博士计划密切反映并将直接增强马萨诸塞州波士顿大学的使命，致力于城市和全球参与，并致力于公益事业。幼儿教育与关怀博士学位（ECEC）的目的是培养未来的领导者，他们准备通过熟练的研究，政策制定和创新实践为幼儿改变机会和成果。这将通过一项研究密集型，政策导向和实践导向的计划来完成。重点将是利用和发展知识来解决幼儿发展中的紧迫，有意义的问题，特别是在人口不足和服务不足的人群中，包括生活在贫困，残疾或发展迟缓以及移民或难民群体中的人口。美国以及发展中国家。
The PhD program closely reflects and will directly enhance the University of Massachusetts Boston's mission, with its commitment to urban and global engagement and dedication to the public good. The purpose of the PhD in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is to produce future leaders who are prepared to transform opportunities and outcomes for young children through skilled research, policy development, and innovative practices. This will be accomplished through a program that is both research-intensive and policy- and practice-oriented. The focus will be on using and developing knowledge to address pressing, meaningful problems in the development of young children, especially in underrepresented and underserved populations, including those living in poverty, with disabilities or developmental delays, and from immigrant or refugee groups, within the U.S. and also in developing countries.