Program of Study
Doctor of Philosophy in Early Childhood and Elementary Education
A. Core Area (21)
The core area consists of 18 semester hours of research coursework and 3 semester hours of social foundation of education and psychology of learning coursework.
Research Core (18 hours)
Required (6):
- EPRS 8500 Qualitative/Interpretive Research in Education (3)
- EPRS 8530 Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education (3)
Required (12):
- A two-course sequence (6 hours) in research methodology (see below for specific tracks/courses)
- Two courses (6 hours) in advanced research methods as identified by the Doctoral Advisory Committee
Quantitative Methodology
- EPRS 8540 Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education II
- EPRS 8550 Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education III (3)
- EPRS 8820 Program Evaluation and Institutional Research (3)
- EPRS 8830 Survey Research, Sampling Principles and Questionnaire Design (3)
- EPRS 8840 Meta-Analysis (3)
- EPRS 8660 Bayesian Statistics (3)
- EPRS 9550 Multivariate Analysis (3)
- EPRS 9560 Structural Equation Modeling (3)
- EPRS 9570 Hierarchical Linear Modeling I (3)
- EPRS 9571 Hierarchical Linear Modeling II(3)
- EPRS 9900 Research Design (3)
Qualitative Methodology
- ANTH 8010 Qualitative Methods in Anthropology (3)
- EPRS 8510 Qualitative Research in Education II (3)
- EPRS 8520 Qualitative Research in Education III (3)
- EPRS 8640 Case Study Methods (3)
- EPRS 8700 Visual Research Methods (3)
- EPRS 9120 Poststructural Inquiry (3)
- EPRS 9400 Writing Qualitative Research Manuscripts (3)
Single-Case Methodology
- EPY 8850 Introduction to Single-Case Methodology (3)
- EPY 8860 Applications of Single-Case Methodology (3)
Historical/Philosophical Methodology
- EPSF 9850 Historical Research in American Education (3)
- EPSF 9930 Philosophical Analysis and Method (3)
Measurement Methodology
- EPRS 7920 Classroom Testing, Grading, and Assessment (3)
- EPRS 8920 Educational Measurement (3)
- EPRS 9350 Introduction to Item Response Theory (3)
- EPRS 9360 Advanced Item Response Theory (3)
Social Foundations of Education and Psychology of Learning Core (3 hours)
In addition to highly specialized research in specific areas, doctoral students in the College of Education & Human Development must possess a deep understanding of comprehensive, theoretical principles and broad ideological conceptualizations.
Through historical, philosophical, sociological and anthropological inquiry, knowledge of social foundations fosters the types of speculative investigations essential for thorough understandings of those theoretical principles and ideological conceptualizations necessary to uphold the integrity of the Ph.D. degree.
The psychology of learning component is based on the following guiding principles: (1) Educational leaders make judgments that affect learning and (2) doctoral students should have a substantial understanding of the psychology of learning.
Select one (3):
- EPSF 8270 Philosophy of Education (3)
- EPSF 8280 Anthropology of Education (3)
- EPSF 8310 Sociology of Education (3)
- EPSF 8320 Politics and Policy in Education (3)
- EPSF 8340 History of American Education (3)
- EPSF 9260 Epistemology and Learning (3)
- EPY 8030 Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis (3)
- EPY 8050 The Psychology of Instruction (3)
- EPY 8070 Understanding and Facilitating Adult Learning (3)
- EPY 8080 Memory and Cognition (3)
- EPY 8180 Learning and the School-Age Child (5 to 18 Years) (3)
- EPY 8200 Advanced Developmental Psychology: Cognition and Intellect (3)
- EPY 8220 Advanced Developmental Psychology: Personality and Socialization (3)
B. Major Area (27)
Required (12):
- ECE 9360 Curriculum, Issues, and Historical Perspectives in Early Childhood and Elementary Education (3)
- ECE 9800 Scholarly Inquiry (3)
- ECE 9860 Evaluating and Interpreting Research in Early Childhood and Elementary Education (3)
- ECE 9960 Advanced Theory and Research in Child Development (3)
Elective Courses (Minimum 15):
At least 12 hours of elective courses must come from within the department. Doctoral-level elective courses offered within the department include:
- EPRS 9120/ECE 9120 Poststructural Inquiry (3)
- ECE 9380/EPRS 9380 Discourse Analysis (3)
- ECE 9393 Number and Operation in the Elementary Classroom (3)
- ECE 9394 Geometry and Measurement in the Elementary Classroom (3)
- ECE 9395 Rational Numbers and Algebra in the Elementary Classroom (3)
- ECE 9396 Data Analysis and Probability in the Elementary Classroom (3)
- ECE 9400 Teacher Development (3)
- ECE 9420 Early Literacy Learning (3)
- ECE 9810 Directed Readings (1-3)
- ECE 9840 Socio-Cultural Issues in Early Childhood and Elementary Education (3)
- ECE 9850 Research Seminar in Early Childhood and Elementary Education (3)
- ECE 9890 Research Apprenticeship (3)
- ECE 9910 Developing as a scholarly writer (3)
K-5 Mathematics Endorsement (optional):
As part of the coursework leading to this degree, students who hold a current teaching certification from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission may satisfy part of the K-5 mathematics endorsement requirements by completing four 9000-level courses (ECE 9393, ECE 9394, ECE 9395 and ECE 9396). To apply for the K-5 mathematics endorsement, students must also complete ECE 7740 Internship in Early Childhood Education I (3) while enrolled in one of the four specified 9000-level endorsement courses. ECE 7740 does not satisfy the 8000-9000 level-course requirements for the College of Education & Human Development courses applicable to the degree.
C. Dissertation (15)
Required (15):
ECE 9990 Dissertation (15)
Program total: Minimum of 63 semester hours