The doctoral program in early childhood/elementary education is intended for educational professionals who wish to study learning and teaching in early childhood/elementary settings. 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 educational leaders who are knowledgeable about current research and theory on learning and teaching so they can make informed decisions about educational practice and can help to bring about change in schools; and (4) to prepare students to undertake independent research so they can identify and investigate significant educational questions and problems.

The program is appropriate for individuals who plan to pursue careers as college or university faculty in early childhood/elementary education; as curriculum developers, supervisors, and instructional leaders in schools or other educational organizations; or as administrators of day care centers and pre-school programs.