Graduate programs in Early Childhood Education are designed for educators and child care professionals who wish to explore issues in early childhood research, theory, and practice. Early childhood graduate programs are interdisciplinary, faculty-wide programs that consist of core courses in early childhood education (ECED) and related courses in other departments. Key areas of focus include: theorizing early childhood and early childhood education, research and research methodologies, issues in early childhood curriculum, instruction, assessment and evaluation, and cross departmental inquiries in early childhood education.