Early Childhood Education (Accelerated)

The ECYA program is an accelerated program specially designed for those who have completed an undergraduate degree.  In the accelerated program, you are eligible to earn your Early Childhood Education diploma in 12 months.

In this three-semester diploma program, you will learn about the physical, cognitive, social and emotional needs of children. You will understand how to develop and implement inclusive programming in order to support the healthy development of children ranging in age from infancy to school-age.

Your studies will include courses in child development, curriculum, philosophy of education, communication, working with families and administration.

What You’ll Learn

• Design, implement and evaluate inclusive and play-based early learning curriculum and programs that support children’s holistic development and are responsive to individual children’s and groups of children’s observed abilities, interests and ideas.
• Establish and maintain inclusive early learning environments that support diverse, equitable and accessible developmental and learning opportunities for all children and their families.
• Select and use a variety of screening tools, observation and documentation strategies to review, support and promote children’s learning across the continuum of early childhood development.
• Establish and maintain responsive relationships with individual children, groups of children and families.
• Assess, develop and maintain safe, healthy and quality early learning environments which meet the requirements of current legislation, agency policies and evidence-based practices in early learning.
• Prepare and use professional written, verbal, nonverbal and electronic communications when working with children, families, colleagues, employers, and community partners.
• Identify, select and apply relevant legislation, regulations, College of Early Childhood Educators Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, policies and evidence-based practice guidelines, and interpret their impact on a variety of early learning environments.
• Apply a developing personal philosophy of early learning in accordance with ethical and professional standards of early childhood education practice.
• Advocate for quality early learning environments and collaborate with members of the early learning team, families and community partners to establish and promote such settings.
• Engage in reflective practice, develop learning goals and maintain an ongoing professional development plan in accordance with evidence-based practices in early learning and related fields.