A Bachelor of Early Childhood Education will prepare graduates for a diverse array of positions that require a strong foundation in early care and education or apply to graduate studies or to teacher education programs that lead to a Provincial Teaching Certificate. Graduates will benefit from specialized foundational and core knowledge of child development and early childhood pedagogy as well have the opportunity to engage in practical experiences in a diverse array of early learning contexts, such as community-based placements, Indigenous contexts, early childhood centers, schools and Early Learning-Kindergarten programs. This online program will emphasize reflective practice, grounded emergent methodologies encouraging thoughtful practice.

Regardless of when you obtained your diploma qualification you are eligible to apply as long as you meet the admission requirements.

Most BECE students will need to obtain a vulnerable sector check (or police check, depending on their province or context where internships will be conducted). Note: most provinces in Canada require a criminal record check/vulnerable sector screen for anyone who interacts with children or vulnerable populations. Please check the requirements in the region where you will be completing any course/field/internship experiences. Generally, you will need to apply for a new police check every year and the police check can be no more than 6 months old at the beginning of your course/field/internship experiences. The costs associated with the provision of the police criminal record check and any appeals are to be borne by the applicant. Apply for the vulnerable sector check by the end of summer of each year to ensure ample time for the check to be processed.

Please note, some police services will require a letter from Brock University to support your request for a vulnerable sector screen. Please contact foepracticum@brocku.ca to request this letter.

Once you have received your police records check, make at least one copy. Be prepared to bring the copy (as well as the original) to the course/school/centre/program where you are completing your field experiences. It is your responsibility to present your police check to the school principal or program director or designate and to ensure you have the proper police check completed within the appropriate timelines.

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Police record checks must be:

• Dated no older than six months prior to the beginning of any field experience or internship
• Include a vulnerable sector check/screen
• Be issued through your local police station in your hometown
  • Please keep in mind that police checks can take at least 6 – 8 weeks to be processed. If you require fingerprinting, processing time will be significantly longer.

When visiting your local police station please ensure that you:

• Are applying for a police screen with a VULNERABLE SECTOR CHECK
• Check the hours and days of operation of the police station, for drop-off/pick-up of police checks
• Bring with you two pieces of government-issued identification (at least one should be picture identification, and this cannot be a health card)
• Ask how long the estimated processing time is
  • The process and documentation required for obtaining a police vulnerable sector check will vary depending on each police service. Please keep in mind that these requirements can change at the discretion of the police service at any time.

For registration information, important dates and further details, please refer to the Registrar’s Office.

Contact your Academic Advisor to build your program. Learn more about registration and timetables on the website of the Office of the Registrar.

Along with your Offer of Admission, you will receive an Academic Advising and Registration Guide that will direct you to the web-based course registration system. All course registration is completed via the Brock Student Portal.

Please register early to avoid course cancellations and/or late registration fees. Visit the Registrar.

You need to ensure that you adhere to the admission requirements of any BEd/Teacher Certification program in any University of your choosing. For information on the admission requirements for Brock University’s BEd/Teacher Certification program visit Admissions at Brock.

For the Faculties of Education in Ontario a great resource is the TEAS booklet available to download from the website.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education program are eligible and encouraged to apply for admission into the MEd degree program.
Additional information about the admission requirements for the MEd.

Brock University offers a variety of student services including services specifically designed to support mature students.

Yes, prior to the start of the of the first day of classes each fall an online orientation program will be offered to familiarize students with the scope and goals of the program, student expectations, and campus life.

There are a prescribed number of positions available in this program. Students must apply and be accepted to the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education Program. Admission is not guaranteed by attainment of the minimum requirements.

Check out the FAQ page for the university through Admissions at Brock.

Internships and field placements can be very beneficial for students both academically and as career preparation. The internship courses ECEC 3P85 and 4P85 are designed to benefit students’ development of theory-practice connections and to deepen understandings of the spectrum of career related possibilities. Building on the hundreds of hours of field placements BECE students have acquired through their college diploma programs, the internships at Brock offer an opportunity to engage in diversified classroom contexts, research, regional development projects, professional development, research, and advocacy. Students may choose internships in any community locale or benefit and choose an international opportunity.

First-class Honours degrees are granted to students who have completed a 20 credit honours program with first-class honours standing, which requires a minimum 80 percent average in all major credits and 70 per cent in the remaining credits. A transfer student must have completed a minimum of five credits at Brock, including all departmental honours requirements for year 4 and have maintained a minimum 75 per cent overall average and a minimum 80 percent major average (based on Brock courses only).

Second-class Honours degrees are granted to students who have completed a 20 credit honours program with second-class honours standing, which requires a minimum 70 percent average in all major credits and 60 per cent in the remaining credits. A transfer student must have completed a minimum of five credits at Brock, including all departmental honours requirements for year 4 and have maintained a minimum 65 per cent overall average and a minimum 70 per cent major average (based on Brock courses only).

The honours thesis course offers students an opportunity to conduct research related to the field of Early Childhood Education. In the fall term, students will thoroughly plan the honours thesis under the supervision of a departmental faculty member.  The fall term will have students focused on the development of the thesis proposal, while in the second term the student will carry out the planned project and complete the thesis (exit requirement). The student must complete the thesis to be awarded credit for the course work.

Disabilities (SSWD) is also available through the Student Success Centre providing specific supports and services for students to enhance their academic, personal, social and spiritual life at Brock.

As a returning BECE student your developing expertise would be beneficial to the wider ECE community. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in research cafés at Brock and within the community, attend and contribute to professional development conferences, conduct presentations to graduating classes of College diploma programs, and partake in the many professional development opportunities that are available.