Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Special Education
Program Overview for DSE Doctoral Degree Program
The doctoral program in special education is designed to prepare leaders in the field. Candidates for this degree program represent diverse fields of study (e.g., special education teachers, certified behavior analysts, curriculum specialists). Our doctoral graduates are prepared for leadership positions in colleges and universities, school districts, and community agencies. In addition to coursework, students work closely with faculty to conduct and publish research, present at state and national conferences, develop and teach courses, and prepare grant proposals for funding. The program accommodates both full- and part-time students.
Admissions Requirements for DSE Doctoral Degree Program
Applicants for the DSE doctoral program must possess a Master’s Degree (3.5 GPA for graduate work) and successfully complete:
- An interview with select faculty members
- GRE: Minimum scaled scores of 148 for Verbal Reasoning; 144 for Quantitative Reasoning; and 3.0 for Analytic Writing
- 3 years teaching experience
Course Requirements for DSE Doctoral Degree Program
Students completing a doctoral degree in Special Education must complete coursework constituting the:
- Department Core (18 credits)
- Department Concentration (15 credits)
- Research/Statistics (15 credits)
- Leadership Seminars (6 credits)
- Pre-Candidacy Research (3-6 credits)
- Internship (6 credits)
- Residency
- Comprehensive Examination
- Dissertation
Accreditation Standards for DSE Doctoral Degree Program
This Department is a participating member of Higher Education Consortium for Special Education (HECSE). Member institutions of HECSE are major universities with national reputations for preparing teachers, related service providers, administrators, teacher educators, and researchers. Their faculty members are known for their excellence in teaching, research and service in special education and related services.
Department Doctoral Program Contact Person
Dr. Charles Dukes
cdukes@fau.edu
561-297-1081
Boca Campus
Forms and Links
- Doctoral Program Handbook (Updated Spring 2020)
- FAU Graduate College
- Higher Education Consortium for Special Education (HECSE)