Program Overview

Learning through play is central to the healthy development of young children. At Lethbridge College, we have over 20 years of experience showing people how to use art, music and play as key elements in early childhood education. Our flexible one-year certificate and two-year diploma programs in Early Childhood Education (ECE) will give you a comprehensive introduction to child growth, behaviour and development, as well as development through play. You’ll also learn about health, nutrition and safety.

You can choose from daytime, evening/weekend and distributed learning courses. We encourage you to test your abilities with 98 days of practicum work, focusing on children from birth to six years old. Try out new practices in the ECE demonstration program and explore your developing abilities with young children in our fully equipped curriculum lab.

In fact, your certificate or diploma in Early Childhood Education will give you more than a practical grounding in child development through play. It gives you the knowledge, experience and perspective you need for an enjoyable, successful career working with young children who are developing typically or have special needs.

Contact Us

Program Office: 403.320.3393 • This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Chair: Wendy Weninger 403.329.7254 • This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Office of the Dean: Jane Friesen 403.320.3464

Career Opportunities

Graduates of our program work in a wide variety of settings, including:

Day Care Centres
Kindergartens
Preschool Programs
Family Day Homes
Schools
Toy Manufacturers
Parenting Centres
Public Education Agencies
Public Libraries
Recreational Facilities
Holiday Resorts
Cruise Lines

Admissions

New students are accepted into the day-time Early Childhood Education program for the Fall (September) term. Students wishing to enroll for the Winter (January) term may take courses in a revised curriculum based on course availability. This admission may result in a three term curriculum for the completion of the certificate. Courses are also open on an individual basis for part-time study. Students completing the program through part-time study are accepted on a year-round basis.

Qualified applicants may be admitted into programs outside of normal intakes. Interested applicants are considered on an individual basis for acceptance into a program in an alternative or modified format.

Academic Requirements
Applicants are required to have an Alberta High School Diploma or equivalent, with a minimum of 60 per cent in English Language Arts (ELA) 30-1 or a minimum 65 per cent in ELA 30-2 and 60 per cent in Social Science 30 or 33 (Psychology, Sociology or Social Studies). Applicants may also be required to achieve a minimum 60th percentile in Reading Comprehension, Sentence Skills and Arithmetic sections of placement testing or equivalent. Individuals not having the academic requirements can apply as Alternate Admission candidates.

Applicants are required to have successfully completed a one-year Early Childhood Education Certificate or equivalent from a recognized college in
order to enter the Early Childhood Education Diploma program (Year II).

Non-Academic Requirements
For full-time study, applicants are required to submit a questionnaire with background information of previous work and academic experience. Applicants may be asked to attend a small group interview and information session.

Health Requirements
Applicants must provide a specific schedule of health requirements (form provided by the Early Childhood Education program). Students are responsible for ensuring that health requirements are kept current throughout the program. Failure to do so may affect work-site based experience.

Practicum Experience Requirements
There is a required practicum component to this program. The College dictates the legal terms and conditions governing the practicum experience. Failure by the student to accept by way of legal contract and abide by these terms and conditions will result in non-completion of the program.

Applicants are advised they will be required to provide a Criminal Record Check with a vulnerable sector search before entering the practicum experience component of the program. The existence of a criminal record may affect the practicum placement, program completion and employment prospects. The consequences of a prior criminal conviction will be examined and discussed on an individual basis if necessary.

Students are required to complete practicums in day care centres, preschool programs and/or kindergartens. Every effort is made to provide placements within Lethbridge; however some placements may occur in the outlying communities. Students who are completing practicum through Distributed Learning may complete these practicums in their own communities or nearby areas.

Applicants who lack the required academic admission requirements can apply to the College and University Preparatory Program to upgrade for your program.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
If you have experience working in this field of study, you may be eligible for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). Please direct your inquiries to the Program Chair.

Your Investment

Fees vary from program to program. To view fee information for your selected program, see the Academic Year Cost Sheet and Fees and Financial Information.

Curriculum

For full course description information, please click here.

Year I Term I (CERTIFICATE)
ECE 155	Introduction to Early Childhood	3 DL
ECE 160	Observation and Recording	2 DL
ECE 162	Creative Experiences I	3 DL
COM 162	Interpersonal Relationships & Communications	3 DL
ECE 180	Field Placement I (18 days)	3 DL
ENG 150	Composition	3 DL
or ENG 190	Introduction to Language & Literature	3
PSY 170	Human Development Across the Lifespan	3 DL
		20 Credits
Year I Term II
ECE 154	Guiding Children’s Behaviour	3 DL
ECE 156	Development Through Play	3 DL
ECE 151	Health, Nutrition & Safety	3 DL
ECE 159	Children With Special Needs	3 DL
ECE 181	Field Placement II (31 days)	5 DL
PSY 171	Child Growth and Development	3 DL
		20 Credits

Year II Term I (DIPLOMA)
ECE 252	Child and Family	2 DL
ECE 270	Inclusion of Children with Special Needs	3 DL
ECE 262	Creative Experiences II	3 DL
ECE 264	Pre-school Programming	3 DL
ECE 251	Diversity in ECE	2 DL
ECE 280	Field Placement III (24 days)	4 DL
		17 Credits
Year II Term II
ECE 253	Family and Community	2 DL
ECE 257	Organization and Administration	3 DL
ECE 260	Infant and Toddler Programming	3 DL
ECE 263	Creative Experiences III	3 DL
ECE 266	Team Building	2 DL
ECE 281	Field Placement IV (25 days)	4 DL
		17 Credits

(DL) indicates courses available through Distributed Learning.

Graduation

Upon successful completion of Year I requirements, students are awarded an Early Childhood Education Certificate. Upon successful completion of the Year II requirements, students are awarded an Early Childhood Education Diploma.

Transfers

University of Victoria • Lethbridge College’s Early Childhood Education program is part of a collaborative transfer agreement between five Alberta colleges and the School of Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria.

University of Alberta • Negotiations are currently underway with the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Education.

University of Calgary • Negotiations are currently underway for Lethbridge College Early Childhood Education diploma graduates to receive up to two years credit toward the University of Calgary’s Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation Degree.

Athabasca University • Diploma graduates may receive up to two years credit toward Athabasca University’s Bachelor of Professional Arts - Human Services degrees.

Mount Royal College • Transfer diploma graduates are eligible for the 2nd year of the Bachelor of Applied Child Studies degree at Mount Royal College.