Early Childhood Education (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. in Education program produces leaders who can address the nation's most pressing educational challenges. Each of the specializations is designed to match your professional interests and meet the needs of your organization. In fact, it requires educators to come to the program with defined learning goals and challenges them to design their own program of study. The program combines collaborative online study with self-paced, faculty-guided research modules and face-to-face residencies.

As the demographics of the family and workforce change, the nation is increasingly turning its attention to the critical need for early childhood development and education. At Walden, you will gain the expertise to lead in the creation and implementation of new program practices, to apply emerging research on development in the early years, and to conceptualize new paradigms for early learning. Graduates attain key positions in college teaching, research endeavors, leadership positions, and advocacy roles addressing the young child, birth through age 8. Other positions include director of kindergarten, curriculum specialist, and director of a Head Start program.