This program leads to a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership with a specialization in Teacher Education and Professional Development. The Teacher Education and Professional Development specialization is designed to prepare students to become scholars in teacher learning and development. Courses examine research on varying approaches to teacher preparation, explore connections among teacher development, student learning, teacher leadership, curriculum, and school improvement, and analyze the broader socio-political context in which teacher education and professional development programs are embedded. Students explore the pedagogies used in different subject areas and in preparing teachers for ELs or special needs students with a particular focus on culturally relevant teaching at different school levels. Scholarship on teacher learning for under-served populations in urban schools is a strong focus of courses and faculty research. Graduates go on to be researchers, teacher educators, and change agents who forge innovative directions in the education of teachers for universities, state departments of education, school districts, and other learning organizations. To complement program requirements, students work with their advisors to select a cluster of courses to their specific interests. These courses might be from other specializations within the department: minority and urban education, technology, learning and leadership, language, literacy and social inquiry, education policy and leadership, or mathematics and science education. Courses may also come from other areas of study such as international education, sociology, urban studies, or women's studies.