Online and Distance Learning

PhD early childhood education programs can prepare you for leadership positions in preschool through fifth grade (K-5) settings.

Do you want to be a lead teacher, principal, assistant principal or a senior administrator in an elementary or pre-school learning environment?  Or perhaps  an early childhood education curriculum developer, or education program director?  An early childhood education doctoral program prepares you for jobs in education and administration related to children from birth to age 8.  To do this, the program includes courses in child psychology, parenting, and early childhood instruction and learning strategies.

This page provides information on what is studied and where you can study these programs. It specifically provides links to early childhood doctorate online degrees. If you want more details of on-campus programs, check the information using the navigation links for On Campus Programs and On Campus Universities.  In order to undertake a PhD, you will need to possess a masters degree.

Finding the schools and PhD early childhood education programs you want

If you want to browse areas available and the schools offering PhD early childhood education programs (and other related PhD education programs), use the search form or the list of schools below.

• Northcentral University - Graduate
  • Doctor of Education (EdD) - Early Childhood Education
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Education - Early Childhood Education

• Walden University
  • PhD in Education - Early Childhood and Primary Education

For schools in Canada

Click here to search for early childhood education at universities and colleges in Canada. It also provides some advice on choosing a suitable campus.

Click here and then enter your Canadian postal code to search for Canadian college or university campuses.

What do the degrees cover?

A PhD early childhood education program will usually include some of the courses taught in the relevant masters program.  In your thesis, it will also allow you to specialize in a topic of yor choice, such as: curriculum development, pedagogy and classroom methodology, administrative techniques, and child psychology.

What jobs do the programs prepare you for?

Education is one of the largest industries and early childhood graduate programs offer plenty of career options.  Most US States now require lead teachers in state-funded pre-kindergarten programs to have early childhood training.  Typically, PhD early childhood education programs prepare you for teaching, management and leadership positions in preschool through fifth grade (K-5) settings. 

Graduates with a PhD early childhood education find careers as lead teachers, administrators or program directors in elementary and pre-school learning environments.  It is also possible to teach childhood education in a college or university, but competition is high.

What are the earnings of graduates?

The United States Department of Labor reports an approximate annual income of about $50,000 for early childhood and elementary teachers.  Prospects are good in the sector as the government has placed an emphasis on it.

For more information about PhD early childhood education programs

Use this link to find programs and schools near you.

Use the search facility on this site to find more PhD early childhood education programs.

Remember to compare the admission requirements and course content of several schools before you choose a program.

Campus Programs

For those students who feel that online learning and distance education is not for them, the web site also has a section on campus programs. 

You can also search for a program or a school near you.