Nov 14, 2024  
ACE Catalog - Volume 56 
  
ACE Catalog - Volume 56

Early Childhood Education, Ed.D. (Ed.D. Completion Pathway)


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Eligible pathway students are required to complete the courses listed at ACE to earn an Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education. A total of 37 semester credits are required in the course list. Please note: students who have not completed at least 6 credits in research prior to enrolling at ACE will need to take additional research credits per the Transfer Credit Policy found here.

Program Description

The Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education provides an in-depth approach to research-based methods and theories in the field of early childhood development and learning. The degree emphasizes developmentally appropriate practices and research-based strategies to promote the learning needs of young children.  Students completing the Ed.D. will gain experience as a scholar practitioner with the necessary skills to support other professionals in the early childhood field as well as support educational settings centered on early childhood. This program is not designed for licensure and is best suited for individuals currently in the early childhood profession. The focuses of study allow students to select an additional concentration which will support their professional goals. Students will engage in scholarly research throughout the coursework to support their final dissertation.  

Program Outcomes

  1. Design developmentally appropriate curriculum methods to support diverse learning needs and developmental growth of young children across all developmental domains. 
  2. Analyze, synthesize, and apply seminal and current research to support scholarly work and classroom practices. 
  3. Examine and implement appropriate assessments to support developmental growth for individual student needs.   
  4. Construct models to support positive collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders in the early childhood field.  
  5. Develop strategies to support advocacy efforts in early childhood.
  6. Evaluate the role of professional development and lifelong learning for early childhood professionals.
  7. Conduct research to support leadership, scholarship, best practices and address real world needs in the early childhood field. 

Mission Statement

The mission of the Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education is to provide individuals with an in-depth knowledge of research and best practices in the field to better serve children, families, and other professionals across early childhood settings. 

Credits Transferred from Prior Education (Up to 27 Semester Credits)


Course List (37 Total Semester Credits)


Additional Support Courses (if required or desired)


Courses may be required if progression is not achieved in courses OR students can elect to take courses to support their progress. If an Ed.D. student is required to take either the Research or Dissertation Boot Camp (RES6223 or RES6233) course, they will be charged for the tuition and fees associated with the Boot Camp course and not the tuition and fees associated with the dissertation sequence course they are retaking with the boot camp (RES6512, RES6521, RES6531, RES6541, or RES6551).

CITI Training


All students pursuing advanced degrees are required to have completed a certificate of completion for the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) in Human Subjects Research. There will be no additional fee. This is strongly recommended for students who anticipate conducting dissertation research involving human subjects. The CITI offers training modules for a Social-Behavioral-Educational (SBE) track, as well as additional modules of interest. More information can be found in Student Commons.  Scroll down under Doc Program Resources where you will find the CITI Program Guide.

Note


  • This program is neither designed nor approved (as of the publication date of this Catalog) to prepare students for licensure, certification, or endorsement in any state. 
  • Check availability in your state on the Programs by State section of the ACE website.
  • This pathway does not include a Focus of Study. Please note that if you are a Georgia educator seeking an in-field certificate upgrade, you may require a concentration (Focus Of Study) in a field in which you are currently certified. This may be determined by utilizing the Georgia Professional Standards Commission - Certificate Upgrade Advisor site.

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