Earn a Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Special Education
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The pursuit of a PHD IN SPECIAL EDUCATION at Florida Atlantic means more than coursework. Students work closely with their Major Professor to conduct, publish, and disseminate research; develop and teach courses; prepare grants; and, engage in service to the field. Students interested in delving deep into different areas of inquiry within special education (e.g., special education teacher education, applied behavior analysis, curriculum development, inclusive education) are invited to apply.
The program is offered hybrid (i.e., mix of online and face-to-face courses), and accommodates full- and part-time students. Students are able to complete the degree in as little as 3.5 years. The tuition costs at FAU are among the lowest in the nation. Thus, the doctoral degree can be earned at a very reasonable overall cost.
The PhD in Special Education prepares students to work with individuals with various disabilities across many settings. Graduates are prepared for leadership positions in higher education, school districts, and community agencies.
Areas of Concentration
Students interested in delving deep into different areas of inquiry within special education (e.g., special education teacher education, applied behavior analysis, curriculum development, inclusive education) are invited to apply.
Applied Behavior Analysis
This concentration offers specialized training in the design and implementation of intervention strategies to teach socially valid behavior, intended to increase social participation and enhance quality of life. The knowledge and skills gained from this concentration serve as the foundation and preparation for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA) examination. The Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI®) verified the program sequence (#51327) as meeting the coursework requirement for eligibility to apply for the BCBA certification exam. Additional requirements by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB®) include supervised fieldwork experience, degree status, and examination.
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
This concentration offers specialized training to work with children and adults with an ASD diagnosis across a variety of school and community settings. The ASD concentration is based on Accreditation Standards for ASD Endorsement: Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)- Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities (DADD); Florida Department of Education Autism Spectrum Disorders Specialization Competencies; Educator Accomplished Practices: Florida Education Standards Commission (EAP); and, Subject Matter Content Standards for Teachers: ESOL = (ESOL). By completing this area of concentration, students are eligible to apply for the State of Florida teaching endorsement in ASD.
Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
This concentration offers specialized training to work with young children (birth to age 8) with special needs or disabilities across a variety of education and care settings. The ECSE concentration is based on these Accreditation Standards for Early Childhood: State of Florida Prekindergarten–grade 3 Specialization Competencies (PK/P); National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) personnel standards; Educator Accomplished Practices: Florida Education Standards Commission (EAP); Subject Matter Content Standards for Florida's Teachers: ESOL; and, Florida's Early Intervention Professional Competencies (ITDS Appendix A). By completing this area of concentration, students are eligible to apply for the State of Florida Pre-Kindergarten Disabilities Endorsement (Pre-K –grade 3) and the Department of Health/Early Steps Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist (ITDS) Certificate.
Special Education Intervention Specialist
This concentration offers specialized training to provide learning and behavioral interventions to students with disabilities in school settings. The Intervention Specialist concentration is based on the most up-to-date Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Advanced Preparation Intervention Specialist Standards. By completing this area of concentration, students may seek certification initial teacher certification in Exceptional Students Education (K-12).
Students completing the PhD in Special Education will advance their knowledge of content, research methodologies, and skills as university teachers, scholar, and leader in the field.