Early Childhood Studies

Graduate opportunities

At the University of North Texas, our master’s and doctoral programs in Early Childhood Studies prepare you for diverse roles in teaching, research, administration, activism and the provision of services to young children and their families/communities.

The programs provide you opportunities for formal course work, seminars, internships, independent study and research. The UNT Child Development Laboratory, faculty collaboration with bilingual and diversity programs, and the Velma E. Schmidt Critical Research Initiatives in Early Childhood Studies broaden prospects for related training and research.

The Master of Science degree offers advanced knowledge for working in education, including critical theoretical and research based perspectives on young children’s lives and learning in diverse settings.

The Doctor of Education degree develops critical educational leaders, researchers and facilitators of social change for children and their families. This is accomplished by mentoring scholars to:

• Engage in advocacy activities with/for children and families
• Identify and solve significant community based problems
• Develop technological skills and applications
• Collaborate with families, faculty and personnel in schools and community agencies
• Gain and exhibit knowledge of early childhood education/care from an integrated, critical and interdisciplinary perspective
• Create research that results in equity and increased opportunity for all children
• Explore the circumstances in which public policies inhibit and/or facilitate opportunities for young children (with special concern for those who have traditionally been disenfranchised)
• Investigate job-related problems confronting professionals today

Known for excellence

Our quality is enhanced by faculty members’ affiliations with professional organizations and their participation on organizational, editorial and other boards. Collectively, Early Childhood Studies faculty members have written, co-written and edited numerous books, book chapters and articles in refereed journals and have presented several hundred refereed papers at national, regional and state professional meetings and conferences.

The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (2010 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20036-1023; 202-466-7496). This accreditation means we have met or exceed strict academic standards for excellence in education. The college is also one of the top producers of teachers, administrators, counselors, health professionals and other school professionals in Texas.

Centers and clinics

The Child Development Laboratory is an accredited preschool program for children ages 3 to 5. It also serves as a model, an observation site and a training center for undergraduate and graduate students in fields related to young children. Research related to early childhood issues is conducted by graduate students and faculty members from across the university.

The Velma E. Schmidt research initiatives are designed to conduct critical research, collaborate with other critical social scientists and disseminate research that facilitates increased social justice and equity for children. The major purpose of these initiatives is to focus on the unintended/unanticipated effects of public discourses and policies on the life opportunities and educational/learning conditions generated for those who are younger.

Critical inquiry, evaluation projects and collaborations are conducted within:

• Development of/support for critical qualitative research methods that reveal oppressive childhood policies and practices
• Examination of the local/global effects of globalization on young children
• Inquiry into conditions of oppression and privilege
• Support for cultural and linguistic diversity
• Support equity and increased opportunity for all young children

The critical initiatives involve graduate students in a range of scholarly activities. Contact Gaile S. Cannella, Professor and Velma E. Schmidt Endowed Chair for further information.

Attending UNT

Admission requirements

You will need to meet the admission requirements for the Toulouse Graduate School, which are outlined at www.gradschool.unt.edu. These requirements include current GRE or GMAT scores. You must indicate on the graduate school application whether you are applying for the M.S. or Ed.D. program.

You also must submit the following to the program area for review:

• Letter of application describing professional goals and research interests
• Current résumé
• Three letters of recommendation

Admission materials for the master’s program are reviewed three times each year. The deadline for fall semester admission is May 15, for spring semester admission is October 15, and for summer semester admission is March 15. Admission to the doctoral program is based on a March 1 application deadline for the fall semester. Materials should be sent to Destinie Noles at destinie.noles@unt.edu.

Degree requirements

Master of Science

The M.S. has a 36-semester-hour thesis option or a 39-semester-hour nonthesis option. Students are required to select a major advisor to establish a degree plan and approve all practicum/internship experiences. Thesis students establish a thesis committee to oversee the research process. Nonthesis students complete a formal examination at the end of the course work. Specific required courses and descriptions are at www.unt.edu/catalog and in the program information materials received upon admission.

Doctor of Education

The Ed.D. requires 63 semester hours of course work and dissertation work beyond a master’s degree. In addition to core Early Childhood Studies courses, you are required to complete:

• 18 semester hours of research
• Elective courses in a related field
• Comprehensive qualifying examination
• Dissertation research study

Doctoral students select a major advisor to establish a degree plan and approve all mentorship/internship experiences. The student forms a dissertation committee to oversee the research process. Specific required courses and descriptions are at www.unt.edu/catalog and in and in the program information materials received upon admission. However, courses are chosen in consultation with a doctoral chairperson and committee members.

Financial assistance

You may qualify for competitive scholarships and grants, and teaching and research assistantships to help you pay for your education. Additional information is available at financialaid.unt.edu.