Students in the Foundations of Education Doctoral Program build individualized, interdisciplinary programs of study to help them address pressing issues in education at all levels, both locally and globally. Foundations of Education students acquire skills and tools from the humanities and social sciences—the philosophy, history, politics, and sociology of education—that enable critique and creative responses to educational challenges. We have special program focus on critical theory, rural education, literacy, social justice, equity, and inclusion. We emphasize applying research and theories to practice and policy. The program’s relatively small size allows for close interaction and collaboration between doctoral students and Virginia Tech's world class faculty.