Early Childhood Education

George Brown Degree Completion Program

The Ryerson/George Brown College Degree Completion program enrolled its first cohort of students in Fall 2003. These students take the first two years of enriched study at George Brown College's Department of Early Childhood Studies. Successful students in this cohort will enter third year of the Ryerson School of Early Childhood Education.

The School's curriculum follows the University's tripartite curriculum model with core professional courses, professionally-related electives and liberal studies electives. The first two years emphasize the foundational courses in child development, observation, curriculum, history and philosophy of early childhood education, professional practice, family contexts, working with children with special needs, and becoming and effective learner and professional.

Year 3: Enhanced Specialization and Professional Preparation
The third year of the program emphasizes either a broad-based preparation for graduate work in early childhood education or allied careers, or more specialized preparation for teaching young children in the schools or early learning environments. Students integrate the foundational knowledge they have achieved with specific skills related to research, assessment and evaluation of children's development, and the promotion of early literacy learning. The two research courses in third year address research methods and skills related to quantitative and qualitative research followed by the application of the skills they have learned in a research project. A course in the diversity of Canadian families continues the focus on contexts in which children are nurtured and promotes greater understanding of the diverse cultural fabric of our schools and communities.

Students in third year have a choice of field placements in either community based settings or in school settings according to their interests.

The professionally-related electives allow students to pursue courses related to one of the minors offered by the School and to broaden their understanding of contexts and issues through interdisciplinary studies.

Year 4: Advanced Learning and Preparation for the Workplace
The fourth year of the program emphasizes the student as an emerging professional who is developing the perspectives and leadership capabilities that go beyond the basic professional skills.

Students examine contemporary issues, cognitive development, and an introduction to therapeutic interventions such as music, art, speech, physical, and occupational therapies in their elective courses as well as issues related to the social, political, and legal interface among school, family and society. Students may also learn more about leadership, policy-making and advocacy in the profession or pursue knowledge of inclusive practice. In addition, students have the opportunity to study concept development in mathematics and science, as well aws the use of technology in early childhood education.

A Senior Internship in Year 4 allows students the opportunity to pursue a placement setting according to their career interests and goals. Students also have the option to complete the Senior Internship in an international setting in the Spring/Summer Term prior to Year 4.