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Exceptional Education Specialization
The ProgramThe doctoral specialization in Exceptional Education emphasizes collaborative work between students and faculty toward examining and addressing critical issues in the field within the urban context.
While the expertise and interests of our faculty and students vary greatly, focus areas include:
  • Teacher education
  • Cultural diversity in education
  • Early childhood intervention
  • Assistive technology
  • Curriculum accommodation & collaboration
  • Literacy
  • Transition to young adulthood
  • Deaf education
  • School reform and special education administration
In addition to advanced coursework, students participate in research and development projects, curriculum development, co-teaching, and other activities designed to prepare leaders for roles such as a college or university professor, curriculum leader, special education administrator, consultant and project director.

Application DeadlineRolling admission: completed application file required 6 weeks prior to semester you wish to enter the program.

Program RequirementsThe doctoral program of study is influenced greatly by the student's goals and interests in the field of special education. Students take advanced coursework in exceptional education and related areas such as policy, research, teacher education and curriculum development. In addition, students declare an area of interest that may be within exceptional education or may have a cross-disciplinary focus. The student and advisors work together to develop an individualized program that incorporates breadth as well as depth of study with the over goal of positioning the doctoral candidate to make a significant contribution to the field.

The student must meet all of the program requirements of the Urban Education Doctoral Program including:

Urban Education Doctoral Seminars (minimum 9 credits)
  • EDUC 701 - Urban Education Issues
  • AD LDSP 801 - Urban Education: Doctoral Seminar in Administrative Leadership
  • EDUC 901 - Advanced Seminar in Urban Education
Research Design and Methodology (minimum 15 credits)
  • ED PSY 724 - Educational Statistical Methods II (prerequisite is ED PSY 624 and ED PSY )
  • AD LDSP/CURRINS 729 - Qualitative Research and Field Studies in Education Settings 
  • At least nine credits of additional advanced level coursework (800 or above) from either a qualitative or quantitative track.
Minor In a related discipline that supports the student's program of studies.
  • Option A: 8 or more credits in a single department outside of the School of Education.
  • Option B: 6 or more credits in each of two departments, with at least one department outside of the school.
Exceptional Education Specific RequirementsThe specialization requires a recent master's degree in exceptional education or a related field (9 of these credits can then be counted toward the specialization. If an applicant does not have this background, appropriate graduate coursework and field experiences will be outlined as a prerequisite to the doctoral specialization.
  • A minimum of 9 specializations courses drawn from the Master's program
  • A minimum of 15 additional credits beyond the Master's degree in a special education area of interest (e.g., cultural diversity and special education; advanced studies in learning disabilities; assistive technology; teacher education; literacy and students with disabilities)
  • Complete teaching, research and service professional development activities as outlined by student and major professor and approved by the Department Graduate Committee and the Urban Education Doctoral Program.

Preliminary Examinations

The preliminary examination will include a section covering the student's Exceptional Education specialization.

Dissertation

A dissertation with an emphasis in Exceptional Education is required. The dissertation chair/major professor must be an approved doctoral advisor and a member of the Exceptional Education department.

Exit Requirements

Contingent upon satisfactory completion of program requirements, the preliminary qualifying examination, and the successful oral defense of the dissertation, the Director of the Urban Education Doctoral Program will give final approval for the inclusion of "Urban Education: Exceptional Education" on the student's transcript.