A new Faculty of Education degree program will prepare its students for the world of early childhood education.

With the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education program, graduates will learn about early care and education for children up to eight years old. The program starts in Fall 2011.

It will be particularly useful for early childhood educators already working in the field who are interested in obtaining a degree, said Mary Louise Vanderlee, associate professor in the Faculty of Education. It will also be of interest to students graduating from Early Childhood Education (ECE) diploma programs who want to continue their studies.

With full-day learning kindergarten programs being established across the province, new co-ordinator and leadership positions are being created in school boards and community sites, she said.

“Having a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education would situate these individuals well to be leaders and innovators in this expanding field.”

Several courses have been designed for the new program, Vanderlee said. These reflect the positions of Charles Pascal, Special Advisor to the Premier of Ontario on Early Learning, as well as the Ontario Association for Early Childhood Educators and the Ontario College of Early Childhood Educators.

To learn more about the program, visit brocku.ca/education/futurestudents/early-childhood-education