The Education Ph.D. at the University of Maine is an innovative doctoral program designed to provide students with a cross-disciplinary understanding of educational issues. We prepare future scholars, educational leaders, teacher-educators and policymakers to confront the complicated challenges in modern education, especially in rural settings. Our students can tailor their studies to match their research interests by choosing an area of specialization. For doctoral students interested in studying issues in PreK-12 education, our specializations include Literacy Education, Prevention and Intervention Studies, and STEM Education. We also offer an individually designed program, as well as a doctoral program for graduate students interested in issues in Higher Education. Students in each of our specializations work across disciplines to seek innovative solutions to everyday problems in the field of education. This model emphasizes the benefits of team learning to show how professionals from different theoretical and practical backgrounds can address everyday problems faced by schools and other educational institutions.<br><br>The area of specialization in Literacy Education, part of the University of Maine's Education Ph.D. program, focuses on theoretical research traditions, historical perspectives, and diverse epistemologies and methodologies that frame the study of literacy in varied settings, with emphasis on the distinct needs of rural areas. Through coursework, collaborative research and the opportunity to publish and present research findings, students develop the skills and strategies to answer their own questions related to literacy education. The program's hallmarks include its selectivity, small size and close mentoring by nationally recognized faculty. Enrollment is limited to no more than 12 students, to ensure quality and close relationships with faculty. We prepare doctoral students to be literacy leaders and advocates in their communities.