Admissions

Applications for admission will be accepted once a year to begin doctoral studies in the fall semester and must be submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office by December 1st. The following criteria will be considered in the admission decision: A GPA of 3.5 (on a scale of 4.0) in a graduate degree program; Master’s degree in Special Education or a related field; high level of professionalism and potential for leadership; strong writing skills (essay; writing samples); experience with individuals with exceptional needs; three years of public/private school teaching experience preferred (may be in special education, general education or early interventions settings); and clear career objectives related to obtaining Ph.D. International students must submit official test scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of at least 550 on the written test or 220 on the computer-based test or a score of at least 85% on the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB). All tests must have been taken within the past two years.

The following documents should be submitted with the UNC Charlotte application for consideration for admission. Finalists to be considered for admission will be contacted by the Ph.D. Coordinator to schedule an interview with the faculty.

  1. Two official transcripts of all academic work attempted since high school indicating a GPA of 3.5 (on a scale of 4.0) in a graduate degree program.
  2. The GRE/MAT is no longer required for admission to the PhD Program.
  3. At least three references of someone who knows the applicant’s current work and/or academic achievements in previous degree work.
  4. A two-page essay describing prior experiences with individuals with exceptionalities and objectives for pursuing doctoral studies.
  5. A current resume or vita.
  6. A professional writing sample (e.g., published article, manuscript submitted for publication, term paper submitted in prior coursework, abstract of thesis, teaching manual).
  7. Documentation of teaching and other field experience (e.g., letter of recommendation from supervisor, or teacher evaluations).
  8. International students must submit official test scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of at least 550 on the written test or 220 on the computer-based test or a score of at least 85% on the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB). All tests must have been taken within the past two years.

Graduate Application

Equal Educational Opportunity

The UNC Charlotte Special Education Program is committed to increasing the number of doctoral graduates from underrepresented ethnic groups and who have disabilities.