FAQs
Frequently asked questions for the Early Childhood Education program
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we have had to make changes to how we deliver our programs in order to maintain a high quality learning experience while ensuring the safety of our students and staff.
All courses will be delivered remotely for the Fall 2021 semester, with no requirement to be on campus. Faculty will use Zoom, and other virtual tools to teach course materials in a fun and interactive manner. Courses will have some real-time activities where you will meet with your classmates and teacher at a scheduled time, as well as some independent course work to be completed on your own. Class activities may include using breakout rooms for collaborative work, group discussions, or virtual activities. This program is well-suited to remote delivery.
We have also transitioned our services to virtual delivery and we have developed many new resources to support your success, such as our new Student Learning Kit. You may also wish to participate in one of our upcoming virtual events for prospective students to learn more about what’s in-store for you this Fall.
Your timetable is planned to be released on August 6, 2021.
If I enroll in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program, will I have to go to college during the summer months?
Yes. The program is equivalent to a two-year diploma program, but its curriculum has been compressed into a 42-week program. This means students begin their studies in September and complete the program in late August the following year. This is advantageous for students who are eager to get into the workplace more quickly.
Can I take this program on a part-time basis?
Yes. Students can take a lighter course load each of the three semesters. This would extend the duration of the program to two years or six semesters.
I will be funding my studies in part with OSAP. How does the payment schedule work with this compressed program format?
You will receive your OSAP funding in two installments:
- 1st installment: When you begin your studies (e.g., September)
- 2nd installment: During your second semester (e.g., January)
What you need to remember is that the ECE compressed program runs for three semesters, back-to-back-to-back. As part of your financial planning, it is important to consider setting aside some of your 1st and 2nd installment of OSAP funding to ensure that you have funds available to pay your third and final semester’s tuition payment. Alternatively, you can put down additional funds on your Algonquin College student account at the time that you receive each OSAP installment to ensure that your third-semester tuition is paid for as of January. Your OSAP funding calculation is based on the fact that you will be in school for 42 weeks which means that each of your OSAP installments should have a great amount of funding based on your study duration.
Do I pick my own placements?
No, the field coordinator will place all students taking the full-time ECE program.
Will I be able to teach in the public school system when I graduate?
You will not be qualified to be an elementary school teacher, but you may work as an educator in the new full-day kindergarten programs. In these programs, Early Childhood Educators and elementary school teachers work collaboratively to plan and implement learning programs for four and five-year-old children.
Will you be able to go to teachers’ college after you get your diploma? Are there options to continue your studies?
In order to seek entry into teachers’ college, you have to have a university degree. There are several articulation agreements between Algonquin College’s ECE program and universities. These articulation agreements provide recognition of your college education and allow ECEs to get credit for university courses. You may also wish to move into the third year of the Bachelor of Early Learning and Community Development offered at Algonquin College. More information can be found here.
Learn about the numerous program pathway options, including other diplomas and degrees, available to Early Childhood Education graduates with our Degree Pathways/Articulation Agreements list.
How will my faculty know how I am doing during my field placements?
A teacher will be assigned to you during your placement experiences and will periodically check in with both you and your field placement supervisor. This allows the college to gather feedback on the student’s performance, while also allowing the faculty member to address any issues/concerns raised by either the student or the employer. In addition, students meet with their ECE teacher to discuss any issues or concerns and the general placement experience.
Why should I take the ECE program when I can take care of kids without a college education?
The ECE program is more than learning how to be a professional babysitter. Being an ECE professional is about shaping and developing young minds! Parents know that making the investment to have their children be part of a professional ECE childcare environment, is investing in their child’s future. High-quality early childhood development programs can deliver an annual return of 13 percent per child on upfront costs through better outcomes in education, health, employment and social behaviour in the decades that follow, according to a new study by Nobel-winning economist James Heckman and researchers at the University of Chicago and University of Southern California. Learn more about how investment in early childhood programs yields robust returns.
What is the job market like for an Early Childhood Education graduate?
Did you know that Educational Services is among the top 10 jobs in Renfrew County according to the latest Labour Market Research report and that the average starting salary for an Early Childhood Education graduate is $36,000 according to our most recent Graduate Employment Report?