Development Disabilities and Autism Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education
Development Disabilities and Autism Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education
The doctoral concentration in Autism Intervention focuses on the preparation of personnel
to assume leadership roles in research, education, and training. In addition to the
required course work, all doctoral students will have opportunities to accomplish
a number of professional competencies including submitting a grant application, submitting
a manuscript for publication consideration, course instruction, and presenting at
professional conventions. The requirements are designed to increase the capacity of
graduates to provide effective leadership in the area of autism programming and policy
development and to conduct valid, empirical intervention-based research that will
bridge existing research-to-practice gaps and improve outcomes for students with autism
spectrum disorders and their families.
A Master's Degree in Special Education or a closely related field is required for
application to the doctoral program. Candidates with master's degrees in other fields
will be required to take up to five additional courses in Special Education, with
advisor's approval.
Applying to a graduate program at UNT is a two-step process.
First, you will need to apply online through the Toulouse Graduate School (TGS) at www.goapplytexas.org. Submit application fee and official transcripts from all schools attended to Toulouse
Graduate School as outlined in the directions here.
Second, you will need to complete a departmental application. The departmental application
for doctoral students includes three recommendation letters (signed/on letterhead),
a resume/CV, and a personal statement. You can view the details of these requirements
here. Our department requires all items and scores within two months of the submitted
application.
The doctoral program in special education requires a minimum of 63 hours of course
work and research experience in one of the following two concentrations:
Developmental Disabilities and Autism Concentration
Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders
A master’s degree with a major in special education or a closely related field is
required for application to the PhD. Candidates with master’s degrees in other fields
will be required to take up to five additional courses in special education, with
advisor’s approval.
The following requirements are for students who enter the program with a related master’s
degree.