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Special Education and Literacy Studies

College of Education and Human Development

Special Education Doctorate

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Doctorate of Special Education - Admission

Applicancy

A student admitted to the doctoral program with more than twenty (20) hours of graduate study must request status as an applicant after completing one full semester of graduate work at WMU or forty (40) semester hours of graduate work, whichever comes first.

Criteria for being awarded status as an applicant include:

1. An overall grade point average of at least 3.25 in all graduate work completed.

2. Commitment to a specific degree program.
3. A decision of the department that the student should be permitted to continue study toward a doctoral degree.

Admission Application

1. Complete the Graduate College Application. Satisfy all requirements for admission to doctoral programs specified by the Graduate College and be approved by the Graduate College.
   
   
2. Have completed a minimum of two years of successful professional experience in education or an allied field, one of which must have been with persons with disabilities. Applicants seeking leadership positions in public school administration should have at least three years of professional experience in a special education setting.
   
   
3. File a letter of intent with the chair of the Department of Special Education and Literacy Studies. Indicate your desire to be considered for admission to the Doctoral Program and provide the following:
   
   
   • Personal information and background data: Applicants should include a detailed description of past professional experiences and responsibilities. Applicants may also include other background and personal information they wish to bring to the attention of the Department.
   • Goals and objectives: Applicants should indicate reasons for wishing to pursue doctoral study and should identify professional aspirations for the future.
   • Tentative time schedule: Applicants should list approximate dates for entering and concluding the program and make specific reference to the date full-time residency will be initiated. (See GPH)
     
     
4. Attain a minimum score at the 50th percentile on the Graduate Record Examination.
   
   
5. Provide at least three letters of recommendation from individuals in the field of special education with whom the applicant has had extensive professional/educational contact.

Admission Interview

Applicants who have successfully met the admissions criteria through step 5 above will be contacted to schedule a personal interview with the graduate faculty of the Department of Special Education and Literacy Studies. Such an interview will be scheduled at the mutual convenience of the applicant and the faculty and may be waived for students traveling from foreign countries. During the interview, the applicant can be expected to present:

1. Evidence of personal commitment to doctoral study and to special education.
   
   
2. Evidence of personal professional goals and congruence of those with the goals of the Doctoral Program within the Department.
   
   
3. Evidence of professional behavior and demeanor.

Acceptance

Following the interview, the graduate faculty will determine the final acceptance of the applicant for doctoral study based on the admission information, the interview and the willingness of a member of the graduate faculty to work with the student in developing the student's program. Applicants may be granted regular acceptance into the program, may be accepted with some specific conditions stipulated, or may be denied acceptance. Applicants who are not accepted may appeal to the graduate faculty for a second interview to review the reasons for their non-acceptance and/or present further information regarding their admission request.

Graduate Teaching Assistants

The Department of Special Education and Literacy Studies typically hires 3-4 teaching assistants to assist faculty with teaching during the fall and spring semesters.  Graduate students wishing to be considered for one of these positions should send a letter of interest and a resume to the chair.