Doctoral Curriculum Plan

Full-Time Students with a Non-Special Education Master's Degree - 4 year program

Year 1 (Y1)
Coursework / Activities Fall 1: 8 credits Spring 1: 10 credits Summer 1: 9 credits
Y1 Doctoral Coursework
  • EEX 7026 Historical, Theoretical, and Legal Foundations of Special-3cr (Special Education Core 1 of 4)
  • EEX 7938 Triad of Professional Activities-2cr (SPED Leadership Seminar 1 of 3)
  • Specialization course-3cr (1 of 4)
  • {1 cr. DIS course for students needing 9 credits}
  • EEX 7025 Contemporary Trends in Special Education-3cr (Special Education Core 2 of 4)
  • EEX 7938 Professional Dissemination-2cr (SPED Leadership Seminar 2 of 3)
  • EEX 7938 College Teaching-2cr (SPED Leadership Seminar 3 of 3)
  • Research Course-3cr (1 of 6)
  • EEX 7866 Teaching and Learning for Individuals with Disabilities-3cr (Special Education Core 3 of 4)
  • Research Course-3cr (2 of 6)
  • Specialization course-3cr (2 of 4)
Y2 Doctoral Activities
  • Attend Department of Special Education (DSE) Doctoral Orientation.
  • Meet with Major Professor to complete the Doctoral Student Planning Sheet
  • Create curriculum vita (CV)
  • Attend a DSE HOOT/Community of Learner (CoL) event
  • Complete CITI Training. Inform the Major Professor of the completion and submit evidence of completion to FAU Research Integrity Office (Novelution) by the end of Fall 1.
  • Complete Graduate College e-POS.
  • Familiarize yourself with professional journals in special education and your area(s) of focus
  • Attend a DSE HOOT/Community of Learner (CoL) event
  • In consultation with your Major Professor:
    • Identify two or more professional organizations you may want to become a member of attend/present at their conference;
    • Submit a presentation proposal to a state and/or national professional conference.
    • Discuss DSE dissertation formats and have a preliminary discussion of Pre-Candidacy research.
  • Complete the department’s annual evaluation of doctoral students.
  • Update Curriculum vita (CV) (yearly entry)
  • Think about Pre-Candidacy research, Internship, and Residency activities and prepare Preliminary Pre-Candidacy, Internship, and Residency Activity Plan.
  • Complete credentialing process for Teaching Internship.
  • Suggested change
  • Consult with your Major Professor to submit FL-CEC presentation proposal
Year 2 (Y2)
Coursework / Activities Fall 2: 9 credits Spring 2: 6-9 credits Summer 2: 9 credits
Y2 Doctoral Coursework
  • EEX 7526 Grant Writing-3cr (Special Education Core 4 of 4)
  • Research Course-3cr (3 of 6)
  • EEX 7945 Doctoral Internship-3cr Internship & Residency
  • EEX 7918 Pre-Candidacy Research-3 to 6 cr
  • Research Course (4 of 6)
  • Research Course-3cr (5 of 6)
  • Specialization course-3cr (3 of 4)
  • Research Course -3cr (6 of 6)
  • Specialization course -3cr (4 of 4)
  • EEX 7982 Doctoral Residency-3cr
    Internship amp; Residency
Y2 Doctoral Activities
  • In consultation with Major Professor:
    • plan Candidacy research. Prepare and submit Pre-Candidacy research Institutional Review Board (IRB) application, if applicable.
    • plan Internship activities.
  • Lead a DSE HOOT/CoL presentationcontact HOOT Coordinator
  • Consider attending TEC-CEC & FL-CEC
  • In consultation with Major Professor:
    • select dissertation committee members/comprehensive exam readers and finalize dissertation format.
    • discuss and finalize plan for Residency activities.
  • Meet with dissertation committee members/comprehensive exam readers, to prepare for the Doctoral Comprehensive Exam.
  • Be a guest speaker in at least one DSE undergraduate or master’s course  Consider attending the National CEC Conference.
  • Complete the department’s annual evaluation of doctoral students.
  • Conduct Residency Activities.
  • Read for comps - Start narrowing your dissertation focus
Year 3 (Y3)
Coursework / Activities Fall 3: 1 credit Spring 3: 3 credits Summer 3
Y3 Doctoral Coursework
  • EEX 7906 Directed Independent StudyDissertation Prospectus Preparation -1cr.
  • EEX 7980 – 3cr Dissertation
  
Y3 Doctoral Activities
  • Complete Doctoral Comprehensive Exam (October)
  • Develop and submit Dissertation study IRB application (if applicable).
  • Meet with Major Professor to finalize prospectus.
  • Finalize Prospectus.
  • Defend Dissertation Prospectus by the end of January.
  • Have IRB ready to submit after you successfully defend proposal.
  • Begin to conduct dissertation research  Complete the department’s annual evaluation of doctoral students.
 Continue dissertation research
Y3 Doctoral Activities
  • Conduct dissertation research
  • Analyze results and write final dissertation document.
  • If applicable, request letters of recommendation for job applications
  • If applicable, organize materials for submission for jobs (transcripts, vita, application letter drafted, presentation of research, course you could teach)
  •  Analyze results and write the final dissertation document.
  • Defend dissertation.
  • Complete FAU graduation requirements.
  • Graduate!
  • Complete the department’s annual evaluation of doctoral students.
  
Year 4 (Y4)
Coursework / Activities Fall 4: 3-6 credits Spring 4: 3-6 credits  
Y4 Doctoral Coursework
  • Dissertation: EEX 7980 – 3-6 6cr
  • Dissertation: EEX 7980 – 3-6cr
  
Y4 Doctoral Activities
  • Conduct dissertation research
  • Analyze results and write final dissertation document.
  • If applicable, request letters of recommendation for job applications
  • If applicable, organize materials for submission for jobs (transcripts, vita, application letter drafted, presentation of research, course you could teach)
  • Analyze results and write the final dissertation document.
  • Defend dissertation.
  • Complete FAU graduation requirements.
  • Graduate!
  • Complete the department’s annual evaluation of doctoral students.
  

Special Education Core Courses are offered online, synchronous or asynchronous, full semester.

SPED Leadership Seminars are offered online, synchronous, and fast-track (8 weeks).

Research courses not within the DSE department; they may be offered in a variety of delivery formats.