Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Educational Studies and Leadership

About this Program

What is the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Educational Studies and Leadership at Ngee Ann Polytechnic?

The full-time Bachelor of Science degree is specifically designed for Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Early Childhood Education and Child Psychology and Early Education Diploma graduates who are lifelong learners committed to improving the quality of life for children and families globally. Learners are assisted to apply current knowledge and integrate theory in the fields of human development and early childhood education for children from infancy to age eight.

This program and the partnership were created in response to the Singapore Ministry of Education’s recommendation for polytechnics to tie-up with specialized foreign institutions to offer degree programs.Ngee Ann Polytechnicselected Wheelock College, its Center for International Education, Leadership, and Innovation, and the Regional Training and Resource Centre in Early Childhood Care and Education for Asia(RTRC Asia, now the SEED Institute) to partner with them to offer a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Educational Studies and Leadership, subsidized by the Singapore Ministry of Education.

Why This Program?

Your learning. Your dreams. Your excitement. Your future.

This program provides excellent professional preparation to teachers, parent educators, administrators and leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, therapeutic specialists, resource staff for inclusive and special education, and other professionals in the fields of Current Special Education and Inclusionary Practices and Early Childhood Leadership, Policy, Management, and Administration in Asia and globally. 

Upon completing this program you will have earned both a degree from Wheelock College and first-class preparation for pursuing the career of your choice.

What are the Distinctive Features?

• Opportunities for learners to work, study, and support one another in a cohort setting, which helps to develop a sense of community, foster professionalism, facilitate collaboration, and encourage lifelong learning.
• The program emphasizes two strands of focus, which run through the entire program. Special emphasis is placed on the following:
• Current Special Education and Inclusionary Practices
• Early Childhood Leadership, Policy, Management, and Administration.
• Throughout the program, course integration modules support the learner as he or she translates theory into practice.  They include:
• The application of methodology in action-research projects.  Sample topics include: educating children in an inclusionary environment, successful strategies for parent-professional communications, creating meaningful community outreach programs, and the attributes of a successful leader.
• The development of Professional Teacher Portfolios, a tool that encourages and reinforces the importance of creativity, lifelong learning, and the learner’s growth throughout the program.
• Courses taught by senior, experienced Wheelock College faculty and local faculty from Ngee Ann Polytechnic and SEED Institute with Wheelock College adjunct faculty appointments.
• A program that is culturally relevant and addresses the needs of the learners in Singapore.
• Learners earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Wheelock College and eight credits toward a Wheelock College Master of Science degree.
• Participants of this program are Wheelock College learners, and will have access to all Wheelock resources including library services.
• Learners will also have access to, for purposes of observation and research, the Caterpillar’s Cove Child Development and Study Centre.  This new facility, located at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, provides a model setting for all child care and early childhood educational practices and activities.
• The opportunity to participate in an overseas experience during the summer.  Each learner in this program will go to Wheelock College in Boston, MA, USA for an exciting Summer Immersion Program.
• Service Learning opportunities.

Who are the Partners in This Tie-Up?

Wheelock College

Located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Wheelock College is one of America’s premier post-secondary institutions offering professional education in the fields of Education and Child Life, Social Work and Family Studies, and Arts and Sciences with a mission to improve the lives of children and families, and society in general.  For over 16 years, Wheelock College has collaborated with local organizations in Singapore to offer state-of-the-art educational programs for professionals in the field of Early Childhood Education.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic

Ngee Ann Polytechnic is one of Singapore’s leading institutions of higher learning.  The Polytechnic offers both business-related and technology-based diploma and advanced diploma programs.  The Polytechnic aims to provide relevant, balanced and value-added curricula by creating an effective teaching and learning environment.  Singapore’s first purpose-built child development and study centre, The Caterpillar’s Cove, is located at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

SEED Institute (formerly RTRC Asia)

SEED Institute is committed to enhancing the quality of care and education of young children and to supporting early childhood professionals, parents and others who work with children.  SEED Institute offers a full range of training and educational programs from the diploma to the master’s level - all recognized by Wheelock College, Boston, MA, USA.  Since 1999, SEED Institute has been partnering with Ngee Ann Polytechnic to offer a joint full-time diploma program in Early Childhood Education.