Early Childhood Education
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Designed For
Ideal for individuals interested in conducting original research and contributing to the field through scholarship and leadership, our program is designed for scholars and professionals seeking advanced preparation in research, theory and teaching focused on young children from preschool through 3rd grade.
Career Objective
Our graduates are prepared for careers as university faculty, researchers, policy analysts and leaders in educational organizations. Students are equipped to conduct rigorous research, publish scholarly work and evaluate early childhood education policies, curriculum, and teaching practices.
At a Glance
Program Starts: Fall
Deadline to Apply:
December 15
Length of Program: 48-60 months
Schedule: Flexible
Program Location: Hybrid
GRE Required? No
Advancing Research and Scholarship in Early Childhood Education
The Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education examines theories of learning and critical teaching practices for young children through research‑focused and interdisciplinary coursework. Students develop a strong foundation in research methodology and apply these skills to directed research and the completion of a dissertation.
Faculty work closely with doctoral students on research projects across a range of topics related to early childhood education including curriculum design, play, agency, teacher education, early literacy and STEAM, bilingual dual language education, social justice, and global approaches to early learning. Students engage with current research and apply evidence‑based approaches in real‑world educational settings throughout the U.S. and globally. This collaborative mentoring model supports students in developing deep expertise and a clear scholarly agenda in both qualitative, quantitative and mixed method methodologies.
The program prepares students to build and support systems that help all young children and families access the highest level of evidence-based practices in many kinds of contexts and political environments. Students will critically assess and evaluate early childhood education policies and curriculum, contributing original knowledge to the field. Graduates emerge as collaborative and creative researchers equipped to influence research, practice and policy in early childhood education in the U.S. and globally.
Program Coordinator
Jennifer Keys Adair
Program Advisor
Nathaniel Bryan
Graduate Admissions Coordinator
Stephen Flynn
Program Details
Program Requirements
General C&I Requirements (Minimum 21 Credit Hours)
Foundation Requirements (9 Credit Hours Required)
- EDC 380F Sociocultural Foundations
- EDC 381F Introduction to Teaching and Teacher Education
- EDC 383F Curriculum Theory
Take first:
- EDC 381R Intro to Systems of Human Inquiry
Then complete (6 credit hours):
- EDC 385R Introduction to Quantitative Research
- EDC 386R Introduction to Qualitative Research
Plus ONE of the following (3 credit hours):
- EDC 387R Advanced Quantitative Research
- EDC 388R Advanced Qualitative Research
Directed Research (Minimum 12 Credit Hours)
Required:
- EDC 385G Research in Early Childhood Education
- EDC 396T Directed Research (3-6 hours)
Plus one of the following courses (3 credit hours) selected with the program advisor:
- EDC 385K Environmental Education for Young Children
- EDC 385G Global, Comparative Early Childhood
- EDC 385G Critical Perspectives on Childhood Education
Early Childhood Education Specialization Requirements (Minimum 12 Credit Hours)
Select at least four classes from the following list in consultation with the program advisor:
- 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
Up to 6 credit hours may be taken outside Early Childhood Education within C&I (advisor approval required) from the following areas:
- STEM Education
- Bilingual/Bicultural Education
- Cultural Studies in Education
- Language & Literacy Studies
- Learning Technologies
Courses Outside the Department (Minimum 6 Credit Hours)
Select graduate courses outside C&I (non‑EDC prefix), such as:
- Theater/Dance
- African & African Diaspora Studies
- Anthropology
- Human Development / Educational Psychology
- Indigenous Studies
- Mexican American Studies
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Special Education
Directed Research coursework may fulfill this requirement, but cannot count twice toward the 51 total hours.
Dissertation (Minimum 6 Credit Hours)
Continuous enrollment required once you advance to candidacy
Register each semester in: EDC X99W (399, 699, or 999W)
Please Note: Students receiving fellowships, assistantships, or other financial aid, may be required to take 9 hours of dissertation credit each semester.
Faculty
Areas of expertise include early childhood education, racial justice and equity in early learning, educational anthropology, video-cued ethnography, immigration and education, impact of social injustices on childhoods, project-based learning led by c...
Interests include early childhood education policy and practice, gender issues in early childhood education, conceptions of children, urban literacy education, diversity, equity and social justice in early childhood and qualitative research.
Accepting new students
Dr. Snaider is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Her research lies at the intersection of educational policy and early childhood practice. She conducts comparative case studies to examine how teachers strive to c...
Accepting new students
Additional Information
The application opens in early August. Apply and check MyStatus for updates.
