Doctor of Education in Early Child Education
Since 1945, Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School has played a crucial role in the development of early childhood education in the U.S. Pacific Oaks College was asked by the U.S. government to launch one of the nation’s first Head Start training programs—an initiative to expand education access to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The concepts of anti-bias education and emergent curriculum were shaped within our classrooms. This pioneering approach continued when Louise Derman-Sparks, a Pacific Oaks faculty member for 33 years, published “Anti-Bias Curriculum: Tools for Empowering Young Children.” The first of its kind, professor Derman-Sparks’ work changed the landscape of early childhood education, introducing a curriculum that empowers young children and promotes critical thinking about bias.
Guided by these decades of innovation, the online Doctor of Education in Early Childhood Education degree program continues and expands upon our legacy of using social justice, inclusivity, diversity, and respect to make a positive impact on our communities and the world. Connecting these core values to the foundations of early childhood, the Doctorate in Early Childhood Education program trains students to become ethical, culturally intelligent leaders in the field.
Pacific Oaks College developed this program to address the growing need for advanced leadership in early childhood education. By offering one of the first Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education in California, Pacific Oaks continues its innovation in education, providing a vital resource for professionals seeking to make an impact in the field.
Coursework in early childhood development, leadership in education, program design, and doctoral research prepares graduates to:
- Design and evaluate outcome-based learning experiences for children from birth to 8 years old.
- Analyze education policy to identify concerns and create solutions to address them.
- Push the field forward through applied research that utilizes critical thinking, data collection and analysis, and various research modalities.
- Train future educators in social justice, inclusivity, diversity, and respect as a college or university professor.
This online doctoral degree coursework aims to empower graduates to become leaders and advocates in early childhood education, capable of effecting meaningful change and fostering environments that are equitable and conducive to learning for all young children.
Early Childhood Education Online Courses
Flexible and accessible, our online Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education program is designed to meet the needs of students with a wide range of needs and learning styles. Visit our Online Learning page for more information on the course environment of Pacific Oaks College’s online programs, including technology requirements, online course previews, and other online program offerings.
Sample Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education Courses
Introduction to Doctoral Coursework
This online course is designed to familiarize doctoral students with the expectations and commitments required in the early childhood education doctoral program. Students in this doctoral degree course will explore time management techniques as well as be provided with foundational knowledge of APA formatting and doctoral-level writing. An understanding of the IRB process and analysis of research will be developed.
Foundations of Early Childhood: Teaching & Leading ECE Programs
The foundations of early childhood will be examined in this course. The history of early childhood programs throughout the U.S. will be studied with an emphasis on current research and trends in teaching and leading ECE programs.
Best Practices for Effective Leadership: The Early Childhood Lens
In this course, students of the online doctorate in early childhood education program will be provided with the foundational knowledge of effective leadership in the field of early childhood education. Students will explore best practices, including the skills and abilities necessary to effectively lead teams. The competencies of effective leaders will be examined.
Admissions Requirements
- Completed Application for Admission
- Application fee
- Successful completion of a master’s degree in early childhood education, child development, human development, education, or a related field
- Official transcripts from all higher education institutions attended
- Personal statement
- Describe two challenges in your life you have experienced. Explain what those challenges mean to you and how those challenges will help you pursue your professional goals at Pacific Oaks College. Lastly, explain how you will contribute and uphold the Pacific Oaks mission and core values during your coursework and professional development.
- Resume/CV
- Interview
- Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Pacific Oaks College
Pacific Oaks College prepares Ed.D. graduates for senior leadership and administrative roles in early childhood education. The data below is drawn from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2024.
Median Annual Salary
- Elementary, Middle, and & High School Principal: $104,070
- Postsecondary Education Administrator: $103,960
The median annual wage for elementary, middle, and high school principals was $104,070 in May 2024. The lowest 10% earned less than $72,400, and the highest 10% earned more than $165,820.
The median annual wage for postsecondary education administrators was $103,960 in May 2024. Despite limited employment growth, about 15,100 openings for postsecondary education administrators are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Career paths for Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education graduates include educational administrators, school superintendents, policy analysts, curriculum developers, and university or college professors.
For a detailed breakdown of career trajectories available with a doctorate in education, see Pacific Oaks’ Where Can an Ed.D. Take You? article.
Below, you will find possible career options and salaries associated with this Early Childhood Education doctoral online degree.
Data is pulled by a third-party tool called Lightcast, which includes data from sources including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, and other government databases. The information below represents a regional and national career outlook related to this degree program*. Pacific Oaks College is dedicated to assisting you in achieving your ECE career goals.
*Many degree programs are intended to fulfill licensure requirements in specific states. The data shown here may not represent the state where you currently reside. For more information on how this doctorate degree in Early Childhood Education online program is applicable to the requirements of your state, please speak with your admissions counselor.
What is the focus of the Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education program at Pacific Oaks College?
The Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education program is designed for working professionals in ECE who want to move into leadership and administrative roles, educational administrators, curriculum developers, policy analysts, school principals, and college faculty.
The program combines coursework in early childhood development, education leadership, program design, and doctoral research, with an emphasis on social justice, cultural competence, and evidence-based practice. Pacific Oaks College launched this program as one of the first online doctoral programs in early childhood education in California.
Who is the ideal candidate for a doctorate in early childhood education?
Ideal candidates for this program are working professionals in early childhood education who aspire to advance into leadership roles, influence education policy, and drive positive changes in the sector. Candidates should possess a master’s degree in early childhood education.
Because the program is 100% online with synchronous and asynchronous coursework, it is particularly well-suited for practitioners currently employed in ECE who cannot pause their careers for a campus-based program.
Is this an entirely online doctoral program in early childhood education?
Yes, the Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education is offered entirely online, featuring both synchronous and asynchronous coursework to meet the diverse needs of our students. This flexibility ensures that students can pursue a doctorate degree in early childhood education without interrupting their professional lives.
What makes the Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education program at Pacific Oaks College unique?
This program is the first online doctoral program in early childhood education in California. It’s also Pacific Oaks College's first doctoral-level degree built on more than 75 years of leadership in ECE that includes launching one of the nation's first Head Start training programs at the request of the U.S. government in 1964 and publishing foundational antibias curriculum scholarship through faculty like Louise Derman-Sparks. The curriculum integrates social justice, cultural competence, and applied research as core elements rather than electives or supplemental content.
What are the different ECE degree programs offered at Pacific Oaks?
Pacific Oaks College offers all levels of Early Childhood Education degree programs. This includes:
- ECE Bachelor’s degree / Online
- Master’s in Early Childhood Education / Online
- Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education
The bachelor’s degree lays the foundation for Early Childhood Education, and the master’s degree offers a deeper level of knowledge in ECE for further career enhancement. Those aiming at the highest level of expertise and impact can seamlessly transition from a master’s degree into a doctorate in early childhood education programs. This progression is designed to fully equip you for leadership and innovation in early childhood education.
What jobs are available for graduates of the Doctorate in Early Childhood Education?
Graduates of the online Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education program are qualified for leadership and administrative positions within the early childhood education field. They may pursue careers as educational administrators, school superintendents, policy analysts, curriculum developers, and principals. These roles may be within different work environments such as local school boards, nonprofit organizations, for-profit educational companies, and government agencies.
What is the difference between an Ed.D. and a Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education?
An Ed.D. (Doctor of Education) is a practice-focused degree designed for professionals who want to apply research and leadership skills in educational settings, as administrators, directors, policy advisors, or faculty.
A Ph.D. in Education is typically research-focused and oriented toward academic scholarship and tenure-track university positions. Pacific Oaks' program is an Ed.D.: Its coursework and capstone research are grounded in applied practice in Early Childhood Education, not theoretical research for its own sake.
Candidates who want to lead ECE programs, shape policy, or build curricula, rather than pursue a career primarily in academic research, are typically better served by an Ed.D. pathway.
How long does the online Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education take to complete
The program requires 60 credits and is designed to be completed in three years full time. The combination of synchronous and asynchronous online coursework gives students flexibility to progress through the program while maintaining their professional roles in ECE.