General Ph.D. Program of Study
A research-oriented program with an interdisciplinary focus that prepares students for leadership positions in special education.
Applicants should have a master's degree in special education or a closely related field from an accredited college or university. They also should have had field experience prior to applying for admission to the program.
Program of Study Requirements
75-76 total credit hours Requirements PDF
Special Education Research (46-47 credit hours)
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Colloquium | 2 |
| Research Design and Analysis | 16-17 |
|
Applied Research Skills |
12 |
|
Early Research Experience |
6 |
|
Advanced Research Internship |
6 |
|
Extramural Funding Seminar and Internship |
4 |
University Teaching (8 credit hours)
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| University Teaching Seminar | 2 |
| University Teaching Internship | 3 |
|
Teacher Education Field Supervision |
3 |
Systems Change, Coaching, and Consulting / Professional Service (4 credit hours)
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Seminar in Systems Change, Coaching, and Consulting | 2 |
| Systems Change, Coaching, and Consulting Internship OR Professional Service Internship | 2 |
Dissertation Research (17 credit hours)
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Preparation of the Dissertation Proposal | 3 |
| Dissertation Research | 14 |
Special Education Research (46-47 Credit Hours)
| Doctoral Colloquium (2 Credit Hours) | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| SP ED 7030 | Doctoral Colloquium Overview of doctoral study in special education with emphasis on academic research, teaching, and service. | 2 |
| Research Design and Analysisb (17 Credit Hours) | 3 | |
|---|---|---|
|
ED PS 7400 |
Advanced Research Design Principles of small and large group research design, selection of appropriate data analysis procedures, interpretation of results, and guidelines governing ethical scientific inquiry. |
3 |
|
SP ED 7020 |
Single Subject Research Design – Application of single/within-subject principles and strategies in educational research. Critical issues in the design, implementation, and analysis of single-subject research. |
3 |
|
Choose one: |
||
|
ED PS 7010¹ |
Quantitative Methods I:Foundations of Inferential Statistics |
3 |
|
NURS 7201² |
Statistics I: Elementary probability theory, measures of central tendency and variability, sampling distributions, point and interval estimation, hypothesis testing, power, and effect sizes. |
4 |
|
Choose one: |
||
|
ED PS 7020 |
Quantitative Methods II: Anova and Multiple Regression |
5 |
|
NURS 7202 |
Statistics II - Analysis of variance for between-group, within-subject, mixed, and hierarchical designs. Fixed and random effect models, effect sizes, and planned and post hoc comparisons. Includes computer exercises. |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Qualitative Research Course (ED PS 7420 or other course approved by advisor) |
3 |
| Applied Research Skills (12 Credit Hours) | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| SP ED 7910 | Early Research I (Cannot be taken the same semester as SP ED 7915) – Practical experiences in developing, collecting, and writing up analysis of research data under the direction and supervision of university faculty. | 3 |
| SP ED 7915 | Early Research II (Cannot be taken the same semester as SP ED 7910) – Practical experiences in developing, collecting, and writing up analysis of research data under the direction and supervision of university faculty. | 3 |
| SP ED 7920 | Research Internship I (Cannot be taken the same semester as SP ED 7925) – Student-initiated research experiences in developing, collecting, and analyzing research data in primary emphasis area. | 3 |
| SP ED 7925 | Research Internship II (Cannot be taken the same semester as SP ED 7920) Pre-requisites SP ED 7910 & SP ED 7915 – Student-initiated research experiences in developing, collecting, and analyzing research data in primary emphasis area. | 3 |
| Extramural Funding Seminar and Internship (4 Credit Hours) | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| SP ED 7115 | Principles of Extramural Funding – Obtaining extramural grants in special education, including funding sources, proposal development, and grants management. | 2 |
| SP ED 7125 | Extramural Funding Internship – Development of grant proposal for public or private agencies under the supervision of university faculty. | 2 |
1 Students enrolling in ED PS 7010 Fall Semester must enroll in ED PS 7020 Spring Semester
2 Students enrolling in NURS 7201 Fall Semester must enroll in NURS 7202 Spring Semester
University Teaching (8 Credit Hours)
|
University Teaching Seminar and Internship (5 Credit Hours) |
Credit Hours |
|
|---|---|---|
|
SP ED 7810 |
University Teaching Seminar – Practical, philosophical, and ethical issues in teaching in higher 2 education. Focus on effective practices in instruction for adult learners, developing courses and practica in special education. |
2 |
|
SP ED 7212 |
University Teaching Internship – Internship in university teaching under faculty supervision |
2 |
|
Teacher Education Field Supervision (3 Credit Hours) |
Credit Hours |
|
|---|---|---|
|
SP ED 7930 |
Teacher Education Field Supervision – Internship in supervising teacher licensure candidates in 3 special education. | 3 |
Systems Change, Coaching, and Consulting (4 Credit Hours)
|
Systems Change, Coaching, and Consulting (4 Credit Hours) |
Credit Hours |
|
|---|---|---|
|
SP ED 7935- 01 |
Seminar in Systems Change, Coaching, and Consulting (Cannot be taken the same semester as SP 2 ED 7935-02) – Internship in service to the university and community-based outreach activities. |
2 |
|
SP ED 7935- 02 |
Systems Change, Coaching, and Consulting Internship OR Professional Service Internship (Cannot 2 be taken the same semester as SP ED 7935-01) – Internship in Systems Change, Coaching, and Consulting and/or Service to the university and community-based outreach activities. |
2 |
Dissertation Research (17 Credit Hours)
|
Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (3 Credit Hours) |
Credit Hours |
|
|---|---|---|
|
SP ED 7970 |
Preparation of the Doctoral Proposal – Development of a doctoral dissertation research proposal 3 under the supervision of the chair of the student’s graduate supervisory committee |
3 |
|
Doctoral Dissertation (14 Credit Hours) |
Credit Hours |
|
|---|---|---|
|
SP ED 7971 |
Dissertation Research – Implementation of dissertation research and reporting of the results of 14 dissertation research under the supervision of the student’s graduate supervisory committee | 14 |
Scope and Required Sequence is based on Three Year Full-Time Enrollment.
Some research courses are only offered every other year, and scheduling needs for individual students may vary. Students should check with their advisors to make needed schedule adjustments.
Year One
|
FALL SEMESTER (10-11 Credit Hours) |
Credit Hours |
|
|---|---|---|
|
SP ED 7030 |
Doctoral Colloquium (First term) |
2 |
|
SP ED 7910 |
Early Research Experience I |
3 |
|
Choose one: |
||
|
ED PS 7010 |
Quantitative Methods I |
3 |
|
NURS 7201 |
Statistics I |
4 |
|
SP ED 7810 |
University Teaching Seminar |
2 |
|
SPRING SEMESTER (9-11 Credit Hours) |
Credit Hours |
|
|---|---|---|
|
SP ED 7915 |
Early Research Experience II | 3 |
|
Choose one: |
||
|
ED PS 7020 |
Quantitative Methods II | 5 |
|
NURS 7202 |
Statistics II | 3 |
|
|
||
|
SP ED 7020 |
Single Subject Research Design | 3 |
Year Two
|
FALL SEMESTER (13 Credit Hours) |
Credit Hours |
|
|---|---|---|
|
SP ED 7115 |
Principles of Extramural Funding |
2 |
|
SP ED 7125 |
Extramural Funding Internship |
2 |
|
ED PS 7400 |
Advanced Research Design |
3 |
|
SP ED 7920 |
Research Internship I |
3 |
|
Choose one: |
||
|
SP ED 7121 |
University Teaching Internship I |
3 |
|
SP ED 7930 |
Teacher Education Field Supervision |
3 |
|
Completion of Qualifying Examination for Admission to Candidacy |
||
|
SPRING SEMESTER (12 Credit Hours) |
Credit Hours |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Choose one: |
||
|
SP ED 7121 |
University Teaching Internship I | 3 |
|
SP ED 7930 |
Teacher Education Field Supervision | 3 |
|
SP ED 7925 |
Advanced Research Internship II | 3 |
|
SP ED 7970 |
Preparation of Doctoral Dissertation Proposal | 3 |
|
Quantitative Research Course (ED PS 7420 or other course approved by advisor) |
3 | |
Year Three
|
FALL SEMESTER (9 Credit Hours) |
Credit Hours |
|
|---|---|---|
|
SP ED 7971 |
Dissertation Research |
7 |
|
SP ED 7935- 01 |
Systems Change, Coaching, and Consulting Seminar |
2 |
|
SPRING SEMESTER (9 Credit Hours) |
Credit Hours |
|
|---|---|---|
|
SP ED 7971 |
Dissertation Research | 7 |
|
SP ED 7935- 02 |
Systems Change, Coaching, and Consulting Internship OR Professional Service and Outreach 2 Internship I | 2 |
