Early Childhood Education Diploma, 2-year

Location(s): Main Campus (Vermilion), Face-to-Face (F2F), Online Asynchronous

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This diploma program provides in-depth training qualifying graduates for roles in preschool care and education. The certificate program provides foundational knowledge required for the diploma program. Students plan activities, experiences and environments where children build skills and form important concepts. Early Childhood Education Diploma students have a unique opportunity for their second year practica. Students create and implement play programs for infants to children of five years. Students receive hands-on experience building relationships with families, children, other staff, and licensing regulations.

This diploma program qualifies graduates to apply for Level III Early Childhood Educator through through Daycare Qualifications.

Admission Requirements:

Completion of an Early Childhood Education Certificate from a public post-secondary institution with a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Graduation Requirements:

Students completing the requirements listed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 will be awarded an Early Childhood Education diploma.

Curriculum:

Required Courses

ED 230 - ECE Field Placement III 5 Credits
ED 231 - ECE Field Placement IV 5 Credits
ED 235 - Leadership & Management in ECE 3 Credits
ED 238 - Outdoor & Nature Play 3 Credits
ED 243 - Emergent Environments for Children 3 Credits
HS 115 - Foundations of Inclusion 3 Credits
HS 202 - Community Advocacy & Partnerships 3 Credits
HS 225 - Supporting Diversity 3 Credits
HS 230 - Sensory Development 3 Credits
HS 242 - Intercultural Competencies 3 Credits
MH 201 - Infant/Toddler Mental Health 3 Credits

Sub-Total: 37 Credits

Electives (choose one)

ASL 101 - American Sign Language Level I Part A 3 Credits
HS 183 - Personal Assistance Awareness 3 Credits
YC 218 - Animal Assisted Interventions 3 Credits
YC 236 - Assessment and Intervention 3 Credits

Total: 40 Credits

Notes:

Students taking the online version of Early Childhood Education are required to take HS 270 and HS 271 in place of ED 230 and ED 231 .

Field Placement Requirements:

Prior to the first field placement, students are responsible for requesting a criminal record check (with a vulnerable sector check). Practicum agencies will require a clear criminal record check. You are responsible for requesting a criminal record check through the RCMP in your hometown. Students may be required to possess a current First Aid in Childcare Certificate and may require an Intervention Record Check. Students must be in good standing and meet the 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) requirement to be eligible to complete practicum/clinical experience.

Opportunities for Further Study:

Lakeland College has agreements with specific institutions to transfer credits from our programs to theirs. Graduates from the ECE diploma program receive transfer credit to:

Lakeland College -Animal Assisted Wellness, Community Mental Health
Athabasca University - Bachelor of Professional Arts Human Services
University of Alberta - up to 30 credits towards Bachelor of Elementary Education
MacEwan University:
- Bachelor of Applied Human Services Administration - up to 60 credits
- Bachelor of Child & Youth Care - up to 60 credits
Mount Royal University - Bachelor of Child Studies
University of Saskatchewan - Bachelor of Arts: Northern Studies major in Aboriginal Public Administration
University of Victoria - Bachelor of Arts Child & Youth Care
University of Lethbridge - Bachelor of Health Services

This doesn’t mean these institutions are your only option. For more information, check out links to the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT) www.acat.gov.ab.ca. If you want to transfer to another institution, you must ensure that you meet the admission requirements of that institution. However, meeting the requirements does not guarantee that you will be accepted, especially in programs with quotas of other qualifying factors.