PhD Early Childhood Education / Early Childhood Special Education Specialization
The PhD in Education with a specialization in early childhood and early childhood special education (EC/ECSE) is individualized, interdisciplinary, and experiential. Students plan their own programs to meet self-defined goals with the guidance and support of faculty advisors. EC/ECSE courses can be applied to primary or secondary specialization areas.
If you have questions about this specialization, please contact the specialization representative, Christan Coogle.
About the Specialization
Many of the most well-respected educators and policymakers in the world have advanced degrees in early childhood education.
What Will You Learn?
The specialization features coursework and applied internships that will enable you to meet the following standards:
- Candidates will demonstrate knowledge of significant theory, developments, and practices in culturally, racially, linguistically, ability and socio-economic diverse early childhood education and early childhood special education settings.
- Candidates will demonstrate the ability to utilize and interpret basic principles and methodologies of interdisciplinary research design and data analysis within the field of early childhood education and early childhood special education settings.
- Candidates will demonstrate skills as reflective early childhood and early childhood special education practitioners, including demonstration of analytic and integrative thinking.
- Candidates will demonstrate ability to conduct, report, and defend original research within the field of early childhood education and early childhood special education.
How Will You Learn?
Your advisor will guide your doctoral experience by supplementing coursework with professional experiences, including:
- Attending and/or presenting at professional conferences
- Independent study in areas of interest
- Teaching and/or co-teaching early childhood education and early childhood special education courses
- Writing, editing, and reviewing for scholarly journals
- Graduate research assistant opportunities
- Internship opportunities
Where Can This Specialization Take You?
Graduates of this specialization hold professional positions such as:
- Academic faculty at post-secondary institutions
- Consultants with private and public companies, education and research think tanks, federal and state government organizations and agencies, and non-government organizations
- School, district, and statewide leadership opportunities in birth-12 school districts and agencies
What Are Our Students Saying?
As my doctoral journey draws to a close, I can’t help but reflect on how much I’ve grown as an educator, scholar, and researcher. My path has been a long and windy one, and very different from what I anticipated when I began my journey. I am so very grateful for the amazing mentors that I have had, the friends I have made, experiences in the classroom and at conferences, and finding my place as a teacher educator. The Early Childhood Education program has prepared me to honor the voices of children and families from diverse backgrounds and to support the growth of the preservice and inservice teachers with whom I will continue to work. The Ph.D. program at Mason has prepared me well to step into the role of Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama, and I am excited for the future!~ Erin Geiger, current student
Since I started my PhD program at George Mason, I have met so many people who are like-minded and passionate about their research as well as service to their community. The PhD journey has been full of awakening and growth pain that helped me to break out of my shell to be bigger and stronger. My experience in class and doing GRA work is preparing me to be open-minded and critical to serve the families from marginalized communities and think about equity in the field of education. The feedback that my professors are providing in my life is shaping my worldview and building my character to be humble and professional.~ Jihyae Choe, current student
The faculty and students I have met and had the pleasure of collaborating with during my time in the PhD in Education program have helped guide me in my goal to bridge research to practice. The mentorship I’ve received has provided me with the confidence to engage in independent research, teaching, and service opportunities within the early childhood and early childhood special education fields.~ Clarissa Wade, current student
Student Accomplishments
Faculty Specialization Representative
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Christan Coogle
PhD, Florida State University
Primary Faculty
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Daniel Ferguson
EdD, Teachers College, Columbia University -
Carley Fisher-Maltese
PhD, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey -
Julie Kidd
EdD, Virginia Tech -
Leslie La Croix
PhD, George Mason University -
Bweikia Steen
EdD, University of San Francisco -
Colleen Vesely
PhD, University of Maryland -
Heather Walter
EdD, George Washington University