Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education
Website: https://twu.edu/teacher-education/graduate-programs/special-education/
The Ph.D. in Special Education prepares graduates to teach, conduct research, and provide professional service related to evidence-based practices in educating students with disabilities. Graduates are engaged, prepared, and professional educators who are ready to lead in the field of special education. Coursework includes specialized doctoral seminars, applicable research classes, a cognate ("minor") area of study, and focused mentorship experiences. The program is student-focused and individualized as needed. Please refer to Special Education for additional details.
The Ph.D. in Special Education is offered as a cooperative program between Texas Woman’s University, the University of North Texas, and East Texas A&M University under guidelines established by the Federation of North Texas Area Universities. The Federation enables students to utilize the combined faculty, library, computer facilities, and research opportunities available at all three universities in the development of their doctoral studies. The federation doctoral program provides opportunities for formal course work, seminars, independent study, participation in regional and national conferences, and dissertation research. The program also includes federation-sponsored seminars featuring outstanding nationally and internationally recognized educators. The purpose of the federated doctoral program in special education is to prepare professional educators to assume leadership roles in higher education and EC-12 educational settings. Graduates are prepared to assume diverse roles, including teaching, research, and administrative responsibilities. Students initially apply for admission to the graduate school of one of the participating universities. Admission is based on a holistic evaluation of a variety of factors.
Marketable Skills
Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."
- Effectively manage leadership opportunities related to the teaching, service, and scholarship efforts of those who support the education of students with disabilities and their families.
- Accurately design, implement, and evaluate independent research related to special education and disseminate research results to the appropriate audience in an effort to bridge the research-to-practice gap in the field of special education.
- Articulate and take advantage of service opportunities where their professional expertise is needed and valued, thus improving the education and life outcomes for learners with disabilities and their families.
Admissions
All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.
The academic program may have additional admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the program's website.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours Required
A minimum of 75 semester credit hours (SCH) beyond the baccalaureate, including 6 SCH for dissertation.
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EDSP 6103 | Social, Psychological, and Educational Aspects of Intellectual and Development Disabilities | 3 |
| EDSP 6303 | Seminar in Emotional and Behavioral Disorders | 3 |
| EDSP 6403 | Seminar in Learning Disabilities | 3 |
| EDSP 6603 | Social Constructs of Disabilities | 3 |
| Research | ||
| EDSP 6003 | Single Subject Research | 3 |
| ELDR 5203 | Research in Education | 3 |
| Six SCH in statistics (selected with advisor.) | 6 | |
| Three SCH Qualitative Research course (selected with advisor.) | 3 | |
| Mentorship | ||
| EDSP 6913 | Independent Study (Mentorship in Teaching) | 3 |
| EDSP 6913 | Independent Study (Mentorship in Research) | 3 |
| Dissertation | ||
| EDSP 6983 | Dissertation | 3 |
| EDSP 6993 | Dissertation | 3 |
| Additional Major Courses | ||
| Selected in consultation with advisor. | 36 | |
Three SCH of additional research coursework is recommended. Selected in consultation with advisor. | ||
| Cognate/Minor Area of Study | ||
Please note: Students in the COMS cognate (15 SCH) will take the following: | ||
| Seminar in Communication Sciences (must be repeated once for credit) | ||
| Research Application in Communication Sciences (must be repeated once for credit) | ||
| Seminar in Pedagogy | ||
| Total SCHs | 75 | |
Major/Emphasis
Requirements will depend upon individual student’s needs. Transfer of coursework from a student's masters' degree is not automatic; please see the Graduate School guidelines for credit by transfer. Courses from a masters' degree are only transferred with advisor approval.
Research Tools
Students must take EDSP 6003 and ELDR 5203, two sequential statistics classes, and one qualitative research course at the 5000 or 6000 level as determined by their advisor.
Mentorship Requirement
Two semesters of mentorship, EDSP 6913 (Mentorship in Teaching) and EDSP 6913 (Mentorship in Research), supervised by a TWU Teacher Education faculty member. One of these individual studies is a supervised university teaching experience; the other is a supervised research experience.
Qualifying Examination
A comprehensive portfolio examination that demonstrates a student's depth and breadth of knowledge related to special education determines a student's eligibility for candidacy. The student's advisory committee and other Special Education faculty grade the portfolio on a rubric. Sections deemed unsatisfactory may be presented again one time after six months.
Final Examination
Students must successfully complete a research project, write the dissertation according to advisory committee and TWU Graduate School guidelines, and defend the dissertation in an open meeting, which requires answering questions effectively and demonstrating competence and fluency with content.
Courses of Instruction in Special Education with Federation Universities
Students wishing to enroll in Federation courses will do so through a cross-registration mechanism administered by the TWU Graduate School after their major advisor has approved the coursework.
