The joint master's degree/certification program in Elementary Education is designed for individuals who possess a baccalaureate degree in from an accredited institution of higher education and who wish to pursue certification and a master's degree in education at the same time. Certificates are recommended only in conjunction with the completion of the requirements for the Ed.M. degree.

The program has four major goals:

1. To foster a vision of learning as an active process in which students construct their own knowledge and understandings;
2. To foster a vision of teaching that promotes depth of understanding and problem solving rather than mere curriculum coverage and that recognizes children's individual and cultural differences;
3. To prepare teachers who are knowledgeable about current research in learning, teaching, and child development so they can make informed decisions about educational practice and help to bring about change in schools; and
4. To prepare prospective teachers to be teacher-researchers who reflect on their own practice.