COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Early Learning Program Development at Conestoga College is a comprehensive four-year, honours-level degree with a strong focus on applied learning through multiple field placements and a paid co-op work term. The program is designed to equip students with the skills necessary for careers in early learning, curriculum development, social policy, and community engagement. Starting with foundational courses in child development, pedagogy, health, wellness, and academic communication, students progress through increasingly specialized topics including play-based learning, diversity and social inclusion, curriculum design, and research. Each academic level incorporates field placements, beginning in Level 1 and continuing through Level 9, providing consistent real-world experience. Courses like “Understanding Research,” “Applied Statistics,” and “Professional Research Internship” build research literacy and practical evaluation skills. The curriculum also emphasizes social action, program leadership, mentoring, and the socio-political aspects of early learning and care. Students select from interdisciplinary and program option electives throughout the program to tailor their learning to specific interests, such as English language teaching or Indigenous-Settler relations. The co-op work term in Level 7 offers an opportunity to apply learning in a professional environment. By the final levels, students are expected to engage in advanced theoretical reflection and take on leadership and research roles in the field of early learning.