Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership

*Domestic applicants include Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons and Convention refugees.
The education and early years landscape is rapidly evolving and requires successful and passionate leaders. Begin your journey with the innovative Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership program.
This four-year early childhood education degree program will prepare you with a solid foundation in child development, pedagogy, human relationships, curriculum development and leadership skills. You will participate in applied learning, case studies, research and field placements in the community. All this culminates in one fourteen week-internship before your final year of studies, followed by your final year capstone research project. Your studies and experiences in the Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership program will provide you not only with your Bachelor's in early childhood leadership, but also with the necessary skill set to graduate and move forward into various leadership roles.
This innovative four-year honours program offers students studies in early childhood development, pedagogy, human relationships, curriculum development, and leadership. Students develop the necessary skills to engage as pedagogical leaders in a diverse range of roles in the evolving disciplines within the early years education and care sector.
A key component of this degree is the applied learning that takes place in ideal sized classrooms focusing on case studies, research, interpersonal communication, advocacy and leadership skills. Students complete two field practicums in first and second year in addition to a fourteen-week intensive Internship between third and fourth year. International internships are offered on a limited basis for qualifying students.
In the final year, graduating students participate in a major capstone course that provides students the opportunity to integrate their practical experiences and knowledge in a supervised research project. Opportunities for graduating students include positions as Registered Early Childhood Educators in childcare, JK, SK, supervisory roles, ECL leaders in social service agencies, or with the Ministry of Education. Students may further their studies in B.Ed. programs (Teacher’s College) at Canadian universities, as well as internationally. Graduates may also pursue their Master of Education, Master of Social Work, or Master of Arts degree.
Fanshawe’s Honours Early Childhood Leadership (ECL) baccalaureate prepares graduates to take a leadership role in Ontario's early childhood settings, family support programs or early intervention services. The goal of the program is to prepare childhood professionals with program leadership capacity to move into supervisory/director positions in a full range of early childhood programs and/or to further their studies in graduate programs such as the Bachelor of Education and Master of Education programs.
Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario?
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership program:
Early Childhood Educator
Enthusiastic and passionate about working with children aged three months to four years.
Au Pair
Care for children working with private families in a variety of international locations including England, The Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, China, Australia and New Zealand.
Early Childhood Educator
Collaborate with a classroom teacher to plan and implement an early learning program.
The first two field experiences in Level 2 and Level 4 are completed concurrently with course work. Students will be expected to demonstrate their ability to apply their growing knowledge of children's early learning and development taking into account the context of their daily lives in families and residential and cultural communities. They will also demonstrate increasing abilities to design, implement and to evaluate curriculum for individuals and groups of children.
The third field experience is a 14-week work term in an early childhood program, related child and family service, or relevant government department. The focus of the work term is on the students' growing understanding about the conditions that guide and promote effective curriculum and pedagogy. Students’ preparation and acquisition of their internship placement is supported via a seminar in level 6 before the work term.
The fourth field placement is concurrent with Level 7 and aligns with courses in early childhood studies, curriculum leadership, and managing projects. Students will continue in their work term site and complete a project related to pedagogy or curriculum. They will work with the site to identify an issue and collaborate with appropriate staff and families to complete the project.
Steps to Pursue this Pathway:
1. Students will need to first meet one of the following requirements:
2. Students can apply for the bridging semester as follows:
3. Students will need to then successfully complete the four bridging courses during the May to August term:
4. Successful bridging students will enter Level 5 of the Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership degree in September.
Tips for Completing the Program Transfer Form (Fanshawe Graduates Only):
For More Information:
Please contact Sandra Lackenbauer, Program Coordinator (slackenbauer@fanshawec.ca).
Students may further their studies in B.Ed. programs (Teachers College) at Canadian universities, as well as internationally. Graduates may also pursue their Master of Education, Master of Social Work, or Master of Arts degree.
Fanshawe’s Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership grads have gone on to successfully pursue:
Pathway opportunities include:
Western University, Queens University, Sir Wilfrid Laurier University, Brock University, Trent University, Ryerson University, OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education), University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, York University, Sligo (Ireland), Griffith (Australia), major universities across Canada.
"I feel that my honours degree in early childhood education has prepared me well and given me a solid foundation for my future research. My degree has offered me professional opportunities to work effectively in our community, as well as to further my studies as a graduate student in the Master’s of Education program at Western University."
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
1. Analyze the interacting social and biological forces that collectively shape early brain development and set the stage for lifelong learning, behavior and health.
2. Respect families’ central role in child-rearing and early learning and the impact of family structures, community support systems, culture and socio-economic status on parenting.
3. Lead the design and implementation of inclusive, effective curricula for young children, based upon a critical analysis of historical perspectives, observation, current research, and understandings of early human development.
4. Develop inclusive early intervention programs that respond to children with identified special needs.
5. Evaluate early childhood programs, engaging stakeholders in the process and addressing diverse needs of young children and families.
6. Acquire self-knowledge, critical thinking skills and professional habits of mind essential to the practice and leadership of early childhood education.
7. Apply research skills, including assessment of the research process, formulation of research questions and collection and interpretation of data, in a variety of research projects.
8. Establish responsive and reciprocal relationships with children, families, colleagues and other stakeholders.
9. Perform responsibilities in a manner consistent with ethical and professional codes of conduct; in compliance with legislative and legal requirements; and, within the defined scope of practice limitations.
10. Advocate on behalf of children, families, colleagues and the broader community, promoting the principles of quality in early childhood programs.
11. Apply the principles of human resources, financial and facilities management to the operations of an early childhood program.
12. Collaborate with early childhood educators and other professionals in multi-disciplinary or cross-sectoral environments and across diverse domains of practice.
13. Communicate in a professional manner in all verbal, non-verbal and written mediums
Sandra Lackenbauer, Ph.D.
Mary Mitches B.A.,RECE, AECEO.C, MPed.
OR
Mature Applicant with standing in the
required courses and grade stated above
OR
Post-Secondary Standing** (if
applicable)
Test | Score |
---|---|
TOEFL iBT | 88 |
IELTS Academic | Overall score of 7.0 with no score less than 6.5 in reading and listening and a score of 7.0 in writing and speaking |
CAEL | Score of 70 in writing, reading and speaking and a score of 60 in listening |
PTE Academic | 65 |
Cambridge English | Overall score on the Cambridge English Scale of 185 with no score less than 176 in reading and listening and 185 in writing and speaking |
ESL4/GAP5 | Minimum grade of 80% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 9 or 75% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 10 |
Note:
President: P.
Devlin, CMM, MSC, CD, HBA, MSS
Senior Vice-President Academic Services: G. Lima,
MA
Vice-President Student Services: M. Beaudoin,
BA, MLS
Dean, Faculty of Health, Community Studies and Public
Safety: P. McLaughlin, BNSc, MEd
Associate Dean, School of Community
Studies: S. Fieber, MSW, RSW, MBA
Faculty:
S. Lackenbauer, BA, MA, PhD
M. Mitches, BA, RECE, AECEO.C, MPed.
T. Bonnett, Ed.D, M.ECEd., R.E.C.E., Certified Trauma Integration
Clinician
C. Bourbonnais-MacDonald, BA, BEd, MEd, Ed.D.
Within the program, breadth courses are taught by a variety of faculty with graduate credentials in Social Sciences, Humanities and Sciences.
Fanshawe College has been granted a consent by the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development to offer this applied degree program for a seven-year term starting August 2017. The College shall ensure that all students admitted to the above-named program during the period of consent will have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable time frame.
Core Courses | ||||
Take all of the following Mandatory (Core) Courses: The Minimum Cumulative GPA for Core Courses is 2.5 (ECED-7002 and ECED-7001 are for ECE bridging students only) | ||||
Group 1 | ||||
LEVEL 1 In addition to the following mandatory courses, please refer to the Non-Core Level 1 requirement below | ||||
ECED-7004 | Human Development-Foundations | 3 | ||
The course introduces the study of human development from a developmental health perspective. Recent findings about early brain development and genetic expression join traditional theories from development psychology and population health perspectives into a framework of understanding that is the foundation for working with young children and their families. | ||||
HLTH-7001 | Personal Wellness | 3 | ||
In this course students will explore the Canadian healthcare system, and resources that promote holistic well-being. Prevailing health conditions and their associated risk, protective, and prevention influences will likewise be examined. Students will analyse connections between neurobiology, early years environments, the early childhood leader, and trauma-informed care. Opportunities to apply health risk evaluation tools and integrate holistic wellness concepts into a personal wellness plan, reflective of the complexities of first year post-secondary studies, are main to this course. | ||||
ECED-7005 | Observing, Recording & Assessing | 3 | ||
In this course students will explore observing, recording and assessing skills and their connectedness to curriculum and pedagogy in early childhood programs. Students will examine how to gather and interpret data to inform curriculum that positively influences children's play, and development. Students will have opportunities to translate theoretical knowledge into practice, and investigate sensitive and professional ways to communicate documentation with families, colleagues, and community partners. | ||||
COMM-7009 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 | ||
The course emphasizes self-knowledge and professional development through the mastery of effective interpersonal skills while addressing leadership skills, advocacy and conflict resolution. Students build a foundation in effective communication theory and practice within the context of early childhood settings. Particular emphasis is given to communication competence in a multicultural, interdisciplinary, child- and family-focused workplace. | ||||
ECED-7024 | Principles to Practice in Early Years | 3 | ||
Students will be introduced to models of early childhood program delivery and review curriculum in which environments, interactions, daily routines, schedules and transitions are designed to support childrens capacity to regulate the expression of emotions, behaviour and attention. This course explores play as a means to early learning and development. Respect for families, communities, relationships and diversity are emphasized as a prerequisite for effective early childhood programs. |
*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.