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2024-2025 Academic Calendar | York University Faculty of Graduate Studies

Early Childhood Education

Posted on 17 August 2022

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LocationEmail AddressProgram Website
113 Winters CollegeGradProgram@edu.yorku.cayorku.ca/edu/students/early-childhood-education/

The Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education gives formal recognition to those graduate students who have undertaken
concentrated research and study concerning the education of young children (birth to age eight).

The graduate diploma is offered in two ways:

Concurrent (Option A): The requirements for the Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education are completed concurrently with a master’s or doctoral degree. This is referred to as a “type 2” diploma.

Direct-entry (Option B): The Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education can be completed as a stand-alone non-degree diploma. This is referred to as a “type 3” diploma.

Admission Requirements

Both concurrent and direct-entry graduate diploma candidates must apply to and be accepted as students in the Graduate Program in Education – Language, Culture and Teaching. Admission requirements are the same as for the MEd and PhD programs.

For application deadlines, please consult the Graduate Admissions website.

Diploma Requirements

One three-credit course must be taken in addition to those required for the completion of an MEd or PhD.

MEd course-only students must complete 27 credits in total:

  • Education 5540 3.0: Educating Young Children/Core course
  • three three-credit courses from the approved course list (below)
  • plus 15 additional graduate credits selected by the student, as required for the degree program

MEd major research project students must complete 21 credits in total:

  • Education 5540 3.0: Educating Young Children/Core course
  • two three-credit courses from the approved course list (below)
  • plus 12 graduate additional credits selected by the student, as required for the degree program

MEd thesis students must complete 15 credits in total:

  • Education 5540 3.0: Educating Young Children/Core course
  • two three-credit courses from the approved course list (below)
  • plus six additional graduate credits selected by the student, as required for the degree program

PhD dissertation students must complete 24 credits in total:

  • Education 5540 3.0: Educating Young Children/Core course
  • two three-credit courses from the approved course list (below)
  • plus 15 additional graduate credits selected by the student, as required for the degree program

Students must write their major research paper, thesis or dissertation on a topic in early childhood education as approved by the Coordinator of the Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education and their supervisor.

Approved Course List

Education 5340 3.0: Adolescent & Children’s Literature
Education 5400 3.0: Education and Childhood in Canadian History
Education 5530 3.0: Emergent Literacy
Education 5535 3.0: Family Literacy
Education 5541 3.0: Studies in Childhood: Issues in Research and Representation
Education 5545 3.0: The Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education
Education 5546 3.0: Pedagogical Documentation in Early Childhood Education
Education 5550 3.0: Play, Language and Learning
Education 5725 3.0: Critical Perspectives on the Theory and Research on the Behaviour of Young Children
Education 5845 3.0: Mathematics and Sciences Understanding in Early Childhood

With the permission of their advisor/supervisor, students may substitute up to one three-credit course relevant to early childhood education offered in graduate programs at York or other universities.

For more information, contact the Graduate Program in Education, 113 Winters College, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3. gradprogram@edu.yorku.ca.

Students must complete 12 credits in total:

  • Education 5540 3.0: Educating Young Children/Core course
  • three three-credit courses from the approved course list (below)

Approved Course List

Education 5340 3.0: Adolescent & Children’s Literature
Education 5400 3.0: Education and Childhood in Canadian History
Education 5530 3.0: Emergent Literacy
Education 5535 3.0: Family Literacy
Education 5541 3.0: Studies in Childhood: Issues in Research and Representation
Education 5545 3.0: The Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education
Education 5546 3.0: Pedagogical Documentation in Early Childhood Education
Education 5550 3.0: Play, Language and Learning
Education 5725 3.0: Critical Perspectives on the Theory and Research on the Behaviour of Young Children
Education 5845 3.0: Mathematics and Sciences Understanding in Early Childhood

With the permission of their advisor/supervisor, students may substitute up to one three-credit course relevant to early childhood education offered in graduate programs at York or other universities.

For more information, contact the Graduate Program in Education, 113 Winters College, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3. gradprogram@edu.yorku.ca.