptionalities
- school boards
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Early Childhood Education (Fast Track) (Weekend) program:
Early Childhood Educator
Deliver enthusiastic and passionate support working with children aged 3 months to four years in a child care center.
Early Childhood Education Centre Supervisor
Recruit, supervise, mentor, and motivate staff to develop and deliver quality curricula in a classroom setting.
Early Childhood Educator
Plan and implement a childcare program while building relationships with families, children, and community agencies
English Language Requirements
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