The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program offers a terminal degree designed to prepare scholar-practitioners serving in P-12 leadership positions. By combining educational theory with action research, students learn how to critically examine problems and provide solutions to needs at the building and district levels. Graduates will possess the content knowledge and research skills to improve schools in the P-12 education system.The overarching goal of the department is to recruit and train high quality professional educators for Mississippi classrooms, and to prepare researchers and educators for a variety of roles beyond the K-12 classroom. Participants in each of the department's programs are provided extensive opportunities to make connections between research and practice and to experience interactive teaching and learning.