Special Education, Doctoral
"The Bresnahan-Halstead Center at the University of Northern Colorado is pleased to announce the funding of a scholarship to support full-time doctoral studies. The scholarship is available to a U.S. citizen/permanent resident who has been accepted into the doctoral program in Special Education at the University of Northern Colorado and who wants to focus on the education of students with significant support needs."
Ph.D. Program in Special Education
The doctoral program in special education 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".* 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.
Admission Requirements
The School of Special Education accepts applications from doctoral applicants throughout the year. However, complete applications must be received by April 1 to be considered for admission beginning summer or fall semester. International applicants must submit all required materials by March 15. Applications are reviewed by the Doctoral Admissions and Recruitment Committee, and every artifact submitted [see below] will be considered when making a decision.
The committee typically meets every three weeks during the academic year. Applications received during the summer term may not be reviewed until fall semester. Students are encouraged to begin their program of study during the summer term.
Doctoral applicants meet the Graduate School minimum criteria for admission if they have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the most recently completed degree, scores of at least 140 on the quantitative and 146 on the verbal sections of the GRE-General Test with a combined score of at least 297 and an analytical writing score of at least 3.5. Please see general university requirements for admission for doctoral applicants.
The doctoral application is a two-step process: (a) completion of the admission application (http://www.unco.edu/grad/prospective/applying.html), submitted to the Graduate School; and (b) submission of the additional artifacts, listed below, to the School of Special Education, Doctoral Admissions and Review Committee, Campus Box 141, Greeley, CO 80639.
In addition to the minimum GPA and GRE requirements for the Graduate School admission, a strong doctoral application to the School of Special Education includes:
- A resume that highlights the applicant’s professional experience working with children or youth and excellent demonstration of leadership potential through presentations, publications, grants, or professional service;
- A written statement of well articulated academic and professional goals, professional skills (examples of research), and leadership potential (previous leadership experiences). You may choose to identify a specific faculty member or program area you wish to work with in this statement;
- A published or professional writing sample that is thoughtful; communicates effectively; illustrates thorough understanding of academic scholarship that demonstrates strong and logical linkages among the question(s), the results/findings, and conclusions; is both technically and mechanically correct; and is completed in an exemplary manner.
- Three names, titles, and contact information for references. It is recommended that at least one of these referees be a former professor who can comment on the applicant’s ability to succeed at the doctoral level.
In addition, the applicant may be invited to participate in an in-person, telephone, or internet-conference interview. The interview will evaluate specific and positive demonstration of interpersonal skills, with clear indication of potential in all areas: effective practitioner, scholar, advocate, and educational leader.
If you have questions or concerns regarding the application process, please contact Dr. Kay Ferrell at kay.ferrell@unco.edu or 970-351-1653.
Length of Program
The doctoral program can be completed in 3-5 years, depending on enrollment status (full- or part-time) and professional goals.
Course Structure and Delivery
The doctoral program is composed of required courses in special education and research methods, electives, research tools, and requires the completion of a dissertation.
Course Structure and Delivery
View program requirements from Catalog.
Evaluation
Doctoral Learners are guided through their program by their advisor (who usually serves as Research Chair for the dissertation) and a committee of faculty from special education and other disciplines. The Doctoral Comprehensive Performance Assessment Matrix is a capstone experience that demonstrates synthesis of the doctoral learner's knowledge of and experience with doctoral program themes of theory, pedagogy, research methodology, evidence-based practice, public policy and advocacy, and collaboration. At least one of these matrix activities serves as the Doctoral Written Comprehensive Examination, and the entire matrix is presented to the committee as part of the Oral Comprehensive Examination. The doctoral dissertation is defended by the Doctoral Learner in a committee meeting open to the campus community.
*Gilhool, T.K. (1989). The right to an effective education: From Brown to PL 94-142 and beyond. In D. Lipsky & A. Gartner (Eds.), Beyond separate education: Quality education for all (pp. 243-253). Baltimore. Brookes
