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.
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 enable you to learn:
- Theory and research in early childhood and early childhood special education across the developmental spectrum
- Foundational knowledge about early childhood teaching and learning at all levels
- Research methodologies to address a variety of early childhood and early childhood special education topics
- Specialized knowledge in early childhood education related to your area of interest
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
- Teaching and/or co-teaching
- Writing, editing, and reviewing for scholarly journals
Where Can This Specialization Take You?
Graduates of this specialization hold professional positions such as:
- Academic faculty at post-secondary institutions
- Consultants with private companies, education and research think tanks, and non-government organizations
- Curriculum leaders in major K-12 school districts
Each student prepares an individual program of study in consultation with their Program Advisory Committee. The following courses can be taken as part of a student’s primary or secondary specialization coursework:
See additional coursework required as part of the PhD in Education degree.
El'Tanya Brown, PhD 2020
- Dissertation Title: Not the Woman I Once Was: How Turning Points Shape the Trajectories of Military Mothers Parenting Young Children with Disabilities
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Colleen Vesely
William Harry Rodick III, PhD 2020
- Dissertation Title: Parallel Societies: A Community School in the Context of Gentrification
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Colleen Vesely
Rabaah Alqassem, PhD 2019
- Dissertation Title: Early Writing in Saudi Arabian Kindergarten Classrooms: The Role of Teacher Preparation in Developing Young Writers
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Julie Kidd
Rhode Fernandez, PhD 2019
- Dissertation Title: Observational Study of Head Start Teachers' Verbalizations and Their Relationship to the Mediated Learning Experience Rating Scare Scores
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Susan Burns & Dr. Julie Kidd