Honours Bachelor of Child Development (BCD)

Starts in September

Campus

Newnham

Duration

8 Semesters (4 Years)

Credential Awarded

Honours Bachelor Degree

School

School of Early Childhood Education

Important:

For first semester students this program is offered at:

Newnham Campus in September 2024

For Early Childhood Education (ECE) diploma to Honours Bachelor of Child Development (BCD) degree pathway students this program is offered at:

Newnham Campus in January 2024
Newnham or King Campus in September 2024

For Child and Youth Care (CYC) diploma to Honours Bachelor of Child Development (BCD) degree pathway students this program is offered at:

King Campus in September 2024

Program and course delivery

This program is offered in Seneca's hybrid delivery format. Some coursework is online and some must be completed in person. Students will need to come on campus to complete in-person learning requirements.

Learn more: Seneca’s program delivery options and how courses in this program will be delivered each term.

International students: review Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility before choosing program and course delivery.

About the Program

The four-year Honours Bachelor of Child Development degree program prepares you for expansive opportunities across the health, education, and social service sectors. Upon completion of this program, you will be able to pursue careers in family support services, recreation, early learning and education, infant mental health, and early intervention for children and youth with diverse abilities. You will also qualify to register as a member of the College of Early Childhood Educator and practice as a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE).

Advanced Entry

Graduates of a diploma program may be eligible to complete this degree faster through one of our pathway options.

Part-time option is available >

Skills

Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:

Leadership
Communication
Interdisciplinary educational approaches
Interprofessional collaboration

Work Experience

Field Placement

Field placement is central to the learning experience. You will have the opportunity to integrate classroom learning into practice with groups of children and families within the community. You will have four different field placement experiences throughout the program.

Mandatory Degree Work Term

A work experience that includes at least one term in a formal work environment. The work term may be a paid or unpaid position that is completed between two academic semesters and requires a minimum of 420 hours of work. Students must be in good standing and meet all identified requirements prior to participating in the work experience. The successful completion of the work term is required for graduation. Eligibility for participation does not guarantee that a work position will be secured. Additional fees are required for the mandatory degree work term regardless of success in securing a work position.

Your Career

Graduates of the program can explore the following career options:

Resource consultant
Child care manager
Early interventionist
Early literacy specialist
Family support worker
Child development specialist
Instructor therapist
Pre/post-natal program worker
Young parent support worker
Child and youth counsellor
Curriculum developer
Community group facilitator
Community program worker
Policy developer
Researcher
Playground inspector
Custody visit supervisor
Leadership roles across the early learning and care sector

Affiliations/Associations

Upon graduation you will qualify to join the following affiliations and associations:

Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO)
The Canadian Association for Young Children (CAYC)
Canadian Child Care Federation (CCCF)
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
The College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE)

Success Stories

Sue

Sue graduated in 2016 and works as a supervisor for a Violence Against Women agency that works to support women and children in having violence free lives.

“Graduating from Seneca propelled me to success. My program not only offered in depth exploration of theories and concepts relating to supporting children and their families, I also was able to build my practical skills through my placement and co-op experiences. The combination of these skills have led me to a position in which I am supporting families as well as supervising my staff in supporting families while following the best practices I learned while at Seneca.”

Lisa Spencer

Lisa graduated from the Honours Bachelor of Child Development degree program at Seneca's King Campus. She recently completed a master's degree in child and youth care at Toronto Metropolitan University. For her thesis, Lisa focused on the development of autonomy for children with disabilities. She felt confident about furthering her education thanks to the professors at Seneca. "They incorporated knowledge that is relevant and current to the field, but more importantly they taught me how to think about things that were important to me," she said. Lisa now teaches part-time at Seneca and continues to advocate for disabilities and other social justice issues.

Adebola Adefioye

Project Officer

Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care

"Seneca’s ECE program provided so much knowledge and practical skills that I was eager to pursue more. After completing the BCD program, I participated in many Seneca career-based activities. My career is thriving, and I am now an active member of the BCD Program Advisory Committee. I am #senecaproud."

Salina Kassam

Bachelor of Child Development (BCD) student Salina Kassam completed her co-op placement at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

“I loved my job, the people, the culture, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Furthermore, I felt valuable as my background education in ECE/BCD helped me largely when interacting with patients, their families, as well as other healthcare professionals.”