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The doctoral program in special education requires a minimum of 63 hours of course work and research experience.

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.

Educational psychology PhD core, 6 hours

  • EPSY 6040 - Foundations of Educational Psychology

And one of the following

  • EPSY 5123 - Human Development Across the Life Span
  • EPSY 5550 - Learning Theories

Educational Research core, 15 hours

  • EPSY 6010 - Statistics for Educational Research
  • EPSY 6020 - Research Methods in Education
  • EPSY 6210 - Multiple Regression Analysis and Related Methods
  • EPSY 6280 - Qualitative Research in Education
  • and one elective course in research, measurement or statistics with advisor’s approval (3 hours)

Special Education core, 15 hours

  • EDSP 6270 - Analysis of Trends, Issues and Research in Special Education
  • EDSP 6275 - Advanced Studies in Evidence Based Practices in High and Low Incidence Disabilities
  • EDSP 6290 - Special Education and Public Policy
  • EPSY 6122 - Single-Subject Research Methodology
  • EDSP 6295 - Seminar in Professional Leadership in Special Education

Electives, 15 hours

A minimum of 15 hours may be chosen from Special Education or related fields with approval by the advisor and department.

Supervised research/practice, 3 hours

  • EPSY 6030 - Practicum, Field Problem or Internship

Dissertation, 9 hours minimum

  • EPSY 6950 - Doctoral Dissertation (3, 6 or 9 hours per semester)