Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Early Childhood Care and Education

EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION

Program Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Early Childhood Care and Education qualifies you for leadership positions in child development. You’ll acquire the credentials and experience to direct early childhood education centers, formulate policy, conduct research, design learning programs, and participate in high-level initiatives. IIU’s Ph.D. in early childhood education takes an interdisciplinary approach, preparing you to work on collaborative teams with professionals in family services, public administration, disability services, and other aligned disciplines.

The four-year program allows for part-time or full-time study. The program seminars and field projects provide students with leadership experiences in early childhood development, curriculum and program development, assessment, applied research and evaluation, teaching adults and policy design. Students are admitted for the program each fall.

The Ph.D. in education with a major in early childhood care and education is designed to prepare leaders for the field. The goals of the program are to develop and support leadership, research, and policy that will inform, support, and promote education for young children. Major areas of focus include early childhood development and educational theories, research, and policies, curricular and program approaches, literacy, cultural diversity, and transition to preschool and primary school classrooms.

Graduates of the program are prepared to assume leadership, teaching, or research and policy positions in early childhood care and education settings, school systems, colleges and universities, early childhood organizations and government.

What we offer

Available on either a part-time or full-time basis, our doctoral degree in early childhood care and education offers:

• Robust field experience. Our early childhood care education Ph.D. program includes field-based courses in policy/programming and education. Hand-picked to fit your prior experience and career objectives, these placements connect you with children and families from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Personalized faculty guidance. You’ll work closely with seasoned early childhood care educators who support you academically and professionally. IIU’s early childhood doctoral program is led by active researchers with wide-ranging specializations that include areas in child development, early childhood care curriculum and policy, autism, developmental disabilities, parental support systems, infant, toddler and preschool programming, and cultural and linguistic diversity.
• Extensive community partnerships. IARSAC International University has a high profile and plays an active role in Delaware’s early childhood care education community. You’ll have access to our broad network of partnerships with school districts, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and other early childhood education stakeholders.
• Comprehensive professional training. You’ll develop well-rounded, applied expertise in all aspects of early childhood education. Focus areas include pedagogy, curriculum development, program design and evaluation, applied research, education policy, and learning technology.
• A supportive culture. Our Ph.D. in early childhood education operates on a cohort model, with heavy emphasis on seminar courses that promote interaction and camaraderie. You’ll belong to a tight-knit community of colleagues and peers, developing long-lasting relationships.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from our early childhood education Ph.D. program have an excellent record of professional success. IIU alumni possess strong cultural competence, with the ability to serve diverse communities. You’ll enter the job market with a versatile skill set, demonstrated achievements, and a research portfolio, with qualifications to pursue careers in:

• Independent research
• College or university teaching
• Programming design
• School district consulting
• Government agency administration
• Nonprofit leadership
• Public policy

Ph.D. in Early Childhood Care and Education: What You’ll Learn

The Early Childhood Care and Education doctoral program consists of 80 credits beyond the master’s degree, divided as follows:

• Foundation core (32 credits)
• Department core (30 credits)
• Dissertation (16 credits minimum)

The foundation core covers research methodology, analytical methods, and professional standards. The department core includes coursework in curriculum design, policy studies, special education, and theories of early learning, plus two field-based projects.

Application Requirements

Admission to the doctorate program is open to any person who meets the entrance requirements as outlined below. Applicants will be judged on their overall ability to successfully complete a graduate program at the doctoral level. A conferred master’s degree in early childhood education, child development, human development, education, or similar field with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required for admission.

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:

• Graduate Application Requirements
• International applicants whose native language is not English must submit proof of English Proficiency (official MELAB or TOEFL). Students from countries where English is both an official language AND the language of instruction in higher education are exempt from this requirement.

Additional department application requirements

• Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume
• $75 Application Fee Three (3) Letters of Recommendation
• Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate colleges and universities attended Additional Recommendation for Graduate Admission form.
• Successful completion of a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in early childhood education, child development, human development, education or similar field

In addition to the two recommendations listed above, a third recommendation is required by the program.

Recommendation requirements.

At least one of the recommendations must be from a graduate academic source and one from a professional in the field.

• Professional curriculum vitae
• Personal essay statement, describing professional goals, experiences, and philosophy
• Two writing samples related to early childhood care and education, which may include professional reports, academic course papers, publications, or presentations
• An interview for applicant finalists (scheduled by the program coordinator) with the coordinator and other faculty members, and a written assignment to be completed as part of the interview. An additional written assignment may be required.

Degree requirements

The Doctor of Philosophy in education: early childhood education degree is awarded upon satisfactory completion of a minimum of 72 credits beyond the master’s degree in an approved program of study: 32 credits in the core courses, 30 credits in the department core, and a minimum of 16 credits for the dissertation.

Course requirements