Ed.D. in Pedagogy
Specialization in Philosophy for Children

Graduate Program Coordinator
Dr. Jeremy N. Price
Dr. Ana Maria Villegas

Center of Pedagogy

Montclair State University's Center of Pedagogy is the first center of its kind in the nation. The Center coordinates and oversees all aspects of teacher education. Its mission is to promote the continuous development of all educators, new and experienced, field and university-based, through the simultaneous renewal of the schools and the education of educators. Policy-making and governance in the Center rest on the collaboration of the tripartite: faculty and administrators from the schools, the College of Education and Human Services, and faculty from arts and science. Our overarching goal is to support the abilities of current and new generations of students and teachers to engage actively and productively in democratic communities.

Program Description

Montclair State's first doctoral program, an Ed.D. in Pedagogy, is housed in the Center of Pedagogy. It has been designed for those who aspire to be models of teaching excellence, leaders among their colleagues and spokespersons for education in the state. Although primarily designed for teachers who wish to remain in the classroom it can meet the needs of educators with other career goals. The Ed.D. provides the highest level of expertise in teaching, leadership, and educational reform. The program also recognizes the indisputable role of teachers at all levels in renewing our education system and the critical importance of P-16 education.

This program is designed for those who have a strong background in philosophy. The program will add both depth and breadth to both their subject matter and pedagogical knowledge. In addition, this specialization builds on and extends the understandings developed in the core courses, thereby carrying forward the major themes of the Ed.D. It includes the role of philosophy in reasoning, concept formation, and sound judgment. Philosophy-based children's literature is used to develop critical thinking, and develops skills in research methods in philosophy for children.

Goals of the Ed.D. Program

The Ed.D. Program is designed to teach educators how best to implement new theories and practice understandings about teaching, learning, and the role of schools in our society. We expect to prepare educational leaders who will:

• understand the epistemology of the specific disciplines and the relationships among school subjects;
• be fully knowledgeable about the public purposes of schooling in a democratic society;
• be effective researchers, capable of conducting significant, original, theoretically based research in order to explore solutions to difficult problems and pressing needs confronting American education;
• be masters of pedagogy, both general and subject-specific, that is discipline-appropriate and nurturing;
• demonstrate advanced competence in the disciplines that are the bases for their teaching specialization;
• be masters of change theory, enabling students to become effective stewards of best practice in their school settings and the agents for change;
• understand both policy issues and the politics of policy in order to transcend local concerns and become effective spokespersons for systemic change;
• understand the concept of access to knowledge, including its moral implications;
• build sophisticated curriculum plans that lead to critical thinking and high levels of learning; and
• be able to plan effective educational experiences designed to promote good citizenship and democratic practice.

Vision

The Ed.D. is characterized by a strong theoretical base and a comprehensive perspective on the nature of schools, education in a democracy, and effective teaching and learning for social change. Four major themes give coherence to the program, and support both the purposes of schools and the professional needs of teachers. These themes closely correspond to the research agenda of the twenty university-school partnerships that form the national Network for Educational Renewal. They represent MSU's vision of teachers' responsibilities:

• to provide access to knowledge for all students;
• to enculturate students into our multicultural political and social democracy;
• to create and sustain appropriate and nurturing pedagogy;
• to commit themselves to educational leadership based on stewardship of best practice.