Early Childhood Doctorate Degree in Texas
Doctoral degrees are the highest educational level achievable in most disciplines. At the end of a doctoral program, you receive either a PhD or an EdD, meaning Doctorate of Philosophy or Doctorate of Education. In the case of an early childhood doctorate, you would most likely receive the latter.
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General
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Doctoral programs typically require four to seven years to complete. If you are planning to attend part time, you can expect to take up to seven. Admittance into doctoral programs requires a master's degree, in some cases in a related field. This will vary according to school, as some schools require only a bachelor's degree. In addition to degree requirements, all schools require some type of testing, with most schools using the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), taken before application as the schools will have a minimum requirement. Each university's GRE score and GPA requirements will vary.
Curriculum
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An early childhood doctoral program will give further insight to what you have already gained with your bachelor's and/or master's degree. You will study child development in extended detail. According to DegreeDirectory.org, "Such programs include instruction in child development, child psychology, early reading and math, first aid, health and nutrition along with children's literature, classroom management, early intervention and family interaction." The doctoral program serves to further the knowledge you already have and introduce needed research procedures to complete your dissertation.
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Dissertation
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The dissertation is a hallmark project for any doctoral student. A dissertation is a lengthy essay with a thesis statement supported by research conducted by the student. A student typically picks her thesis and research topic within the first year of the program. After writing the dissertation, she will have to defend it meaning she will have to respond to questions asked by faculty reviewers. Graduation cannot occur before successfully defending the dissertation.
Career
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A doctoral degree can lead to advancement. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), many school principals, district superintendents and administrators hold advanced degrees such as doctorates.
You can also teach at the college level with a doctorate degree. With an early childhood doctorate, you may teach early childhood college students. Also at the college level, many admissions, student affairs, and financial aid directors hold doctoral degrees. The opportunities for employment are many and varied.
Salary
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According to BLS, school principals made $85,907 to $97,486 in 2009 with the salary increasing with the school age of the children. Academic deans in colleges and universities made $92,622 and $150,000. College professors made an average of $79,439.
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- Photo Credit Portrait of a styled children. Theme: education.. image by Andrey Kiselev from Fotolia.com
