View our EdD Early Childhood specialization completion requirements
Minimum degree requirements:
60 quarter credits
- Core courses (50 cr.)
- Capstone (10 cr.)
Minimum degree requirements:
60 quarter credits
Courses
In the EdD Early Childhood Education specialization, you’ll build skills and progress toward your final capstone project in every course.
Disclaimers: Walden students have up to 8 years to complete their doctoral program unless they petition for an extension.
In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation/doctoral study course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation/doctoral study course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the Chief Academic Officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-937-8785.
Courses
PhD completion program courses help you return to doctoral work, match with an advisor, and stay on track to finishing your dissertation.
Disclaimers: Walden students have up to 8 years to complete their doctoral program unless they petition for an extension.
In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation/doctoral study course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation/doctoral study course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the Chief Academic Officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-937-8785.
Courses
Develop the skills and confidence you need to tackle complex managerial challenges, contribute new knowledge, or teach at the graduate level.
Courses
Develop the skills and confidence needed for complex managerial challenges and research with Walden’s ACBSP-accredited PhD program.
Discover career opportunities in your area that match your interests.
Rachel Spoon, DNP, CRNP, AGPCNP‑BC, CCCTM, is a nurse practitioner and nurse educator who serves as Associate Dean I in the College of Nursing at Walden University, overseeing the 3 Advanced Core Course in the MSN Program ("3 Ps"), Psychiatric‑Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) and Adult‑Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) programs, along with Board Certification preparation initiatives.
Dr. Spoon is a board‑certified Adult‑Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner with clinical experience in primary care, Institutional Special Needs Programs (ISNPs), and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). Her clinical practice emphasizes managing complex chronic conditions, interdisciplinary collaboration, and supporting care transitions for adult and aging populations.
Since beginning her academic career in 2020, Dr. Spoon has taught extensively in graduate nursing education and has led curriculum development efforts to strengthen advanced practice coursework. She also has mentored students and faculty, collaborated with clinical preceptors, and supported the development of essential advanced practice competencies.
Dedicated to preparing practice‑ready nurse practitioners, Dr. Spoon integrates real‑world clinical expertise with academic leadership to meet the evolving healthcare needs of adult and geriatric populations.
Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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