Early Childhood Education

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

The Early Childhood Education Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.) examines theories and teaching practices for young children through research and interdisciplinary coursework. Students learn the fundamentals of research methodology and apply them to their own directed research and dissertation. Our faculty work closely with students on research in a range of social, ethnographic and technological topics. This program prepares students to assess and evaluate early childhood education policies and curriculum.

Faculty

General C&I Requirements (Minimum 21 hours)

EDC 380F Sociocultural Foundations
EDC 381F Introduction to Teaching and Teacher Education
EDC 383F Curriculum Theory

To be taken in sequence:

EDC 381R Intro to Systems of Human Inquiry
The following two courses (6 hours), in any order:
- EDC 385R Introduction To Quantitative Research
- EDC 386R Introduction To Qualitative Research
One course (3 hours) from either of the following:
- EDC 387R Advanced Quantitative Research
- EDC 388R Advanced Qualitative Research

Directed Research (Minimum 12 hours)

EDC 385G Research in Early Childhood Education
EDC 396T Directed Research (3-6 hours)

Select one course (3 hours) from the following after consulting with the program advisor:

EDC 385G Global, Comparative Early Childhood
EDC 385G Critical Perspectives on Childhood Education
EDC 385K Environmental Education for Young Children

Specialization Requirements (Minimum 12 hours)

Students with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education will select an additional 12 hours of coursework from within the early childhood program area, selected with the assistance and approval of the area program adviser. Among the courses that might be selected to fulfill this requirement are the following:

EDC 385G Critical Perspectives on Childhood Education IV
EDC 385G Early Childhood Education Programs
EDC 385G Early Childhood Teacher Education
EDC 385K Environmental Education for Young Children
EDC 385G Global, Comparative Early Childhood
EDC 385G Inquiry in Play
EDC 385G Parents and Education
EDC 385G Research in Early Childhood Education
EDC 385G Social Context of Childhood Education
EDC 385G Theories of Childhood Education
EDC 385G Thinking as Social Construction in Childhood

Students may substitute up to 6 hours of their specialization required credits with coursework within the department of curriculum and instruction, outside of the early childhood program area pending approval of the area program adviser. Early childhood graduate students can take courses in bilingual/bicultural, language and literacy, cultural studies, STEM and learning technologies as a way to study the topics that are relevant to their work.

Courses Outside the Department (Minimum 6 hours)

Students will select 6 credit hours outside of Curriculum & Instruction. Courses must be graduate level and other than EDC. Early childhood graduate students have taken courses in many programs including theater/dance, human development, special education, educational psychology, anthropology, sociology, social work, Indigenous studies, Mexican-American studies, and African and African diaspora studies.

Coursework from Directed Research may fulfill this requirement, but it does not count twice towards the 51 minimum hours of coursework needed for this degree.

Dissertation (Minimum 6 hours)

Students are required to continuously register for at least three credits of dissertation once they have advanced to candidacy.

You must register in X99W (399, 699 or 999W) in each semester of candidacy until you graduate.

Please Note: Students receiving fellowships, assistantships, or other financial aid, may be required to take 9 hours of dissertation credit each semester.

Additional Information

At a Glance

Program Starts: Fall

Deadline to Apply:
December 31

Credit Hours Required: 57

Schedule: Flexible

Program Location: On Campus

GRE Required? No