Program Description

You can make a difference in the lives of children, families, and communities. 

The 16-month (full-time) Early Childhood Education and Development (ECED) Diploma program (formerly referred to as the Early Learning and Child Care Diploma) prepares you to provide quality child care in a wide variety of settings and plan emergent play experiences for the children in your care.

 You will gain knowledge in child development, family dynamics, play, and program planning that will equip you to support the healthy development of children through child-centered learning experiences.

This program combines theory and practice and graduates are eligible for Level 3 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Supervisor) certification from Alberta Human Services.

Flexible delivery options

ECED diploma program is offered full-time or part-time with a variety of delivery options including traditional classroom and online learning.  There are daytime and evening classes scheduled throughout the week. The practicum, however, must be completed physically onsite at a licensed childcare program in Alberta.

Regional campuses

Learners living outside of Calgary but within the Bow Valley College regional service area can take the program starting in Fall (September) through Regional campuses. 

Contact Regional or view  locations. Program delivery is blended which includes a combination of online and in-person learning. A full course load is 5 courses per term - students may choose to take fewer courses each term and extend the length of their program. 

Innovative learning lab and practicum project

The Early Childhood Education and Development learning lab combines classroom space with interactive children’s learning centres that include an artist studio, a reading centre, a dramatic play centre, and a sensory motor centre.

 This innovative and engaging environment supports the transition of theory to practice as students have an opportunity to engage with children in the lab space.

Outdoor Practicum project

The ECED program is a proud member of the outdoor research project sponsored by the Lawson Foundation. 

Our ECED instructor, Linda O’Donoghue, is currently working with a team of researchers, including the project lead Dr. Beverlie Dietze from Okanagan College and faculty members from New Brunswick Community College and Saskatchewan Polytechnic College, to conduct research on outdoor pedagogy in early childhood education. 

Our ELCC2998 is the first outdoor practicum in the province, and learners will have the opportunity to participate in the outdoor project research alongside with their instructors.

International practicum

You can put your knowledge into practice in an overseas community working with community schools and agencies. In the past, learners have gone to rural Uganda, Jamaica, and Guyana.

• Valid passport
• Academic transcripts
• Passport
• Proof of English Language Proficiency
• Medical certificate

• Satisfactory results on the Bow Valley College Admissions Test