Doctoral Degrees in Elementary Education

You must first be accepted into The University of Alabama, and then into a degree program in the College. For graduate admissions, visit the Graduate School home page.

Mission Statement

The doctoral degree program is the highest professional degree and is designed primarily for top-level education practitioners and university researchers. The College offers both Ph.D. and Ed.D. degrees. Programs at the doctoral level are designed to prepare advanced practitioners for school positions or for professorships in institutions of higher education.

There are two types of doctorates available. The Ph.D. is for students who intend to become researchers in a given field, while the Ed.D. is for students who intend to become highly skilled practitioners and school leaders. Normally, three years of teaching are required to enter either of the programs.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is mainly focused on research and theory. Program requirements include the acquisition of special skills that would be useful in conducting scholarly investigation and traditional research. The Doctor of Education (Ed.D) degree includes a focus on facilitating the development of action researchers and experienced practitioners.