Early Childhood Education Program (Consecutive Diploma/Degree) (C118)

As a graduate of the four-year Early Childhood Education (Consecutive Diploma/Degree) (C118) program, you’ll enter the workforce with two credentials—an Early Childhood Education (ECE) diploma from George Brown College (GBC) and a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). This program offers other advantages, including college-level tuition fees for the first two years, rather than higher university fees, and the expanded career scope and direction the two credentials can provide.

This program alternates between in-class learning and field placement to help you develop confidence in your skills as you apply concepts from the classroom to a real-world setting.

During years one and two (GBC diploma), you will learn:

• the holistic development of infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children
• how to support children as they grow
• how to plan and implement programs that support children’s learning

You will also engage with families and the broader community.

In years three and four (TMU degree), you will:

• study policy, advocacy and legislation as they relate to the early childhood sector
• explore the cognitive development of young children as it relates to literacy, creativity, science, technology, and more
• engage in a research project

Your Field Education Options

Field placement plays a significant role in this Early Childhood Education Consecutive Diploma/Degree program by providing students the opportunity to integrate and apply classroom theory to practice.

Placements are offered in semesters 1, 2, 3 and 4 for three days per week, seven 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 1,000 children and their families each year. These 12 child care centres, located across Toronto, 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.

Please note: Some field placement partners may require students to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 (a person is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the second dose). As such, students not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may be unable to complete their program’s required field placement component in the regularly scheduled time frame.

Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities

Career Options

Graduates of this Early Childhood Education Consecutive Diploma/Degree 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