Early Childhood Education and Development Diploma

You can make a difference in the lives of children, families, and communities. The 16-month (full-time) Early Childhood Education and Development (ECED) Diploma program (formerly referred to as the Early Learning and Child Care Diploma) prepares you to provide quality child care in a wide variety of settings and plan emergent play experiences for the children in your care. You will gain knowledge in child development, family dynamics, play, and program planning that will equip you to support the healthy development of children through child-centered learning experiences.

This program combines theory and practice and graduates are eligible for Level 3 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Supervisor) certification from Alberta Human Services.

ECED diploma program is offered full-time or part-time with a variety of delivery options including traditional classroom and online learning.  There are daytime and evening classes scheduled throughout the week. The practicum, however, must be completed physically onsite at a licensed childcare program in Alberta.

The Early Childhood Education and Development learning lab combines classroom space with interactive children’s learning centres that include an artist studio, a reading centre, a dramatic play centre, and a sensory motor centre. This innovative and engaging environment supports the transition of theory to practice as students have an opportunity to engage with children in the lab space.