Program Overview

Online Doctorate of Education With a Concentration in Early Childhood Education Leadership

Program Highlights

The Online Doctorate of Education With a Concentration in Early Childhood Education Leadership is a 48-credit hour program designed for individuals who wish to pursue professional doctoral studies focused on Early Childhood Education. The program is available in an easily accessible 100% online format from UTEP's College of Education. It focuses on instructional leadership that advances culturally- and linguistically-sustaining and asset-based educare to nurture whole child development. The program can be completed in less than 36 months with no GRE required.

Program Description

The Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education Leadership is designed to produce scholar-practitioners who actively and effectively integrate academic knowledge and real-world professional experience to lead educational innovation. The program focuses on cross-disciplinary research and reflective practices related to teaching and learning, early childhood curriculum and instructional perspectives, and applied research methods utilized to produce responsive educational experiences that ensure the success of all children during their early years.

Career Opportunities

This degree is perfect for:

• Educational leaders/Program directors
• Curriculum Developers
• Training and Development Specialists
• Instructional Coordinators Students in this program will gain advanced instructional leadership skills in Early Childhood Education, develop the knowledge and skills necessary for conducting applied educational research, and help improve outcomes for students across the lifespan by optimizing early childhood pedagogy.

Types of Jobs

Types of jobs students hold after graduation include:

• Early Childhood Education director
• Instructional coordinator
• Curriculum/Program designer
• Training and development specialist
• Academic

Course Overview

Coursework is unique and includes:

• Practical assignments with pragmatic applications to schools and community educational settings
• A mix of readings, videos, and multi-media resources
• A cohort model that allows for deep engagement with classmates from diverse backgrounds, who speak a variety of languages, and who have experience engaging with young children/families from diverse backgrounds

Program Requirements

To earn a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Early Childhood Education Leadership, students must successfully complete 48 hours beyond a master's degree of required coursework with a grade of "C" or better.

Doctoral Core Courses (18 Credit Hours Required)

• TED 6308: Leadership Theory for the Scholar-Practitioner
• TED 6310: Learning Sciences
• TED 6314: Educational Myths and Pedagogical Practices
• TED 6340: Foundations of Educational Research
• TED 6342: Scholar-Practitioner Inquiry
• TED 6348: Action Research

Early Childhood Education Specialization Courses (12 Credit Hours Required)

• ECED 6300: Theoretical Foundations of Early Childhood Education
• ECED 6302: Research in the Science of Teaching Reading and Early Literacy Development
• ECED 6304: Computational Thinking and Early Development
• BED 6300: Borderlands Language Acquisition and Competing Ideologies OR STEM 6320: Research in Play-based and Game-based Learning

Research Design and Methodology Courses (6 Credit Hours Required)

• TED 6344: Case Study Research
• TED 6346: Data-Driven Secondary Analysis

Doctoral Seminar (3 Credit Hours Required)

• TED 6380: Qualifying Candidacy Seminar

Research Capstone (9 Credit Hours Required)

• Doctoral Dissertation in Practice - I
• TED 6684: Dissertation in Practice - II

Tuition and Fees

• In-state tuition: $480.90/credit hour
• Out-of-state tuition: $590.53/credit hour