Early Childhood Education
Courses
Current
Note: As of the Fall (September) Semester 2025 intake, applications for admission to the Diploma in Early Childhood Education have been suspended until further notice.
In recent years there has been an increasing demand for qualified early childhood educators to work with young children in early childhood programs. Employment opportunities exist in profit and non-profit childcare centres, inclusive childcare centres, parent participation preschools, and BC StrongStart centres. Employment opportunities in the field of early childhood education and care increase with further education and work experience.
Langara College offers a one-year, (three semesters) full-time day program as well as a part time, online certificate program that are designed to prepare students to meet the requirements of the provincial Early Childhood Education Registry. In person practicum experiences, in a variety of early childhood centres is an essential part of all ECE programs at Langara College. For information regarding regulatory requirements for registration as an Early Childhood Educator in British Columbia please see the Early Childhood Education Information web page at www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/ece. The Early Childhood Education Registry can also be reached by contacting the office at 1.888.338.6622.
Program option notes
Students who have successfully completed all the required Diploma in Early Childhood Education courses, and who wish to qualify for an Infant-Toddler Licence from BC's Early Childhood Education Registry, will also need to complete ECED 1329 - Infant and Toddler Practicum 1.
Entrance to Term Two depends on completion of all courses in Term One with a minimum "C-" grade. Similarly, entrance to Term Three depends on completion of all Term Two courses with a minimum "C-" grade unless department approval is given.
Students must complete all courses in the diploma program with a minimum "C-" grade. Exception: Students may be permitted to meet graduation requirements if they have a "D" grade in one, and no more than one, of the program support courses, i.e., CMNS, ENGL, or PSYC.
Term One serves as an introduction and overview of the field and an orientation to preschool and child care programs. Term Two focuses on program planning with an emphasis on activities and learning experiences in various curriculum areas. In Term Three, students are encouraged to put all the elements together, to organize and evaluate learning experiences, and to integrate the curriculum across all areas of programming.
Practical experience in the field in each term supports the particular learning objectives for that period, and the amount of time spent in the field increases with each term.
