Early Childhood Education Program (Consecutive Diploma/GBC Degree) (C148)

Program Description

Program Overview

This Early Childhood Education program is currently offering a $2,000 tuition grant to domestic students starting in September 2023 and January 2024.*

*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.

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Full Description

This Early Childhood Education program is currently offering a $2,000 tuition grant to domestic students starting in September 2023 and January 2024.*

Early Childhood Education (Consecutive Diploma/Degree) (C148) is a four-year program that leads to both an Early Childhood Education (ECE) diploma and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education - Honours degree from George Brown College.

Years 1 & 2 – Earn Your George Brown ECE Diploma

In the first two years of this program, you will earn your ECE diploma. During that time, you will learn how to support children as they grow. You will study this holistic development of infants (from six weeks), toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children (to 12 years).

You 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. You'll also have the opportunity to develop relationships with children, their families and the broader community. 

Years 3 & 4 – Earn Your George Brown Early Childhood Education Honours Degree

In the second two years, you will earn your ECE Honours degree. During this time, you will take an in-depth look at leadership and will study pedagogy and policy as it relates to the Early Childhood sector.

In the spring/summer semester following the third year, you will participate in a 10-week internship** in the sector and will have the opportunity to focus on an area of research, policy or practice.

You will learn to conduct research and will complete a research project in an area of your choice.  

**PLEASE NOTE: This is an unpaid internship and is a required element of the degree program.

This consecutive diploma/degree program offers some distinct advantages:

  • college-level tuition fees for the first two years, rather than higher university fees
  • classes with George Brown College faculty who are national leaders in applied ECE
  • practical training at one of George Brown’s 12 child-care lab schools located across the Greater Toronto Area
  • direct entry into the third year of the George Brown College degree program
  • expanded career scope and direction by earning both a diploma in ECE and a degree in ECL

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.

*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

We approach teaching and learning in this ECE diploma/degree 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.

Placements are offered in semesters 1, 2, 3 and 4 for two days per week, 14 weeks per semester. During this time, students will have the chance 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 operate Ontario's largest network of college-run lab school 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 George Brown's Diploma/Degree program will have the knowledge and practice base to influence pedagogy and curriculum. They will be prepared to move into supervisory, director and curriculum leadership positions in a full range of early childhood programs as their careers unfold or as they pursue further study.

This program prepares graduates for positions as Registered Early Childhood Educators, working in partnership with certified teachers in the Full-Day Early Learning programs that are replacing junior and senior kindergarten.

(C148) graduates may find work in a variety of early childhood settings, including:

  • 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
  • family drop-in programs
  • early intervention services
  • family support programs

Emerging Best Start Child and Family Centres will be integrated with existing early childhood programs and graduates will be well positioned to assume leadership positions within these centres.

Industry

Successful completion of George Brown's ECE diploma/degree program will make you eligible for entrance to Ontario's College of Early Childhood Educators as a Registered Early Childhood Educator. 

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 will enter into the third year of the Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership (Degree Completion) program.

For information on future study options, see Transfer Guide.

To learn about the George Brown College student experience in the Early Childhood Education (Consecutive Diploma/GBC Degree) (C148) program, watch this short testimonial.

Raymund Hip Loy Lee (Student 2021, Consecutive Diploma/GBC Degree)
George Brown College Bachelor's Degree
Ontario College Diploma

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