Special Education and Literacy Studies

Special Education, Ed.D.

Apply Now

Download Flyer

Overview

Western Michigan University's Ed.D. in Special Education develops transformational leaders who drive systemic change through cutting-edge research, influential policy work, and excellence in higher education. This intensive, competency-based doctoral program cultivates advanced skills in critical analysis, sophisticated research methodology, and innovative solutions to multifaceted challenges confronting special education today.

Students collaborate intensively with distinguished faculty mentors to craft personalized scholarly pathways, launching into substantive research from their first semester while gaining hands-on experience through dynamic teaching and meaningful service opportunities. Our graduates emerge as visionary leaders, accomplished educators, and pioneering researchers who are actively reshaping the landscape of special education for learners, families, and communities.

Hear it from our students: Meet Melissa

Why apply?

Achieve strong career outcomes: 100% of WMU special education graduate students were employed or pursuing further education within three months of graduation.
Collaborate with expert faculty: Work closely with accomplished professors who are active in research, teaching, and service.
Gain hands-on experience: Engage in meaningful opportunities across teaching, research, and service that prepare you for leadership roles.
Design your own path: Customize your program to align with your specific interests and career goals in special education.
Lead the future of the field: Prepare to become a professor, researcher, or policy leader making lasting impact in special education.

Program of Study

Credit requirements

The student must fulfill all the University graduation requirements. In the doctoral program, an individual will be expected to complete a minimum of sixty (60) semester hours of graduate credit (beyond the MA) with an overall grade point average of 3.25 in all graduate work. After admission, at least 30 credits (excluding the dissertation, thus a total of 42 credits) must be completed at WMU. Students have seven years from admission to complete their program. However, credits older than seven years and from outside institutions may be accepted, however an extension request form must be completed. The extension request form can be found here.

Non-credit earning requirements

In addition to coursework, the doctoral student should complete a variety of non-credit experiences meant to prepare them for roles in higher education, special education administration, special education leadership/advocacy, or instruction. Doctoral students should complete all the items from each category listed below (excluding Other Highly Recommended Experiences). Non-credit experiences may be completed as part credit-earning coursework described above or have been completed prior to beginning the program (e.g., prior work experiences).

Research Experience

Participate in a minimum of 1 collaborative research project under the direction of your doctoral advisor, or another faculty member at WMU.

Attend and present at a local research or professional conference.

Attend or present at a national research conference (For assistance with funding, please speak with your Program Advisor.).

Co-author or author an article of publishable quality for submission.

Submit a grant proposal or fellowship application (could be an internal submission and/or with a faculty member).

Submit a Human Subjects Institutional Review Board (HSIRB) application.

Service Experience

Serve on a departmental, college, university, or professional organization committee

Post-Secondary Teaching Experience

Supervise graduate or undergraduate students during their clinical experiences or serve as a mentor teacher.

Complete a teaching internship with a faculty member as part of the curriculum requirements for enrollment in SPED 6750.

Teach one course as a part-time instructor.

Leadership Experience

Serve in a leadership role at the university (e.g., faculty senate, Student Council for Exceptional Children [SCEC]), professional organization, or in a school district, RESA/ISD for a minimum of one year.

Professional Experience

Develop a curriculum vitae.

Draft a teaching philosophy statement.

Other Highly Recommended Experiences (Not Required)

Collaborate with scholars outside of the University.

Attend a national training experience (e.g., Higher Education Consortium for Special Education [HECSE] short course).

Serve on a community or advisory board.

Lead a professional development session for a local school, district, or RESA/ISD.

Assist a faculty member with accreditation tasks.

Serve as a guest reviewer for a journal or conference.

Present a research-based and/or teaching-based job talk.

Draft a cover letter to express interest in an academic position or job.

Comprehensive examination

The student should select one of the two options for their comprehensive exam. Option 1 is to prepare a manuscript meeting a publishable threshold, Option 2 is a formal written exam. Students should speak with their Program Advisor to determine which option they would like to complete at least one year prior to when they plan to complete their comprehensive exam. This examination is generally taken during the last semester of coursework upon recommendation of the Program Advisor.

Explore courses

Admissions

Application

Applicants for admission to the doctoral program in Special Education will be expected to meet the following requirements:

Satisfy all requirements University requirements for admission to doctoral program and be approved by the Graduate College.

Hold a master’s degree in special education or a related field.

Have completed a minimum of two (2) years of successful professional experience in education or an allied field, one of which must have been with persons with disabilities. Students seeking leadership positions in public school administration should have at least three (3) years of professional experience in a special education setting.

Candidates should provide a curriculum vitae or resume.

Letter of intent:
1. 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 Special Education Program faculty.
2. Goals and objectives: Applicants should indicate their reasons for wishing to pursue doctoral studies and should identify professional aspirations (i.e., career goals and tentative research interests).
3. Tentative time schedule: Applicants should list approximate dates for entering and concluding the program.

Provide at least three professional recommendations from individuals in the field of Special Education or related area with which the applicant has had extensive professional/educational contact. This should include at least one individual working as a professor or instructor in a post-secondary institution.

Admission Interview

Applicants who have applied and successfully met the admissions criteria above will be contacted to arrange for a personal interview with the Graduate Faculty of the Special Education Program 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. During the interview the applicant can be expected to present:

Evidence of personal commitment to doctoral study and to special education.

Evidence of personal professional goals and congruence of those with the goals of the Doctoral Program and current graduate faculty within the Department.

Evidence of acceptable professional behavior and demeanor.

Acceptance

Following the interview, the Graduate Faculty of the program will determine the final acceptance of the student for doctoral study. Acceptance will be based on the (a) admission information, (b) the interview, and (c) the capacity and alignment of expertise of a member of the Graduate Faculty of the program to serve as chair of a doctoral program committee. Students may be granted regular acceptance into the program, may be accepted with some specific conditions stipulated, or may be denied acceptance. Students who are not accepted may appeal to the Graduate Faculty for a second interview to review the reasons for their non-acceptance and/or to present further information regarding their admission request.

Advising

Program advisor

Following the interview with the applicant, at least one member of the Graduate Faculty of the program must express a willingness to serve as Doctoral Program Advisor for the student to be accepted into the program. The Doctoral Program Advisor may not be the same person as the dissertation advisor (discussed later).

Program committee

With the assistance of the Program Advisor, a Special Education Program Committee will be formed. The Program Committee will consist of a minimum of three graduate faculty members; two of whom must be special education faculty and the department chair. One additional member may be asked to serve on the committee if it is determined by the existing three-person committee that additional content expertise would be of benefit to the student. This fourth member does not have to be a member of the Special Education program. The Program Committee will assist the Program Advisor in developing and approving a program of study for the student.

Dissertation

Your doctoral dissertation represents the culmination of your scholarly journey—an opportunity to conduct original research that addresses critical challenges in special education. This capstone experience positions you to contribute meaningful knowledge to the field while establishing yourself as a thought leader and expert practitioner.

From day one, you'll be paired with a dedicated dissertation advisor who will be guiding your doctoral journey while at WMU. They will work closely with you to navigate the development of your research interests related to your dissertation. Advisors will then assist you in selecting dissertation committee members who will act as an additional resource. Members bring a wealth of knowledge, diverse viewpoints and experience that can contribute to your research.

There are also campus resources available to you as a doctoral student. The College of Education and Human Development hosts dissertation related workshops and writing retreats along with WMU's Graduate College's Dissertation Bootcamp for getting started and writing circles that provide community, accountability, and time to work with peers. International students also benefit from the Graduate College's English and writing support services, which includes courses, tutoring and writing consultation. To learn more, visit the Graduate College webpage.

Graduation

The student will be allowed a period of seven years from the date of admission to complete all requirements for the doctoral degree. All courses, seminars, and other requirements must be completed with an overall grade point average of 3.25. The dissertation must be approved by the appropriate groups, the oral Examination must be satisfactorily completed, and the dissertation completed as required by the Graduate College. In addition, the student is responsible for providing a bound copy of the corrected dissertation to each member of the Dissertation Committee. The student must apply for graduation by October 1 of the academic year they plan to graduate (if planning to graduate during spring commencement) or by February 1 if planning to graduate in summer or winter commencement ceremony of that calendar year.

For more graduation information, visit the current graduate students page.

Cost & funding