Early Childhood Education Program (Accelerated) (C160)

Program Description

Leadership Claims

George Brown College has been preparing graduates to work as Early Childhood Educators for more than 20 years.

Program Overview

This Early Childhood Education program is currently offering a $2,000 tuition grant to domestic students starting in September 2023.*

*This opportunity is funded in partnership with the City of Torontothe Region of Durhamthe Region of Peel, the Province of Ontario, and the Government of Canada under the new Canada-Ontario Early Childhood Workforce Agreement, which provides one-time federal funding to support the retention and recruitment of a high-quality child care and early years workforce.

logos for City of Toronto, Durham Region and Region of Peel

George Brown College's Early Childhood Education (ECE) (Accelerated) (C160) program is a condensed version of our two-year diploma program delivered over 16 consecutive months. Students in this ECE Diploma program will learn how to design curriculum for child-centred, play-based learning and will develop skills to respond to each child's unique needs and interests as they grow and develop. Students will learn to work with infants, toddlers, preschool and school-aged children in a variety of early childhood education settings.

Full Description

This Early Childhood Education program is currently offering a $2,000 tuition grant to domestic students starting in September 2023.*

George Brown College's Early Childhood Education (Accelerated) (C160) program allows students to complete this diploma program more quickly by studying for 16 consecutive months from September 2023 through December 2024, with no breaks in between.

In this 16-month, continuous ECE Diploma program, you will learn how to support children as they grow. You’ll study the physical, cognitive, social and emotional development stages of infants (from six weeks), toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children (to 12 years) and will learn to recognize key behaviours associated with each developmental stage.

You'll learn to design curriculum for child-centred, play-based learning in a variety of early childhood educational settings and will develop skills to respond to each child's unique needs and interests as they grow and develop.

 

PLEASE NOTE: Some of our clinical or work placement partners may require students to show proof of full vaccination. As such, students who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may not be able to complete the required field placement component of their program in the regularly scheduled time frame. Please visit this page for the latest updates on COVID-19.

 

FAST-TRACK – DIRECT ENTRY (10 MONTHS)

You may qualify for the fast-track program if you have a diploma or degree in a related field. For details visit Early Childhood Education (Fast-Track) (C130).

 

*This opportunity is funded in partnership with the City of Torontothe Region of Durhamthe Region of Peel, the Province of Ontario, and the Government of Canada under the new Canada-Ontario Early Childhood Workforce Agreement, which provides one-time federal funding to support the retention and recruitment of a high-quality child care and early years workforce.

logos for City of Toronto, Durham Region and Region of Peel

Your Field Education Options

Field placement plays an important role in this ECE (Accelerated) program as it provides a continuum of experience that gives students the opportunity to build on their learning as they develop skills and progress through the program.

We approach teaching and learning in this program by alternating blocks of classroom theory with field practice. By providing regular intervals for students to apply the theoretical knowledge they are learning with practical, hands-on experience, it helps you build effective skills as an ECE practitioner and as a leader. Employers value this approach because it prepares our graduates to work as early childhood educators on day one.

Our Early Childhood Education students complete a seven-week field placement in each semester of the program. During this time, students have the opportunity to work with children of different age groups in a variety of settings.

To support student learning outcomes and ensure you have access to facilities that model the best practices we consider essential, we own and operate Ontario's largest network of school-run child care centres that serve over 1,100 children and their families each year. These 12 child care centres, located across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), will expose you to the kinds of environments where you will eventually work and provide valuable services to the families and communities that they serve.

Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities

Career Options

Graduates of this ECE Diploma program may find employment in:

  • child care centres
  • early years centres
  • full-day kindergarten
  • parent resource centres
  • pediatric playrooms
  • special education settings
  • integrated kindergartens
  • therapeutic nursery programs
  • in-home care

Industry

Successful completion of this ECE (Accelerated) Diploma program will make you eligible for entrance to Ontario's College of Early Childhood Educators as a Registered Early Childhood Educator. 

George Brown ECE graduates will:

  • learn to design curriculum for child-centred, play-based learning
  • support children’s learning and development by responding to their unique needs and interests
  • build caring relationships with children, families and communities
  • create safe, healthy and inclusive early learning environments

Educational Pathways

Students who complete George Brown's Early Childhood Education Diploma program with a GPA of 2.50 or higher may apply to complete the bridge courses for entry into the third year of our Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership (Degree Completion) program.

Your George Brown Early Childhood Education diploma will also give you credit toward degree programs at other institutions.

For information on future study options, see Transfer Guide.

Visit and discover life in our campus

Book campus tour

Get answers to your questions

Book info session

Sign up to receive tailored resources to make your application, your way.

Sign up and learn more about your options, our programs, and life at George Brown.