This Early Childhood Leadership baccalaureate program (C301) prepares graduates to guide and lead curriculum and pedagogy in Ontario’s early childhood settings. These settings include child care centres, nursery schools, family drop-in programs (including Ontario Early Years Centres, parenting centres and family resource programs), other family support programs, and early intervention services. It also prepares graduates for positions as Registered Early Childhood Educators, working in partnership with certified teachers in the Full Day Early Learning programs that are replacing junior and senior kindergarten. The goal of the program is to prepare early childhood professionals with program leadership ability. Graduates of this degree program will have a knowledge and practice base to influence pedagogy and curriculum. They will be prepared to move into supervisory/director positions in a full range of early childhood programs. The Early Childhood Leadership degree program is delivered in an applied learning environment. Case studies, demonstrations and practice opportunities are integral to most courses. Students have two field experiences, including a 14-week full-time work internship, that are aligned with the progressive complexity of the course content. Students will be expected to demonstrate abilities to apply their learning in early childhood programs, translating theory into practice.

Graduates may find work in a variety of early childhood settings, including child care centres, nursery schools, family drop-in programs (including Ontario Early Years Centres, parenting centres and family resource programs), other family support programs, and early intervention services. Emerging Best Start Child and Family Centres will be integrated with existing early childhood programs and graduates will be well-positioned to assume leadership positions within these centres. Previous successful graduates who wanted to continue their education have successfully gained admissions to notable universities where they will further their studies at the masters level and/or the faculty of education.