This program is offered through the Building the Future: Opportunities for Early Childhood Educators program.
Eager to advance your ECE career? Consider taking the accelerated path to ECE Level 3 or completion of your ECE diploma. If you’re determined, this option lets you complete your second-year classes and practicums by June 30, 2024.
To qualify, you need to be:
- Actively enrolled in the Early Childhood Education diploma program through Sask Polytech or have PRAC 181, PRAC 105 or PRAC 119 completed on your Sask Polytech transcripts.
- Attend Zoom classes from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., one to two nights a week.
- If you are working on your Ministry of Early Years Level 3 with other post-secondary
recognized, please contact one of the student advisors to help you with your education
plan to ensure you will attain your Level 3. This education plan must be included
in your application documents.
- Marilyn Philipchuk at philipchuk@saskpolytech.ca
- Shelann Bundus at bunduss@saskpolytech.ca
Your student advisor will help you set a schedule.
Schedule
- September 5 – October 25, 2023
- ECE 221 (Tuesday nights)
- HUMD 200 (Thursday nights)
- September 11 – December 15, 2023
- ECE 203 (Distance class)
- October 30 – December 22, 2023
- ECE 204 (Tuesday nights. No Zoom class the week of the holiday break)
- ECE 205 (Thursday nights. No Zoom class the week of the holiday break)
- January 2 – February 23, 2024
- ADMN 208 (Tuesday nights)
- ECE 202 (Thursday nights)
- January 8 – April 12, 2024
- ECE 220 (Distance class)
- March 4 – April 26, 2024
- PD 240 (Tuesday nights)
- ECE 226 (Thursday nights)
- April 29 – May 24, 2024
- PRAC 217
- June 3 – June 28, 2024
- PRAC 218
Courses
You will be required to have a computer with a web camera as all assessments/tests use Respondus Monitor.
Courses that can be applied to Level 3 certification include:
ADMN 208 Introduction to Administration of Early Childhood Education
You will be introduced to the administrative knowledge and skills that are useful
for early learning and care programs. You will study operating structures, policies,
and procedures related to the administration of early learning and child care programs,
including indigenous early learning and child care programs. You will develop skills
in using program evaluation tools.
ECE 202 Responsive Care for Infants and Toddlers
You will examine the development of infants and toddlers. You will plan a curriculum
which includes intercultural experiences and environments that will encourage the
holistic development of infants and toddlers.
ECE 203 Inclusion in Early Learning and Child care Settings
Your studies will focus on the concepts and strategies of inclusion. You will discuss
historical and current approaches, trends, and issues as they impact the practices
of inclusion. You will examine practices related to identification and early intervention.
ECE 204 Dynamics of Play 2
You will use play theory to design developmentally appropriate early learning indoor
and outdoor play environments. The course content provides an introduction to approaches
in design that support Indigenous ways of knowing and diversity.
ECE 205 Curriculum Design in Early Childhood Education 3
You will explore the elements of curriculum design with a focus on the Project Approach.
You will acquire knowledge about emergent curriculum using a holistic approach in
designing a responsive and culturally relevant program.
ECE 220 Anti-Bias Education in Early Childhood
You will focus on the issues related to providing respectful and relevant early learning
and child care for all children and families. You will have opportunities to examine
your personal beliefs and values as they relate to the planning and implementation
of an anti-bias curriculum for children. You will acquire the knowledge and develop
the skills needed to build partnerships with families while respecting their diverse
needs and cultures.
ECE 221 Observation and Documentation 2
You will apply a variety of observation methods and tools used to collect an ethical,
objective and holistic view of a child.
ECE 226 Responsive Care for School Age Children
You will examine the development and characteristics of school age children. This
course focuses on the unique role of the educator, child care issues distinctive to
this age and the curriculum that can be designed to accommodate them.
HUMD 200 Child Guidance 2
You will examine additional approaches for guiding children who present more challenging
behaviours.
PD 240 Professionalism 2
Your studies will focus on the role of the early childhood educator as it relates
to current issues, advocacy, leadership and professionalism.
PRAC 217 Practicum 3
You will gain competence in working with children, families and communities in early
learning and child care education programs. You will complete the first of two practicums
in one of the following specialized areas: infant, toddler, diverse needs, frontline
educator and administrative.
PRAC 218 Practicum 4
You will gain competence in working with children, families and communities in early
learning and child care education programs. You will complete the second of two practicums
in one of the following specialized areas: infant, toddler, diverse needs, frontline
educator and administrative.
Courses equivalencies
Students admitted to the diploma before July 2020 need to ensure they take COMM 294
as it is the only course that does not have a new course replacing one or two of the
old diploma classes.
Equivalency chart for the Early Childhood Education diploma program
- Please review the year two courses.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic ECE courses - credit unit equivalencies
The chart below provides a complete list of ECE courses from Saskatchewan Polytechnic, corresponding course hours, credit units and subject areas used or the purposes of granting levels I, II or III Ministry of Education certification.
Year two - ECE diploma
| ECE 202 | Programming for Infants and Toddlers | 45 | 3 | Child Development or Programming |
| ECE 221 | Observation and Assessment | 40 | 3 | Child Development or Programming |
| ECE 200 | Play Environments | 30 | 2 | Programming |
| ECE 201 | Program Planning for Early Childhood Education Programs | 45 | 3 | Programming |
| ECE 226 | Programming for School Age Children | 40 | 3 | Programming |
| SPSY 279 | Children with Diverse Abilities 1 | 45 | 3 | Programming |
| SPSY 289 | Children with Diverse Abilities 2 | 45 | 3 | Programming |
| ECE 220 | Anti-Bias Education in Early Childhood | 60 | 4 | Programming or Relationships |
| HUMD 200 | Child Guidance 2 | 40 | 3 | Relationships |
| PD 240 | Professionalism in Early Childhood Education | 40 | 3 | Relationships |
| COMM 294 | Teamwork Skills | 30 | 2 | Relationships |
| ADMN 204 | Administrative Skills for Early Childhood Educators | 45 | 3 | Related Courses |
| PRAC 244 | Practicum 3 | |||
| PRAC 245 | Practicum 4 |
New credit unit Ministry of Education early years
| New diploma | Class | CU | Subject area used for granting Level 3 |
| ADMN 208 | Introduction to Administration of Early Childhood Education | 3 | Related |
| ECE 203 | Inclusion in Early Learning and Child care Settings | 4 | Programming |
| ECE 221 | Observation 2 | 3 | Child care Development or Programming |
| HUMD 200 | Child Guidance 2 | 3 | Relationships |
| PD 240 | Professionalism 2 | 3 | Relationships |
| ECE 202 | Responsive Care for Infants and Toddlers | 3 | Child Development or Programming |
| ECE 204 | Dynamics of Play 2 | 3 | Programming |
| ECE 205 | Curriculum Design in Early Childhood Education 3 | 3 | Programming |
| ECE 220 | Anti-Bias Education in Early Childhood | 4 | Programming or Relationships |
| ECE 226 | Responsive Care for School Age Children | 3 | Child Development or Programming |
| PRAC 217 | Practicum 3 | N/A | |
| PRAC 218 | Practicum 4 | N/A |
Technology requirements
Students are required to have:
- A laptop (10 GB or more free space) with a webcam
- Operating systems: Windows 8 or 10, Mac- OS X Yosemite or higher
For more information, visit Getting Started Online.
Apply now
Registration is closed as all cohorts are full. If you would like to be put on the future interest list, please complete the ECE Level 3 interest list form.