Residential
Special Education
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Studies
Courses
Courses
The Special Education doctoral program includes 45 credits in Special Education coursework, 15 credits in statistics and research design coursework, 9 credits in coursework for a cognate area outside of, but related to Special Education (e.g. educational policy, child development, social justice, etc), and approximately 21 credits in core competencies of research, grant writing, university teaching, and professional engagement.
- Statistics and Research Methods (minimum of 9 credits required):
- EDPS 53300
- Choose one: EDPS 55600, STAT 50100, STAT 51100, PSY 60000, or SOC 58000
- Choose one: EDPS 55700, STAT 50200, STAT 51200, PSY 60100, or SOC 68000
- Single Case Research (3 credits required)
- EDPS 68800
- Dept. Adv. Research Methods Course (3 credits required)
- EDPS 63000 (EDPS 53300 or equivalent as prerequisite)
- EDPS 65000 – Systematic Literature Review
- EDPS 66100 – Seminal Research in Special Education
- EDPS 66400 – Research Seminar in Special Education (students register for rotating topics each spring and fall until they pass prelims)
Such course work may be from other education programs or may include audiology and speech, language pathology, language development, instructional development, child development and family studies, psychology, etc. The Plan of Study must have at least one related area primarily outside of Special Education (in another program or Department, or combination of programs or Departments). The minimum requirement for the cognate is 9 credits.
Research is an important and integral part of each doctoral student’s program at Purdue. The specific course requirements for the major emphasis will be determined by the student, the advisor, and the advisory committee, subject to approval by the Office of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholars (OGSPS).
The PhD program in Special Education offers four signature areas for students to conduct research:
- Access and Accessibility through Arts and Assistive Technology
- AI and Disabilities
- Applied Behavior Analysis and Behavior Analytic Interventions
- Mathematics Instruction for at-risk Students
- Teacher Development and Retention
- Transition from School to Work for Individuals with Disabilities
Admissions
Admissions
A graduate application must be submitted and application fee paid (if applicable) by the application deadline. In addition, the materials listed under the Application Requirements section below must be submitted by the application deadline in order for an application to be considered complete and for the application to be reviewed for admission consideration. Please review the How to Apply section below before submitting an application.
A completed master’s degree is required prior to admission.
Below are the materials required for this application. Visit the Office of Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars (OGSPS) website for more information about the requirements below.
- Transcripts (from all universities attended)
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- 3 Recommendations
- Resume/CV
- Academic Statement of Purpose
- Personal History Statement
- GRE Scores (optional)
- International Applicants must meet English Proficiency Requirements set by the Purdue Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars
We encourage prospective students to submit an application early, even if not all required materials are uploaded. Applications are not forwarded on for faculty review until all required materials are uploaded.
When submitting your application for this program, please select the following options:
- Campus and Program Tab:
- Select a Campus: Purdue West Lafayette (PWL)
- Select your proposed graduate major: Educational Studies
- First Choice Program Details Tab:
- Please select an Area of Interest: Special Education
- Please select a Degree Objective: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Primary Course Delivery: Residential
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Licensure
Licensure Information
This program does not lead to licensure in the state of Indiana or elsewhere. Contact the College of Education Office of Teacher Education and Licensure (OTEL) before continuing with the program application if you have questions regarding licensure or contact your state Department of Education about how this program may translate to licensure in your state of residence.
program FACULTY
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