Program Description The Early Childhood Education Program at Centennial College is committed to ensuring graduates are prepared to be leaders in the profession. Our graduates are respected as professionals.
As a student in the Early Childhood Education Program, you will learn to provide high standards of care to children and their families. This highly respected program will teach you to take responsibility for observing the needs of individual and groups of children, and create well-planned, stimulating and responsive programs. You will come to understand the needs of infants, toddlers, pre-school and school-aged children.
Rich classroom experiences will offer you a range of opportunities to understand the content. Professors ensure that a variety of strategies are used to help you practice and apply what you are learning. Supporting our program is Centennial College’s two state of the art early childhood education centres. Used as lab schools, these centres located in East York and at Progress Campus will allow you to observe and/or practice in a high-quality childcare setting.
If you are energetic, enjoy working with children and adults, fun loving, and dedicated to your learning this is the program for you!
This program has received KPI distinction awards consistently for Employer Satisfaction.
Please note: This program is taught using a combination of modalities. Courses may be taught face-to-face, online or in a blended/hybrid combination of both online and traditional classroom teaching.
Program Highlights:
You will experience practical experiential learning through three field placements in the community working directly with infants or toddlers, preschool and school-age children. Qualified and experienced supervisors will support you during the field placement to ensure that your learning is optimized. Available to you during the third or fourth semester will be opportunities to work in full-day kindergarten environments. To support the student experience in semester three and four a minimum of a one-week block placement is incorporated to maximize your ability to solidify skills. This program is committed to respond to and reflect current trends and direction in the field and profession. Highly skilled faculty create stimulating learning opportunities in the classroom which address a range of learning styles.
Global Citizenship and Equity Portfolio:
Students in this program will develop a portfolio documenting their engagement with the College’s signature global citizenship and equity competencies.
The Leadership Passport:
The Leadership Passport provides opportunities for students to practice and develop leadership skills through predetermined criteria and to earn a special designation on their Early Childhood Education Diploma.
Graduates have demonstrated the ability to:
Plan, implement and evaluate curriculum that is founded on a thorough understanding of child development and responds to the developmental needs of children. Utilize a variety of observation techniques to enhance work with children, families and co-workers. Maintain responsive relationships with children. Develop and maintain effective communication with children, families, co-workers, employers and individuals/agencies. Apply relevant legislation to early childhood education programs. Apply personal philosophy of early childhood education. Provide a rationale for practice. Demonstrate professionalism in all areas of performance. Advocate for quality childcare
