皇家山大学

Learning through play is an integral part of childhood and an important building block in the development of young children. The Early Learning and Child Care major in the Bachelor of Child Studies degree program, provides the knowledge and skills to adopt a variety of professional roles and gain meaningful employment in the field. You will learn how to create safe and stimulating play environments for children (infancy to age 12), engage in program and curriculum design, work with children and families, and collaborate with professionals in a variety of community settings.

The Early Learning and Child Care major meet the certification requirements of a child development supervisor under the Alberta Ministry of Human Services Staff Qualifications branch.

You will gain fundamental knowledge and skills in:

Child development

Learning through play

Curriculum/program development and implementation

Nutrition and health

Communication and collaboration with children, families and community members

Creating responsive learning environments

The Bachelor of Child Studies, Early Learning and Child Care major equip students with foundational knowledge by offering core curriculum courses as well as general education courses and work experience components. This gives students the option to choose and add a minor to complement their major.

Career choices

Graduates are in high demand, and you will find a variety of work in early learning programs; child care and kindergarten programs, family childcare and school age care agencies, parent link and family resource centers. Your future career might be in:

Early Childhood Education (ECE) — with a solid understanding of how children learn, you can co-construct curriculum to help children grow and develop. You will primarily be working with children (birth to age 12), families and communities.

Special and Inclusive Education — support children with exceptionalities and their families by providing learning opportunities, assistance and resources.

Leadership in Early Learning and Child Care programs — provide leadership to frontline practitioners and develop programs to support them in having a positive impact on children, youth and families.