"I feel like I have a career now instead of just a job. I would recommend CDI to anyone looking to start a new career." - Allison E., CDI Graduate
Increasing demand in recent years highlights a growing need for qualified personnel to work with young children as Early Childhood Educators. Those jobs offer challenging and rewarding opportunities for people who want to play a part in children’s development and be helpful in their communities.
In CDI College's Early Childhood Education program, students learn how to engage children in many different social and creative activities to facilitate their intellectual and social development. They are also taught classroom management, curriculum planning and daycare administration.
The program includes training in all of the major areas required for ECE Certification. As part of the Early Childhood Education program, students will be required to complete observation assignments in real-job settings like daycare centres to ensure a balanced combination of theory and practice. These observations are part of the practicum hours required by the ministry.
Students can apply for an Assistant Licence to become an Assistant through the Early Childhood Education Registry upon completion of one of the following modules: Child Growth and Development I (ECE1130), Guidance, Caring and Behaviour Management (ECE1150) or Health, Safety and Nutrition (ECE2160). Students can then work or volunteer part-time as they are training to complete the additional 500 hours of experience in the field required for licensing.
Job Opportunities
- Daycares
- Parents-Participation Preschools
- Nursery Schools
- Community and Family Service Centres
Early Childhood Education - BC
Offered in British Columbia At:
RichmondAlso offered in Alberta as Early Childhood Education - AB At:
Edmonton City CentreAlso offered in Quebec as Early Childhood Education - JEE.13 At:
Laval Longueuil Montreal Pointe-Claire Quebec CityProgram Courses
The program outline below is for British Columbia. Click here to see the outlines for Alberta and Quebec.
| Code | Course Name | Hours |
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This course will introduce students to skills and concepts that will help them achieve personal, academic, and career success, like identifying personality styles, setting goal, time and stress management, developing study and communication skills as well as solving conflicts.
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This course covers working with the Windows operating system to manage files and folders and customize the desktop, creating documents, and using the Internet for fundamental communication and research. This course also includes an introduction to MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
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This module will detail the history of the ECE environment in British Columbia including an overview of the licensing agency and acts and regulations responsible for childcare facilities and childcare facility staff. Students complete assignments to build practical understanding of licensing, staff qualifications, educator/child ratio, and activities.
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- Professional responsibilities and the roles of Early Childhood Educators will be explored. The hierarchy and communication among family-based team members as well as the role of staffing will be addressed. Students will also learn about legal and ethical practice issues, the role of confidentiality, acceptable behaviours, and standards of care
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This module will introduce students to positive communication skills, verbal and non-verbal, in an ever-changing diverse and multicultural environment. Communication, conflict resolution, and issue understanding are key elements explored in this module.
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During this intensive study of all aspects of child development students will gain the knowledge needed to identify typical growth patterns in children. Theories and views related to child development will be covered in depth. Students complete observation assignments to gain insight on childhood development theory in practice. Observation assignments include the collection and analysis of language samples and research to support or refute gender-role stereotyping in early childhood education.
There is a one-week full-time observation included in this module where the student will be able to practice observation techniques in preparation for doing a child study.An in-depth study of all aspects of child development from infancy to late childhood, students will take a detailed look at theories related to human development and how these theories are related to childhood growth and development. There is also an open and supportive forum to discuss potential fears and concerns students may have as they anticipate their first ECE practicum experience.
* This course include a 39-hour observational practicum.
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This module will develop practitioner skills necessary to provide a positive, safe, and nurturing environment. Strategies for guidance, discipline, and conflict will be examined through in-class work and observation assignments.
* This course also include 5 hours of Observation Practicum.
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The focus of this module is on the development and implementation of age- and stage-appropriate activities. Students will learn how to set learning objectives and design and evaluate activities and lessons.
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This module is centred on understanding and facilitating hands-on arts and crafts experience. Students have the opportunity to place developmental theories into practice throughout this module. Assignments include learning to record the behaviour and actions of children involved in the drawing process as well as building resource files for future use.
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This module aims to develop student understanding about the acquisition of language and the benefits of exposure to literature. Strategies to introduce children to age and content appropriate literature will be covered.
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This module focuses on the development of strategies, based on theories of play to enhance the value of constructive and positive play in the childcare environment.
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This module deals with physical, social, and emotional growth through a variety of structure music and movement programs. Students record and describe the ways in which children are exposed to music and how it can be utilized to set atmosphere, ease transitions and waiting periods and guide and redirect behaviour.
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- Diverse lifestyles, multi-cultural experiences, and varied social settings are explored through the construct of imaginative play environments. Assignments include the development of play prop boxes that can be used to encourage drama in a childcare facility.
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- This module will enable students to build and incorporate pre-science and math activities into the childcare environment. Students will complete assignments to further their exploration and understanding of pre-science and math learning activities.
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- Students focus on key features of social study activities into planning for children. Universal family units, social sensitivity, and multiculturalism are covered in detail. Students will complete assignements to further their exploration ans understanding of social studies learning activities.
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- This module will address proactive measures for reactive methods of addressing illness prevention, disease transmission, abuse, and childhood behaviours such as bullying. Students will also take a two-day (eight-hour) approved Emergency ChildCare and First Aide program through external certification.
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- Students learn to create program plans that include the setting of short and long-term physical, cognitive, and emotional goals for clients. This module takes a holistic view of assisting in the fulfillment of client needs
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- The creation of environments that support, nurture, and care for children in a safe manner is the theme of this module. Students complete observation assignments to examine how to bring learning experiences to the outdoors.
* Include 13 hours of Observation Practicum.
- The creation of environments that support, nurture, and care for children in a safe manner is the theme of this module. Students complete observation assignments to examine how to bring learning experiences to the outdoors.
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- Expectations, documentation, policies, and procedures highlight this module as preparation for practicum placements. Students meet with Sponsor Supervisors at placement site to build comfort level and discuss facility procedures, practicum assignments and other requirements. Students also have the opportunity to outline personal goals and objectives and how they expect to achieve them. There is also an open and supportive forum to discuss potential fears and concerns students may have as they anticipate their first ECE practicum experience.
*Included as part of practicum hours as approved by the ministry
- Expectations, documentation, policies, and procedures highlight this module as preparation for practicum placements. Students meet with Sponsor Supervisors at placement site to build comfort level and discuss facility procedures, practicum assignments and other requirements. Students also have the opportunity to outline personal goals and objectives and how they expect to achieve them. There is also an open and supportive forum to discuss potential fears and concerns students may have as they anticipate their first ECE practicum experience.
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During this module, students will have the opportunity to debrief on their practicum experience and review the application and development of skills and core concepts learned throughout the program. Basic centre administration will be covered including budgeting, scheduling including centre structure and organization. Students will also be advised on job finding resources, interview skills, and techniques.
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A two-week Observation Practicum supervised by a certified Early Childhood Educator (Sponsor Supervisor) with additional observation and evaluation by ECE Faculty member from the College. The focus will be on workplace conduct, routines and environment, working with children individually, and parent-teacher partnerships, as well as working on a child study of one child focusing on the developmental stages and behaviours of the child.
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- A three-week integrated community based practicum, supervised by a certified Early Childhood Educator (Sponsor Supervisor) with additional observation and evaluation by ECE Faculty member from the College. This is an opportunity to put theory into practice in a child-care facility in order to develop the competency levels.
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During this five-week full-time practicum, students will undergo work-based experience in which they plan and deliver childcare. Students will have numerous opportunities to complete prepared activity plans, observe children at play, observe, and evaluate typical and challenging behaviours. There will be supervision by a certified Early Childhood Educator (Sponsor Supervisor). During this competency-based practicum, students will also be observed and evaluated by an ECE Faculty member from the College.