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Special Education PhD
The Special Education PhD program helps students develop advanced foundational knowledge in the area of special education while providing the latitude necessary for a program of research that meets the individual research focus of the doctoral student in collaboration with a student's advisor.
Our doctoral students are likely to arrive with an extensive knowledge base at the master's level of special education, which often exceeds 42 credits. The PhD concentration in Special Education extends this knowledge base by encouraging the development of both breadth and depth in an area of study that will carry students well beyond the dissertation as they transition into research careers.
Special Education meets the criteria established by national and state accrediting boards, the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Disciplinary accreditation is critical to national visibility, placing graduates, and developing a national pool of strong applicants.