Campus
Study Option
Full-time & Part-time
Credential
Ontario College Diploma

About the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program

In the Early Childhood Education diploma program, you will learn about the physical, cognitive, social and emotional needs of children. You will understand how to develop and implement inclusive programming in order to support the healthy development of children ranging in age from infancy to school-age.

Your studies will include courses in child development, curriculum, philosophy of education, communication, working with families and administration.

As a graduate of this program who meets GPA requirements, you are eligible to pursue internal pathway opportunities at Seneca, including the Honours Bachelor of Child Development and Honours Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies.

To practice in Ontario as a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) graduates must apply for registration with the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE). Graduates of this program will meet the educational requirement for membership.

Note: If you are currently working in child care and would like to work towards your Certificate of Apprenticeship and ECE diploma at Seneca, please contact your local Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Apprenticeship Office:

  • Toronto 416.326.5800
  • Peel 1-800.736.5520
  • Markham 905.513.2695

Skills

Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:

  • Design healthy, safe, inclusive and engaging environments for children from infancy to school age. 
  • Plan and implement inclusive programming to support children’s development using current theories.
  • Build positive relationships with children, families, colleagues and other professionals

Program Duration

Study at your own pace: In this program you’ll have the flexibility to choose how many courses you want to take each term. Students who study full-time can complete this program in as little as two years. Duration will depend on the number of courses taken each term. If you choose to study in the summer, you’ll have the option to earn your Early Childhood Education (ECE) diploma in 16 months. See courses for more information.

Maximum completion time: In accordance with ministry requirements, all students must complete the program within four years of being admitted.

Work Experience

Field Placement

Field placement is central to the learning experience. You will obtain over 500 field placement hours in a variety of Childcare and Early Years professional settings. These experiences will provide you with the opportunity to integrate classroom learning into practice with groups of children within the community.

The field placement must be completed in person.

Program Availability

Start in Study Option Location Availability
Jan. 2027 Full-time King Open
Jan. 2027 Full-time Newnham Open
Jan. 2027 Full-time Online Open
Jan. 2027 Part-time Newnham Open
May 2027 Full-time King Open
May 2027 Full-time Newnham Open
May 2027 Full-time Online Open
May 2027 Part-time Newnham Open
Sept. 2027 Full-time King Open
Sept. 2027 Full-time Newnham Open
Sept. 2027 Full-time Online Open
Sept. 2027 Part-time Newnham Open

Availability is subject to change and a seat is not guaranteed.

Start in Study Option Location Availability
Sept. 2026 Full-time King Closed
Sept. 2026 Full-time Newnham Closed
Jan. 2027 Full-time King Limited
Jan. 2027 Full-time Newnham Closed
May 2027 Full-time King Limited
May 2027 Full-time Newnham Limited

Availability is subject to change and a seat is not guaranteed.

This program meets Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility requirements for students who apply for a study permit or PGWP before Nov 1, 2024 or on or after Dec 17, 2024. View Seneca’s current PGWP-eligible programs. (CIP code: 19.0709)

International students: Studying part-time is not an available option as this will impact your study permit and PGWP eligibility. Review the requirements before choosing your program and study option.

Program and Course Delivery

This program is offered online and is also available in person for students at Newnham Campus or King Campus. Students choosing in-person delivery at Newnham Campus or King Campus are required to come on campus. Please note that you must attend field placement in person and reside in Ontario for its duration to complete the ECE program.

International students planning to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): If you are in a flexible delivery course, you must attend classes in person. Review the PGWP requirements before choosing your program delivery options as studying online may affect your PGWP eligibility as per IRCC policy. 

Your Career

When you graduate from this program, these are the types of career options you can explore:

  • Child care centres

  • Family resource programs

  • Settlement centres 

  • EarlyON centres

  • After-school programs

  • Nursery schools

  • Parent co-operative centres 

  • Private home child care

  • Centres for children with special needs

  • Kindergarten in the elementary school system

Affiliations/Associations

Upon graduation you will qualify to join the following affiliations and associations:

  • Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO)
  • The Canadian Association for Young Children (CAYC)
  • Canadian Child Care Federation (CCCF)
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
  • The College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE)

Frequently Asked Questions

ECE Online Delivery (Full-time only)

The online program follows the same structure and curriculum as the in-person program, including a cohort model. The main difference is your learning style—online learning requires comfort with virtual engagement and independent study habits. Please note that your field placement must be completed in person within Ontario to be recognized by The College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE).

No. The online cohort is considered its own campus (ONL) and students are not advised to switch between delivery formats.

Courses may include a mix of synchronous (scheduled class time) and asynchronous (on your own time) learning, depending on the course and professor. However, the program is not fully asynchronous, so active participation is expected.

Classes for the full-time online program can be scheduled Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Some instructors may record or pre-record lectures, but this varies by course and professor.

Yes, exams are conducted online and follow strict protocols to maintain academic integrity.

You’re encouraged to complete the Online Learning Readiness Questionnaire to help determine if this format suits your learning style.

Field Placement

Yes, field placements are a mandatory part of the program and must be completed in person within Ontario.

Yes, you need to meet clearance requirements before beginning field placement.

No. Placement courses are co-requisites with specific academic courses and are also prerequisites for future semesters, so they must be completed in sequence.

You will be placed within reasonable distance of your home campus and/or your local home address. You must have your local mailing address (where you are living while in school) accurate and up-to-date on Student Home. This is the information that is used when assigning field placements. Please note that you are expected to commute to placement each semester.

If you are studying part-time and do not secure a field placement by the specified deadline, you must drop the field placement course for that semester. Please note that this may result in non-refundable fees.

Other FAQs

You may wish to explore the Child Development Practitioner program.

Yes — there is support to guide you through the registration process. After graduation, you will apply directly to the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE). You can request to have your Seneca transcript sent electronically through Student Home. From there, share your digital transcript with the College of ECE by emailing applications@college-ece.ca. You can choose to apply after graduating or in your final semester.

The Seneca Polytechnic Difference

This is where university meets college. Where theory meets practice. Where ambition meets flexibility.

ECE Labs

You will gain hands-on, practical experience in our state-of-the-art ECE Labs, preparing you for your in-demand career.

Experiential Learning

Graduate career ready and world ready. This program has a field placement to help you hone essential skills for the workplace.

Degree Pathways

Every Seneca diploma has a degree pathway. You have the opportunity to continue your studies and complete a degree at Seneca or a partner institution.

Prior Experience

Earn credit for previous studies, work experience or training through Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition and transfer credits.

Student Works and Experiences

What does Seneca have to offer?

Hear from Valedictorian, Arif Karedia, about his experience as a Seneca student and preparing for a career in early childhood learning and care.

Landed the Job

ECE valedictorian Shakira Sinclair turned her vision into impact. As the founder of Reading for Kids, she’s championing literacy and empowerment for young learners.

What Our Graduates Say

360° Virtual Tours

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