BECE FAQs

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (BECE) is an online Honours degree that builds on the foundational knowledge gained from a two-year Early Childhood Education Diploma program or equivalent.

Learn more about the program on the BECE program page. You can find answers to frequently asked questions below.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Honours) program recognizes the significance and importance of specialized and knowledgeable individuals in the theoretical foundations and pedagogy of Early Childhood Education to meet the needs of caring and educating for Canada’s youngest citizens in their foundational years. The program provides students with valuable transformative experiences by fostering a diverse community of learners, exchanging ideas, and collaborating in online learning and community-based learning experiences. Students have opportunities to reflect on practices locally, nationally, and internationally, and time to critically examine the application and implication of foundational and new theories of teaching and learning.

Question: Are internships the same as college placements?

Answer: No. The internship course, ECEC 3P85, is 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, and advocacy. Students may also benefit and choose an international internship opportunity.

Question: Does my internship have to be in a childcare class?

Answer: No. You may choose an internship location that provides services to young children (birth to age 8 or within school classrooms Pre K to grade 3) and/or a family services agency (e.g., public/private school, childcare centers, library, arts-based or community support agency) who agrees to provide internship students with an enriching and challenging learning opportunity. Students can complete internships in a locale of their choosing.

Question: Will I need a police check (vulnerable sector screen)?

Answer: Yes. In Canada, most agencies that support children and families will require you to have a current police check (vulnerable sector check) and often this is required even if the internship is online. Make sure you are fully aware of ALL the requirements of the sponsoring agency. We recommend you arrange and apply for the police check in late summer/early fall as processing times vary greatly.

If you require a letter from Brock University to apply for the VSC, please contact foepracticum@brocku.ca.

QUESTION: WILL I NEED TO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID OR HAVE OTHER TYPES OF VACCINATIONS?

Answer: Check with your agency. Vaccination requirements, including for COVID-19, are determined by individual agencies. Agencies who have vaccination requirements will require an intern to meet these requirements to be eligible for an internship opportunity. When contacting an agency to arrange an internship, ask for their up-to-date vaccination requirements.

Note. Vaccine and mask requirements are subject to change on short notice should the public health situation require it.

Question: What will the internship entail?

Answer: BECE students are expected to undertake an internship each winter term of a minimum of 36 hours of contact time with the sponsoring agency. These opportunities are intended to provide an applied work experience and deepen students’ understandings of the spectrum of services within a community that supports children and their families. In addition, students will be expected to complete course assignments associated with their internship courses.

Question: What will the internship agency expect of me?

Answer: Expectations will be negotiated between the agency and the student. For example, if you are an intern at a library you may be evaluating resources, delivering programming, or developing a family communication strategy. You will need to develop your own learning goals for your internship and negotiate these with the needs of the agency.

Questions: When does the internship start? And what days and times are expected?

Answer: Internships begin in the winter term of each year, with specific days and times will be negotiated between the student and the agency. We do recommend you start to arrange your internship early in the fall of each year as sometimes it takes several tries to find an agency willing to sponsor a student. A list of potential Niagara-based internship locations will also be provided.

Question: Can the internship be online or within my place of employment?

Answer: Yes. The internship can be an online experience and/or within your place of current employment. Sponsoring agencies may offer an online experience (e.g., online tutoring at the Brock Learning Lab) and we encourage you to contact potential agencies early in the fall. If your internship will be within your current place of employment, the instructor will require additional tasks to challenge your learning and experiences (see course syllabi).

Question: Are there other international internships available for students in Canada?

Answer: Yes, each year there will be international internships available for students – some of these may be in person or available virtually. Please keep up to date with announcements about international internships that are posted each fall term.

Question: Does my internship need to take place in Ontario, Canada?

Answer: No, internships can occur in any region of Canada or anywhere throughout the world.

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.

VSN

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.

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.

The information provided on this page is subject to change without notice and in accordance with the current Undergraduate Calendar. Please see additional information and Undergraduate Calendars published on the website of the Office of the Registrar.