The Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Special Education
Beginning in Summer 2008, the School of Special Education will offer the Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education. The new program is designed to prepare leaders who understand that special educators should "anticipate rather than remediate," who provide for all students the best programs that can be derived from our current knowledge base, and who thus "raise education beyond the common level of mediocrity" (Gilhool, 1987). We seek students who are idealists, realists, and scholars; who understand that leadership is neither seized nor bestowed; and who want to have direct impact on the lives of infants, children, and youth with disabilities.
The faculty in special education subscribes to a model of stewardship in doctoral preparation and accordingly passes on to its students the ability to:
- Create change;
- Collaborate with colleagues in P-12 and higher education;
- Honor diversity in all its forms;
- Identify and implement evidence-based practice;
- Design and carry out research in special education;
- Contribute to the development of special education law and policy;
- Demonstrate skill in the arts of
- Pedagogy;
- Supervision;
- Technology;
- Scholarship;
- Grant writing;
- Individualization of instruction; and
- Participate actively in the national discourse.
The new program uses a variety of methodologies to build a community of practice, including online and on-campus courses, colloquia, one-week seminars, and discussion groups. At a minimum, students must be in residence on-campus during summer sessions. Continuous registration is required in fall and spring semesters.