The Department of Educational Theory and Practice offers the Doctor of Philosophy, Master's and Specialist's Degrees in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Reading and Language Arts, and Social Science Education. Initial certification at the graduate and undergraduate levels is offered in all programs except Reading and Language Arts. The Panama City, FL, campus also offers degrees in Elementary Education and Reading and Language Arts. Courses are selected from those offered in the Department of Educational Theory and Practice and from departments within the College of Education and the University.
Doctoral students participate in research seminars, supervised research, and university teaching.
Students are encouraged to present scholarly work at state and national conferences and join faculty in professional writing. The program is designed for persons aspiring to be college professors, curriculum specialists, researchers, or educational policy makers. Students who pursue a Specialist's Degree choose from the same curricular options as those in the Master's program but combine these courses with others available in the College and University. The program of study is designed in accordance with each student's experience and professional aims and may include action research, practica, and internships. The student may elect to write a thesis.