Special Education, Ph.D.
Saint Louis University's Ph.D. program in special education emphasizes the tools of research and the interplay of theory and practice in education.
It focuses on developing knowledge and skills in special education issues at the national and international levels and on policy development for inclusive special education programs.
Curriculum Overview
SLU's doctoral program in special education requires the completion of 27-36 credits of coursework, 12 credits of dissertation research, a comprehensive written examination, an oral examination/proposal defense, and a public presentation and defense of the dissertation.
Careers
Possible career paths for graduates with advanced degrees in special education include curriculum coordinator, teacher educator, educational outreach coordinator, nonprofit specialist, special educator and adult educator.
Admission Requirements
- Application form and fee
- Transcript(s)
- Three letters of recommendation
- GRE or other applicable graduate entry exam scores
- Résumé
- Professional goal statement
Requirements for International Students
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
- Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
- Proof of financial support must include:
- A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
- A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
- Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
Please note that application deadlines for this program differ for international students.
Application Deadlines
Domestic students should apply for the fall semester by July 1, for the spring semester by November 1 and for the summer semester by April 1. International students should apply by May 1 for the fall semester, Oct. 1 for the spring semester and February 1 for the summer semester.
Review Process
A committee reviews each application wholly.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.
Accreditation
The School of Education at Saint Louis University is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). NCATE and TEAC (Teacher Education Accreditation Council) consolidated to form CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) July 2013. To contact CAEP:
1140 19th St NW #400
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 223-0077
- Graduates will be able to explain special education learning and curriculum theories.
- Graduates will be able to research questions in the field of special education.
- Graduates will be able to analyze social justice issues in education.
- Graduates will be able to explain how special education learning and curriculum theories are used to develop education programs.
- Graduates will be able to use oral and written communication.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Research Courses | 0-9 | |
| Special Education | ||
| EDSP 5530 | Fundamentals in Neurology | 3 |
| EDSP 6030 | Ethics of Special Education Leadership | 3 |
| EDSP 6930 | Special Topics | 3 |
| EDSP 6950 | Special Study for Written Comprehensive Exams | 0 |
| Electives | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Disability in Higher Education & Society | ||
| History and Philosophy of Special Education | ||
| Media and Disability Issues | ||
| Special Educ Administration | ||
| Comparison of International SPED Programs | ||
| Advanced Seminar in Special Education | ||
| Spec Educ Internship | ||
| Doctoral Research Courses | ||
| EDR 6970 | Research Topics in Education | 3 |
| Select either a Quantitative or Qualitative option: | 6 | |
| Quantitative Dissertation | ||
| Research Design and Analysis and Intermed Applied Stats for Ed | ||
| Intermed Applied Stats for Ed | ||
| Evaluation of Ed. Programs and Advanced Qual Research for Ed | ||
| Dissertation Research | ||
| EDR 6990 | Dissertation Research | 12 |
| Total Credits | 39-48 | |
Research Courses
Students must complete master’s level graduate research coursework as prerequisites for advanced research courses. Students are required to successfully complete the following three research courses prior to enrolling in advanced research courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDR 5000 | General Research Methods for Education | 3 |
| EDR 5100 | Intro to Inferential Stats: Ed | 3 |
| EDR 5400 | Qual Research in Education | 3 |
Non-Course Requirements
- Students must pass comprehensive written examination,
- an oral examination/proposal defense, and
- a public presentation and defense of their dissertation.
Continuation Standards
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| EDSP 6030 | Ethics of Special Education Leadership | 3 |
| EDSP 6040 | Legal Issues in Special Education | 3 |
| EDSP content elective (see content elective list below) | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDSP 5530 | Fundamentals in Neurology | 3 |
| EDR 5000 | General Research Methods for Education | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| Delete summers if not needed | ||
| EDR 5400 or EDR 5100 |
Qual Research in Education (if not already completed as a prerequisite) or Intro to Inferential Stats: Ed |
0 |
| Credits | 0 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| EDSP content elective (see content elective list below) | 3 | |
| EDSP content elective (see content elective list below) | 3 | |
| EDR 6150 | Single Subject Experimental Research Design | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDSP content elective (see content elective list below) | 3 | |
| EDR 6970 | Research Topics in Education | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| EDI 6950 | Special Study for Written Comprehensive Exams (Please register in your advisor’s section number.) | 0 |
| EDR 6990 | Dissertation Research (Please register in your advisor’s section number. NOTE: for each remaining semester in the program, students may take as many of the 12-hour total in dissertation research as preferred.) | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDR 6990 | Dissertation Research (Please register in your advisor’s section number. ) | 6 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| EDR 6990 | Dissertation Research (Please register in your advisor’s section number.) | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 42 | |
Program Notes
- 24 hours of research coursework is required (including 12 hours of dissertation research).
- 12 hours of research coursework is required as follows:
- All Ph.D. students take EDR 5000 General Research Methods for Education (3 cr) and an advanced research class with either a qualitative or quantitative focus (6 hours total).
- Students then choose 6 additional hours from either the qualitative or quantitative focus (6 hours total; see lists of research electives below).
Research Electives: Qualitative Research Focus
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDR 5500 | Evaluation of Ed. Programs | 3 |
| EDR 6000 | Professional Writing | 3 |
| EDR 6400 | Advanced Qual Research for Ed | 3 |
| EDR 6600 | Designing Mixed Methods Research | 3 |
| EDR 6930 | Special Topics | 3 |
Research Electives: Quantitative Research Focus
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDR 6060 | Research Design and Analysis | 3 |
| EDR 6100 | Intermed Applied Stats for Ed | 3 |
| EDR 6150 | Single Subject Experimental Research Design | 3 |
| EDR 6500 | Mulit-level Regression Models | 3 |
| EDR 6600 | Designing Mixed Methods Research | 3 |
Content Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDSP 6020 | History and Philosophy of Special Education | 3 |
| EDSP 6060 | Media and Disability Issues | 3 |
| EDSP 6110 | Special Educ Administration | 3 |
| EDSP 6120 | Comparison of International SPED Programs | 3 |
| EDSP 6500 | Advanced Seminar in Special Education (Autism Spectrum Disorders) | 3 |
| EDSP 6500 | Advanced Seminar in Special Education (Intellectual Disability) | 3 |
| EDSP 6500 | Advanced Seminar in Special Education (Learning Disability) | 3 |
| EDSP 6500 | Advanced Seminar in Special Education (Behavior Disorders) | 3 |
| EDH 6050 | Disability in Higher Education & Society | 3 |