PhD in Special Education

Receive advanced training in special education to support health and well-being in all learners.

The PhD in Special Education will prepare you to assume academic faculty positions at the university level. The program is geared toward improving the educational and related service programs for children and youth with disabilities.

PhD candidates are mentored by a faculty adviser who shares their research interests and are supported by graduate faculty in Special Education.

Students may focus their studies in one or more of the following areas:

  • Applied behavior analysis
  • Autism
  • Emotional and behavior disorders
  • Learning disabilities or severe disabilities
  • Visual impairment and blindness

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Program Facts

Degree Type

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Credits

72

Format

In-Person

Time Commitment

Full-Time or Part-Time

Duration

4 years on average

Enrollment Term

Fall

Application Deadline

December 1

Admissions Requirements

No GRE Exam is required

Program Overview

Multiple Specializations

Students may focus their studies in one or more of the following areas:

  • Applied behavior analysis
  • Autism
  • Emotional and behavior disorders
  • Learning disabilities
  • Severe disabilities
  • Visual impairment and blindness

Mentoring Support

Special education PhD students will be mentored by Special Education faculty who will support them throughout their academic career. Students will have many opportunities to collaborate within and between programs to pursue special education topics of interest. Each student will have mentored opportunities to demonstrate all of the skills required by university level faculty which include: synthesizing current literature, submitting peer-reviewed manuscripts and grants, reviewing submissions for publication, teaching university level classes, conceiving and conducting research projects in authentic environments, and presenting at national conferences.


Comprehensive Preparation

As a PhD student, you will teach graduate and undergraduate courses, mentor graduate students, developing a research agenda that will result in funded and published research, and translating research outcomes for the improvement of educational and related service programs for children and youth with disabilities.

The PhD program is writing and research-intensive and PhD candidates will have multiple opportunities to learn and participate in the review of research literature, the preparation and submission of research grant proposals, the design and implementation of research studies, and the preparation and dissemination of research reports.

Prerequisites

While there are no specific prerequisites for the program, please view the admissions requirements below.

Admission Requirements

Program requirements include:

  • Master’s degree in a Special Education related area
  • 3 years teaching children with disabilities or similar experience

Applicants must complete the School of Education online admissions application that will include:

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Goal statement
  • Contact information for three professional references
  • Academic transcript
  • Writing sample

View full admissions requirements

Curriculum

The PhD in Special Education is a 72-credit program.

The curriculum consists of study through major-area courses, research methods, first-year seminars, a research practicum, electives, writing workshops, and an original dissertation created by the student

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Career Pathways

  • University faculty (research and/or teaching)
  • School administration
  • Leadership in not-for-profit organizations