Diploma in Early Childhood Education

Humber Polytechnic - North Campus

Canada,Ontario

 2 Shortlist

24 Months

Duration

CAD 16,224/year

Tuition Fee

CAD 100 FREE

Application Fee

Jan 2026

Apply Date

Canada, Ontario

Type: College

Location Type: Urban

Founded: 1967

Total Students: 57,000 +

Int. Students: 6,000 +

Campus Detail

Main Campus Address

205 Humber College Blvd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M9W 5L7

Diploma in Early Childhood Education

Program Overview

Humber’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) diploma program prepares you to work with children (birth to 12 years) and their families. Students can expect to attain and exceed the practice-ready knowledge, skills and attitudes employers are seeking from ECE graduates in supporting children, families and the community by engaging in innovative learning and simulation experiences. These experiences take place within Humber's Carol Reid Early Childhood Education Lab, the Carol Reid Innovation Centre, as well as within the Humber Child Development Centre - interacting with our scenic arboretum and nature-inspired playground and exploring responsive, inclusive teaching methods and leading edge-curriculum.

You will learn about:

  • how children learn
  • how Ministry and government legislation and guidelines inform practice
  • how to create responsive, inclusive play-based learning environments and natural play spaces for children, families and the community
  • human development using a wide range of worldview perspectives
  • Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways of being, seeing, knowing and doing
  • observation and reflection, and the co-preparation of documentation by children, families and the community
  • social justice, advocacy, leadership and the role of the ECE professional
  • the image of the child and the significance of viewing children from a wide variety of lenses
  • the importance of collaborating with relevant community agencies
  • the importance of responsive relationships
  • the relevance and importance of land-based outdoor play and learning to overall health and well-being 

Work-Integrated Learning  
We believe it is necessary for students to have extensive experience in the profession to be successful as registered early childhood educators. Students can expect to have field experiences within the program and will be required to complete approximately 500-600 field experience hours over three semesters. During these three semesters, students may have field experiences including but not limited to working with families and children (various age groups) in licensed child care or preschool settings, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, various community programs, full-day kindergarten, home-based child care programs, before- and after-school programs, or other specialized settings. Field experience completion requirements specific to age groupings, setting types, and experience directly with children will be outlined when enrolled in the program. A different placement for Semesters 2, 3, and 4 ensures a range of experiences prior to graduation and equips students with a range of networks within the community to explore employment in the future.

In the ECE program, Field Experience 1 begins in Semester 2. Clearance requirements will be reviewed during Semester 1 and will need to be fully completed before the start of Semester 2 when students will begin to participate in field experiences.