Curriculum and Instruction (Early Childhood Education), PhD
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Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
ASU is no longer accepting new students to this program. Please explore Degree Search for other similar program options.
Degree description
Early childhood education focuses on the learning experiences in and out of school of young children birth through age eight. Our program prepares graduates for positions in a range of settings, including research universities, teacher preparation programs, government and policy organizations and ECE program administration.
The faculty in this program have a wide range of backgrounds and research interests, including policy, play, cultural dimensions of child development, international/comparative perspectives, sociological and cultural constructions of early childhood, immigration and indigenous education.
The Ph.D. concentration in early childhood education is located within the interdisciplinary Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Early Childhood Education Concentration: Thirty credit hours from a range of foundational and emerging courses in the field. Several new courses have been developed recently, emphasizing a range of theoretical and methodological approaches to childhood studies and emphasizing social policy and advocacy. A professional development seminar is also offered each semester, which provides practical experiences related to higher education in early childhood education. Curriculum and Instruction Core Requirements: Six credit hours of interdisciplinary research seminar in curriculum and instruction, and curriculum theory and practice. Inquiry and Analysis: Fifteen credit hours, including courses that provide overviews of quantitative and qualitative research methods and in-depth study of particular research philosophies and methods (dependent on student goals and committee advice). Internships: Six credit hours, concentrating on college teaching, research and public policy/advocacy. Cognate Study: Twelve credit hours that provide an interdisciplinary element to the program. With the advice and approval of the program chair and the student's committee, the student chooses a cognate area of study suitable to individual goals. Independent Research and Dissertation: A minimum of three credit hours of research and 12 credit hours of dissertation leading to completion of an approved dissertation are required.
Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
The following are required: Additional materials may be required to gain admission into certain programs or cohorts. Admission to the program is contingent upon the commitment from an approved mentor in the concentration to advise the applicant. Note: This program is enrolled at maximum capacity and is not accepting new applications.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
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Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Division for Advancing Education Policy, Practice
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ED 120
GraduateEducation@asu.edu
602-543-6358
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
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Accelerated master's
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