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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 - Curriculum

Credit Requirements

• Fulfill all requirements of The Graduate College
• Complete a minimum of ninety (90) semester hours of graduate credit (beyond the BS or BA degree) with an overall grade point average of 3.25 in all graduate work.

Program of Study

The student and program advisor will develop the program of study. This program will require graduate faculty approval prior to submission to The Graduate College.

Program Competency Areas

The doctoral program is flexible dependent upon the individual student's background but requires all students to demonstrate competence in five basic areas. The objectives for each area are delineated followed by possible acquisition modes available to the student.

Internships

During the course of doctoral study and prior to the student's admission to candidacy, the student will be required, through two internships, to demonstrate competency in college teaching and undergraduate advisement and in administration of programs and services for the students with disabilities. If an individual has had previous teaching and/or administrative experience and can satisfactorily demonstrate competence in either or both of these areas, either or both internship requirements may be waived. No credit will be awarded to those granted waivers and additional courses may be required to meet the minimum requirement of ninety (90) semester hours.

Comprehensive Examination

The doctoral student will be required to successfully complete a written examination prepared and administered by the graduate faculty of the department. This examination is generally taken during the last semester of course work upon recommendation of the program advisor. The written comprehensive examination will consist of twelve (12) hours of examination and will include:

1. Two-hour questions in each of the following areas:

• Foundations of Special Education
• Higher Education
• Administration and Supervision
• Research
• Statistics
2. One-hour questions in each of the two research tool areas.

In those instances where the research tool questions are combined with questions in one of the other competency areas, the length of time for answering the questions will be adjusted to reflect both questions with the total number of hours for the total exam remaining at twelve (12). The time structure will be adjusted to reflect the composition of the questions such as two six-hour days or three four-hour days.

Students who are unsuccessful in the first examination may
(a) retake the total examination,
(b) retake a designated section or sections,
(c) augment their program of study and retake all or a portion of the examination, or
(d) be dismissed from the program, depending upon the action of the graduate faculty of the department. Students failing the second examination will be dismissed from the program.