The Program

The Ph.D. in Special Education welcomes students from a variety of professional backgrounds, including those with classroom or related experience at different stages of their careers. Students may enroll full-time or part-time and progress through the program in a supportive cohort model that fosters collaboration, networking, and peer mentorship. The 65-credit program blends doctoral seminars, research methods, specialty coursework, and self-directed learning guided by a dedicated faculty advisor.

Students complete a carefully sequenced series of core doctoral seminars in four key areas: research, teaching, collaboration, and leadership. They also engage in courses focused on research and practice in special education, where they gain applied skills in professional writing, research implementation, grant writing, leadership, and university teaching. These experiences prepare students to build professional portfolios, completed at two specified time points prior to the dissertation, that showcase their competencies and accomplishments.

Through a sequence of research methods courses, students develop expertise in multiple methodologies, including group experimental and quasi-experimental designs, single-case designs, descriptive research, and qualitative approaches. Beginning in their first semester, students join research teams to develop and apply their skills in real-world contexts with opportunities to co-present at conferences and co-author publications.

To further customize their training, students design a 15-credit specialty area. Six credits focus on advanced research methods, and nine credits make up an Advanced Specialty Track in either Research or University Teaching. The program culminates in the dissertation—an independent, student-directed research project that identifies gaps in the literature and contributes new knowledge to the field.

All PhD Program documents for students and faculty are available on Canvas. The Doctoral Program Coordinator provides current faculty and students with access to the Canvas page.