Last updated: December 13, 2023 @ 09:59AM

Early Childhood Education (Honours)
This program is offered through the Department of Educational Studies

Director
Sandra Della Porta

Program Administrator
Eriona Tarelli

Academic Advising
Ethna Bernat

General Information

This program is offered online.

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (BECE Honours) program builds on the foundation of a two-year Early Childhood Education Diploma program or equivalent. The degree focuses on fostering educators’ comprehensive and critical understandings of the issues and trends in early care and education for children from birth to 8 years as well as broadening insights into educational contexts and theories.

Graduates of the BECE Honours program are expected to take on 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.

Admission Requirement

Graduates of a two-year Early Childhood Education Diploma program or equivalent with a cumulative 75 percent average are eligible to apply for entry into the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (BECE Honours) degree program. For more information: brocku.ca/education/programs/early-childhood-education/

College Transfer/Degree Completion Pathway

Students completing a two-year Early Childhood Education Diploma program or equivalent, with a minimum 75 percent average may earn 7.0 transfer credits with Brock University towards a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Honours) degree. Applications for full-time studies can be made via the OUAC 105 application system. Applicants should contact the Office of the Registrar-Admissions department at Brock University for more information.

Applicants who successfully complete an Early Childhood Education Diploma or equivalent as part of a degree-completion pathway, will be considered with a minimum of 7.0 university level courses at the time of application for the Brock Teacher Education Primary/Junior BEd Division.

Program Notes
  1. Students are encouraged to book an academic advising appointment once per term.
  2. Students are encouraged to have a current satisfactory police record check with a vulnerable sector screening.
  3. Students given transfer credit for the Social Sciences context credit take 1.0 elective credit.
  4. The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (BECE) degree does not lead to an Ontario Teacher Certificate.
  5. Students deciding to transfer to another program will have their transfer credits reassessed by the Office of the Registrar to align with their major program requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with the Office of the Registrar prior to any program changes.
  6. In 20 credit degree programs, a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; at least three credits must be numbered 3(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above. In some circumstances, to meet university degree and program requirements, more than 20 credits may be taken.

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Honours only)

Years 1 and 2
·   Completion of Early Childhood Education diploma or equivalent

Year 3
·   ECEC 2F95
·   ECEC 3P50, 3P51, 3P53, 3P54, 3P55 and 3P85
·   one credit from EDUC 2P65, 3F01, 3P00, 3P40, 3P45, 3P70, 3P91, 3P97, 4P03, 4P46, 4P62, 4P70, ADED 2F90, 2F91, 3P12, 3P41, 3F90

Spring/Summer Sessions:
·   ECEC 4P81
·   EDUC 4P35
·   one Humanities context credit
·   one Sciences context credit

Year 4
·   ECEC 4D51, 4P14, 4P24, 4P52, and 4P85
·   one Social Sciences context credit (see program note 3)
·   one-half elective credit

Under exceptional circumstances, the Department may require the substitution of other relevant courses for those usually required.

Certificate and Micro-certificate Programs

Micro-certificate in Special Needs in ECE

The Micro-certificate Special Needs in ECE is awarded upon completion of the following courses with a minimum overall average of 60 percent:
·   ECEC 3P55 and 4P52

Description of Courses

Note that not all courses are offered in every session. Refer to the applicable term timetable for details.

# Indicates a cross listed course
* Indicates a primary offering of a cross listed course

Prerequisites and Restrictions

Students must check to ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met.
ECEC 2F95
Indigenous Culture and Early Childhood Education
(also offered as INDG 2F95)
Introduction of the culture of a selected Indigenous Society to early childhoodeducators.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to BECE majors.
Prerequisite(s): offered online.
Completion of this course will replace grade and credit in EDUC 2F95.

ECEC 3P50
Early Childhood Education I
(also offered as CHYS 3P50)
Early childhood education programs for children from birth to age eight.Topics include the historical and societal influences on early childhoodeducation, program models derived from theories of learning and childdevelopment and research on the effectiveness of these programs.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to BECE students until the date specified in Registration guide. After that date open to CHYS (single or combined) majors with a minimum of 9.0 overall credits until date specified in Registration guide.
Note: offered online.
Completion of this course will replace grade and credit in CHYS or EDUC 3P50.

ECEC 3P51
Early Childhood Education for Sustainability
Theoretical and foundational concepts and principles of sustainability. Early childhood education's importance in promoting transformative change in curriculum and pedagogy, and movement toward experiential, constructivist and participatory learning and teaching.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to BECE students and ENSU minors.
Note: offered online.
Completion of this course will replace grade and credit in EDUC 3P51.

ECEC 3P52
Early Childhood Education II
Methods in early childhood education programs for children from birth to age eight. Topics include curricula, instructional strategies and evaluativetechniques.
Lecture, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to BECE students.
Prerequisite(s): ECEC (EDUC) 3P50.
Note: this course may be offered in multiple modes of delivery. The method ofdelivery will be listed on the academic timetable, in the applicable term.
Completion of this course will replace grade and credit in CHYS 3P52 and EDUC 3P52.

ECEC 3P53
Ethics, Policies and Care in Early Childhood Education
Diverse perspectives on ethics, policy and care in early childhood education through local and global contexts. Policies that govern ECE practices from a socio-political-cultural perspective.
Lecture, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to BECE students.
Note: offered online.
Completion of this course will replace grade and credit in EDUC 3P53.

ECEC 3P54
Evaluating the Science Behind the Developing Child
Critiquing the science and theories of early human development and the role of experiences during the prenatal and early childhood periods as key influences on health, education, behaviour and the general well-being of children.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to BECE students.
Note: offered online.
Completion of this course will replace grade and credit in EDUC 3F02 and EDUC 3P54.

ECEC 3P55
Young Children with Exceptionalities
Learning and developmental aspects of young children with exceptionalneeds. Topics may include exceptionalities with social cognition, executive function, learning disabilities, behavioural, sensory, motor/physical challenges, and/or pervasive disabilities.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to BECE and micro-certificate Special Needs in ECE students.
Note: offered online.
Completion of this course will replace grade and credit in EDUC 3F02 and EDUC 3P55.

ECEC 3P85
Internship I
Community or school-based placement. Examining the process and theory of teaching in relation to curriculum development, observation, documentation and evaluation.
Restriction: open to BECE students.
Note: students are responsible for their own transportation and require acurrent police record check, with a vulnerable sector screening. Offered online.
Completion of this course will replace grade and credit in EDUC 3P85.

ECEC 4D50
Early Childhood Education Honours Thesis
Research project carried out under the supervision of a faculty adviser.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to BECE students.
Note: offered online.
Completion of this course will replace grade and credit in EDUC 4F50 and EDUC 4D50.

ECEC 4D51
Early Childhood Education Honours Project
Honours capstone research carried out under the supervision of a faculty adviser.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to BECE students.
Prerequisite(s): ECEC 4P81 or equivalent.
Note: offered online.
Completion of this course will replace grade and credit obtained in EDUC 4F50, EDUC 4D50, ECEC 4D50.

ECEC 4P04
Observation and Evaluation for the Early Years
Assessment of learning (summative), assessment for learning (formative and diagnostic) and assessment as learning (self-assessment). Assessment tasks and tools to enhance student learning and assessment situated in curriculum design.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to BECE students until date specified in Registration guide.
Note: this course may be offered in multiple modes of delivery. The method ofdelivery will be listed on the academic timetable, in the applicable term.
Completion of this course will replace grade and credit in EDUC 4P04.

ECEC 4P14
Mathematics in the Early Years
Theories of early mathematical understanding and best practices inmathematics education for young children.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to BECE students.
Note: offered online.
Completion of this course will replace grade and credit in EDUC 4P14.

ECEC 4P24
Literacy in the Early Years
Theoretical foundations of early literacies. Focus on multiliteracies, digitalliteracies, and culturally relevant and responsive literacies.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to BECE students until date specified in Registration guide.
Note: offered online.
Completion of this course will replace grade and credit in EDUC 4P24.

ECEC 4P52
Inclusive Programming in Early Childhood Education
Theories and best practices for the education of young children across the disabilities spectrum.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to BECE and micro-certificate Special Needs in ECE students.
Note: offered online.
Completion of this course will replace grade and credit in EDUC 4P52.

ECEC 4P81
Research Methods in Early Childhood Education
Trends in methodologies and research design in early childhood education.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to BECE students.
Note: offered online.
Completion of this course will replace grade and credit in EDUC 4P80 and 4P81.

ECEC 4P85
Internship II
Students will be placed in a community or school based placed placement.Developing a foundation for and skills in developmental programming.Restriction: open to BECE students.
Restriction: open to BECE students.
Note: students are responsible for their own transportation and require acurrent police record check, with a vulnerable sector screening. Offered online.
Completion of this course will replace grade and credit in EDUC 4P85.