Mar 28, 2024  
2008-2009 Graduate Catalog 
    
2008-2009 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Special Education (Ed.D.)


The Special Education Ed.D. program, offered through Special Education, Counseling, and Student Affairs, is directed by a minimum of five members of the university graduate faculty, including a major professor with substantial expertise in the area of emphasis, two other faculty with strengths in the area of emphasis, one faculty member outside the student’s specialization, and one faculty member, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School, from another department within the College of Education who serves as the chair of the examination committee for the oral defense of the dissertation.

Each student’s program of study is individualized with the approval of the major professor and the supervisory committee to optimize the student’s interests, expertise, and professional goals.

Doctoral degree requirements


Credit hour requirements


A minimum of 94 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree, including the following:

Foundations (12 credit hours)


Required courses in foundations include these areas: historical and philosophical analysis of educational ideas and practice; techniques and interpretation of educational research; social science explanations of educating a diverse society; and psychological bases of educational thought and practice. These courses satisfy these requirements:

  • EDADL 886 Historical and Philosophical Analysis of Education

Research courses (6 credit hours)


Research courses are required which concern methodology consistent with that required for the dissertation.

Clinical experience (12 credit hours)


Area of emphasis (48 credit hours)


Dissertation research (16 credit hours)


Completion of a dissertation which treats an important topic of professional education practice using a systematic methodology consistent with accepted research paradigms; the dissertation must be successfully defended in a public, oral defense.

Preliminary examination requirement

Satisfactory completion of all segments of a monitored, written examination of at least 12 hours over all areas of the program of study, 3 of which must be over thefoundation courses.