Doctor of Education, Early Childhood Education

Return to: Academic Programs Offered at Pacific Oaks College

Total Credit Hours Required: 60 credits

Maximum Allowable Transfer Credits: Transfer credit and waiver of courses are not accepted in the EdD ECE program.

Program Admissions Requirements: 

Admission to the doctorate program is open to any person who meets entrance requirements as outlined below. Applicants will be judged on their overall ability to successfully complete a graduate degree program at the doctoral level. A conferred master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Human Development, Education, or a related field with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale* is required for admission. 

Factors and materials required for program admission include: 

• Completed Application for Admission 
• Application Fee 
• Personal Statement  
• Resume’/CV 
• Interview 
• Official Transcripts from all higher education institutions attended 
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Pacific Oaks College 
• Successful completion of a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Human Development, Education, or a related field 

*Subject to appeal 

Tuition and Fees: Tuition and Fees for the College and individual programs can be found here: Financial Aid and Student Accounts Policies

Licensure Disclosures: The EdD in ECE degree does not qualify a student for a CA K-12 teaching or service credential.

Number of Admit Terms Per Year: 1 (Fall semester)

Program Overview and Philosophy

For almost 80 years, Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School has embraced the founding values of Social Justice, Inclusivity, Diversity, and Respect. These values are the core of the Doctor of Education (EdD) in Early Childhood Education program. Coursework is designed to connect the institution’s values to early childhood education, with a focus on children from birth to age eight. The EdD in ECE prepares students to be teacher educators and leaders in applied early childhood research, early childhood program design and evaluation, teaching in higher education, administrating early childhood programs, and early childhood policy analysis.

The program is designed to be completed in three academic years, with an embedded Doctoral Research Project. Each course includes synchronous and asynchronous online learning and follows the School of Human Development and Education’s seven-week semester timeline.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

1. Integrate the values of social justice, diversity, inclusivity, and respect in the field of Early Childhood Education.
2. Understand and articulate critical issues relevant to the field.
3. Demonstrate detailed knowledge specific to early childhood.
4. Develop mastery in analyzing, interpreting, and creating scholarly, research-based doctoral level essays/projects grounded in early childhood theory and practice.
5. Demonstrate the ability to plan, design and implement an original Doctoral Research Project significant to early childhood.

Program-Specific Requirements

This is a year-round cohort program, including enrollment in summer (during years one and two). Online attendance (synchronous and asynchronous) includes two 8-week terms in the fall and spring and two 8-week terms in summer.

Doctoral Research Project

The program’s research course sequence is designed to promote successful completion of the Doctoral Research Project concurrent with course completion. Year One’s research coursework includes an exploration of research theory, design, and methods. Students will also examine models of applied research. During Year Two, students complete their Literature Review and prepare their Doctoral Research Project Proposal. Upon completion of the comprehensive review, candidates may officially begin to collect data, and Year Three’s research courses are designed to support completion of the Doctoral Research Project.

All-but-Doctoral Research Project (ABD) Status

Students who complete their coursework and have yet to complete their Doctoral Research Project have up to seven years (including the years completing required coursework) to complete their degree. While continuing to work on their Doctoral Research Project, students must enroll in ECE 900E Extension of Doctoral Research Project for zero credits each semester until the Doctoral Research Project is completed.

Residence Requirement

Students must fulfill all degree requirements through courses offered at Pacific Oaks College.

Course Length

Please refer to the program course and delivery section found here: Academic Calendar

Graduation requirements

Students must submit the Petition for Degree Completion and fee to the Office of the Registrar during the semester before they expect to complete their degree requirements. Students must submit the application, settle all outstanding fees with the Student Finance Office, satisfy any deficiencies, and be in good standing in their program for the degree to be awarded. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required for good academic standing and for graduation.