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.
Rebecca McKeeth, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Psychiatric–Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 10 years of experience in emergency, critical care, and mental health nursing. She currently practices in an outpatient mental health setting serving veteran populations, where she provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and medication management across the lifespan.
In addition to her clinical work, Rebecca is a dedicated nurse educator with extensive experience teaching graduate-level nursing students. She is passionate about preparing future Psychiatric–Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) for both clinical practice and national certification. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes real-world application, clinical reasoning, and student engagement, with a strong focus on building confidence and competence in complex psychiatric care.
Rebecca’s areas of interest include psychopharmacology, diagnostic accuracy, and the integration of evidence-based practice into clinical decision-making. She is particularly committed to supporting adult learners by fostering an inclusive, supportive online learning environment that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives while promoting academic excellence and professional growth.
She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree with a focus on leadership and systems-level impact, with the goal of advancing psychiatric education, improving patient outcomes, and contributing to the development of nurse practitioner residency programs.
MSN, University of Arizona
Post-master's Certificate, University of Wilkes
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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