Course Descriptions

Semester I

COM 100 COMMUNICATIONS 30 Credit Hours
This course will focus on becoming proficient in basic communication and writing skills expected at the post secondary level. Students will have the opportunity to become aware of appropriate form, style, and level of analysis/detail, based on message, audience and purpose of communication. Students will take part in activities that involve thinking critically and celebrate the diverse culture we live in.

ECE 101 CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT 60 Credit Hours
This course focuses on the genetic and environmental factors which influence child growth and development from preconception to age 12. Students will be intorduced to the major theories of child development and their connnection to our theories on human behaviour. Social, physical, language, cognitive/intellectual, and emotional development will be considered during the major stages of growth. Students will study factors affecting development, and the relevance this has for those who work with young children. special emphasis will be placed on brain development. Practical application of theoretical knowledge will be emphasized.

ECE 111 OBSERVING AND RECORDING 30 Credit Hours
This course offers students opportunities to develop skills in selecting and utilizing appropriate data collection techniques in order to understand child development, plan and implement developmentally appropriate experiences, and share developmental information with parents, co-workers and other professionals. Students will be introduced to various observation/assessment techniques, their advantages and disadvantages and learn the skill of determining appropriate techniques for early childhood education environments.

ECE 113 INTRODUCTION TO CURRICULUM I 60 Credit Hours
This course offers a framework for providing developmentally appropriate curriculum. Using active learning as a foundation, students will be introduced to developing positive adult-child interactions, desiging learning environments and group times for young children. Through a workshop format, students will be encouraged to understand and explore creativity as an active process and to learn practical techinques to stimulate creativity in young children.

ECE 127 HEALTH, NUTRITION AND SAFETY 60 Credit Hours
This course focuses on the practical considerations in ensuring for a healthy and safe environment for young children. Students will be challenged to promote the well being of young children and the well being of professionals working in a child care environment. This course also provides students with information regarding proper nutritional needs of young children. Students will plan, implement and reflect upon curriculum experiences that promote health and safety with young children.

ECE 105 PRACTICUM I 150 Credit Hours
This practical course offers students a field placement opportunity in a licensed child care setting working with children from infancy to school age. Students will demonstrate skills in communication, professionalism, curriculum planning and implementation and behaviour guidance of children during the practicum experience.

Semester II

ECE 203 CURRICULUM II 60 Credit Hours
This course provides an extension to designing, implementing and evaluating developmentally appropriate curriculum experiences for children. Students will continue to explore the value of playas the foundation to curriculum development and will design, implement and evaluate anti-based curriculum experiences for infants, toddlers, preschool and school aged children. A special emphasis will be placed on developing positive adult-child interactions while desigining positive learning environments.

ECE 204 INFANT/TODDLER CHILD CARE 60 Credit Hours
This course offers a framework for developing quality curriculum for infants and toddlers. Using developmental considerations as a foundation, students will be introduced to designing environments, schedules, and learning experiences for infants and toddlers which support the whole child and reflectan anti-bias philosophy. Special emphasis will be placed on weaving routines throughout the curriculum, providing a positive balance between care and education in supporting infants and toddlers and nurturing positive teacher, child relationships.

ECE 207 BEHAVIOUR GUIDANCE I 30 Credit Hours
This course focuses on assisting adults in a child care setting to understand children’s behaviour as it is influenced by developmental and environmental factors. Students will learn practical skills for supporting and guiding healthy interaction between children and between adult and child. Discipline principles and techniques will be explored and applied in the context of curriculum, role modelling
and appropriate intervention.

ECE 209 CHILD IN THE FAMILY 30 Credit Hours
This course provides students with an opportunity to study and comprehend the sociology of the family, the challenges families face in today’s society and their effects on the child. Students will give serious consideration to the role of the early childhood educator and their support of the family.

ECE213 Inclusive Learning Environments 30 Hours
This course will explore the various aspects involved in designing inclusive environments. Content will focus on “defining the environment”, different types of environments, the role of senses in the experiences children have, the use of various methods to bring life to the environment and the role of the ECE to ensure children are in an anit-biased stimulating setting.

ECE223 Movement, Active Play and Wellbeing 30 Hours
In this course students will explore the various aspects involved in creating and offering indoor and outdoor early learning environments that will support the recommended levels of active play for young children. Content will focus on Active Start Guidelines and the creation of developmentally appropriate active play opportunities throughout the routines and activities of the day. Students will draw links to current research on the role of physical activity in brain development, healthy outcomes for children, and wellbeing for everyone involved in early childhood programs.

ECE 205 PRACTICUM II 150 Credit Hours
Building on previous practicum experience, students will continue field placement opportunities in licensed child care settings working with children from infancy to school age. Students will strenghten skills in communication, professionalism, curriculum planning and implementation and behaviour guidance of children during the practicum experience and will function as a more effective team members during this time.

Semester III

ECE 300 PROFESSIONALISM 30 Credit Hours
This course provides students with information which will assist them in working as professionals and advocates for children, families and the profession. Students will identify criteria of a profession and role of professionals. They will be introduced to various local, provincial and national professional organizations and will analyse historical and current issues facing the early childhood
education profession.

ECE 306 CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS 60 Credit Hours
This course offers students the opportunity to gain knowledge of exceptionalities experienced by young children and their families. Students will give consideration to how the environment can be adjusted to include children with special needs, explore strategies to work with and support families, while gaining knowledge of relevant community resources. An examination of assumptions and personal attitudes about inclusion will be encouraged and an emphasis will be placed on the concept that all children may experience a "special need" at any given time, whether the need be short-term or life-long.

ECE 307 BEHAVIOUR GUIDANCE Part II 30 Credit Hours
This course focuses on assisting adults in a child care setting to understand children’s behaviour as it is influenced by developmental and environmental factors. Students will develope the ability to be sensitive to the child’s interests, need for interaction and support; and to be able to use a variety of developmentally appropriate positive guidance strategies while meeting the child’s need to develop competence, dependence, independence, and conflict resolution skills.

ECE 309 PARENTS AS PARTNERS 30 Credit Hours
This course provides students with an opportunity to build on their exploration of families as an extension to children. Students will explore and research various strategies and barriers to communicating effectively with parents. Specifically, students will be introduced to both theoretical and practical strategies involved in partnering with parents to support families.

ECE 311 RESEARCH ISSUES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 30 Credit Hours
This course focuses on expanding the students’ awareness and understanding of current issues which are affecting the field of early childhood education. Students will develop skills which will assist them in reading and critiquing relevant research, debating various issues and presenting a professional argument.

ECE 320 EMERGENT LITERACY 30 Credit Hours
This course is designed to assist students in appreciating the value of literature in programs for young children. Building on child development and curriculum knowledge, students will explore the theoretical and practical issues regarding language and literacy. Through active participation, students will be given practical methods to support the development of language as it emerges. Students will be introduced to methods of selecting children’s books, writing children’s books and using books to support language and literacy throughout the curriculum.

ECE 325 ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT 30 Credit Hour
This course provides students with information about the administration practices applicable to the child care organization. Topics of special consideration will include leadership, enrollment and public relations, human resource management, financial management, facilities, regulations, parent relations and program development.

ECE 305 PRACTICUM III 150 Credit Hours
Building on previous practicum experience, students will continue field placement opportunities in licensed child care settings working with children from infancy to school age. Demonstrating skills in communication, professionalism, curriculum planning/implementation and behaviour guidance, students will continue using observations as a springboard for planning developmentally appropriate experiences of children and will function as an effective team member. Students may require periodic assistance in demonstrating the required skills.

Semester IV

COM430 INTERPERSONAL SKILLS 30 Hours
Students will have the opporutnity to become aware of appropriate form, style, and level of analysis/detail, based on message, audience and purpose of communication. The course will introduce communication skills for dealing with a variety of situations that are both professional and personal in nature. The student will examine a basic theorectical foundation through which to view her/himself and others. Students will explore a variety of topics that involve thinking critically, assertiveness, effective communication and the importance of intercultural communication.

ECE 400 ADVOCACY 30 Credit Hours
This course provides students with opportunities to become knowledgeable about advocacy issues in the field of early childhood education. Tracing the historical roots of early childhood education, students will be introduced to how the current status of the field is affected by the past. As well, students will become acquainted with local, provincial and national advocacy groups. Students will
demonstrate effective strategies for becoming advocates for children and families.

ECE 403 SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE 30 Credit Hours
This course offers a framework for developing quality curriculum for school age children. Using active learning as a foundation, students will be introduced to designing environments, schedules and learning experiences for school age children which support the whole child and reflect an anti-bias philosophy. Special emphasis will be placed on child development of the school age child and behaviour guidance principles which support pro-social development.

ECE 406 PROGRAM PLANNING FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS 60 Hours
This course offers students an opportunity to extend their knowledge of working with children with special needs and the skills needed to support children in a variety of different settings. Students will explore various formal and informal assessment tools and will use them to collect information about children in order to support the child’s growth and development. Students will also explore the legal, ethical and professional responsibilities in supporting children with special needs in early childhood education
settings.

ECE 412 ART FOR YOUNG CHILDREN 30 Credit Hours
This new course will provide students with the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the importance of art in children’s development. It will provide specific and practical knowledge about how to support young children’s artistic and crfeative abilities through the environment, teacher language and visual literacy.

ECE 418 EMERGENT CURRICULUM 60 Credit Hours
Students will be introduced to the historical and theoretical origins of early childhood education and the significant educational models and approaches that have influenced the field in an effort to understand the basic foundations of contemporary programs. This course offers students the opportunity to study the Emergent Curriculum Model of program design used in early childhood education environments. Students will analyze the theoretical framework of this model and demonstrate an understandin of the practical implementation details.

ECE 405 PRACTICUM IV 150 Credit Hours
Building on previous practicum experience, students will continue field placement opportunities in licensed child care settings working with children from infancy to school age. Students will consistently demonstrate skills in communication, professionalism, curriculum planning and implementation and behaviour guidance. Students will combine skills in observation, knowledge of child development and curriculum planning in order to demonstrate an understanding of the holistic approach to program planning.