雪爾頓學院

This program focuses on developing progressive leaders in early childhood education and care (ECEC) and child advocacy. You'll learn to design and manage an inclusive, positive, learning-centred environment, and you'll gain the critical thinking, business and interpersonal skills necessary to fulfill a leadership role and direct innovative practices in ECEC.

What you'll learn

• Theories of human development.
• Early childhood pedagogy and program models.
• Curriculum design and implementation.
• Roles and responsibilities of leaders in early childhood.
• Research, analysis and evaluation.
• Organizational structure and management.

Hands-on experience

In this program, you'll use technology and hands-on application in a curriculum room that emphasizes, encourages and fosters best practices in early learning based on current theoretical research. The program also includes three field placements and one 14-week work-term internship, totaling at least 910 field hours.

Career Opportunities

When you complete the Early Childhood Leadership (ECL) bachelor’s degree, you'll be prepared to guide and lead curriculum and pedagogy in Ontario’s early childhood settings.

Here are some places you might work:

• Before- and after-school programs
• Child-care centres and programs
• Early intervention services
• Early learning/full-day kindergarten programs
• Newcomer Programs
• Ontario Early Years Centres and other family resource programs
• Research Centres

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Analyze the interacting social and biological forces that collectively shape early brain development and set the stage for lifelong learning, behaviour and health.
• Respect families’ central role in child-rearing and early learning and the impact of family structures, community support systems, culture and socio-economic status on parenting.
• Lead the design and implementation of inclusive, effective curricula for young children, based upon a critical analysis of historical perspectives, observation, current research, and understandings of early human development.
• Develop inclusive early intervention programs that respond to children with identified special needs.
• Evaluate early childhood programs, engaging stakeholders in the process and addressing diverse needs of young children and families.
• Acquire self knowledge, critical thinking skills and professional habits of mind essential to the practice and leadership of early childhood education.
• Apply research skills, including assessment of the research process, formulation of research questions and collection and interpretation of data, in a variety of research projects.
• Establish responsive and reciprocal relationships with children, families, colleagues and other stakeholders.
• Perform responsibilities in a manner consistent with ethical and professional codes of conduct; in compliance with legislative and legal requirements; and, within the defined scope of practice limitations.
• Advocate on behalf of children, families, colleagues and the broader community, promoting the principles of quality in early childhood programs.
• Apply the principles of human resources, financial and facilities management to the operations of an early childhood program.
• Collaborate with early childhood educators and other professionals in multidisciplinary or cross-sectoral environments and across diverse domains of practice
• Communicate in a professional manner in all verbal, non-verbal and written mediums.