Program Overview
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Site: Greeley; Extended Campus/Distance
Mode: In-person (Greeley); Online (Extended Campus)
Start term: Fall
Director: Corey Pierce, Ph.D.
Location: McKee 36
Telephone: 970.351.2691
Website: www.unco.edu/cebs/special-education/
The Ph.D. in Special Education is a flexible doctoral program with provisions for individual planning to prepare stewards of the discipline of special education for positions of leadership in public and private schools and for colleges, universities, agencies, businesses and government entities. Major emphases are internally flexible and may be established to fit a variety of interests in the field of special education and gifts and talents. Graduates develop leadership knowledge and skills in exceptionalities related to six major themes: theory, pedagogy, research methodology, evidence-based practice, public policy/advocacy, and collaboration. The program is designed to prepare students for creative leadership in a rapidly changing world that is experiencing increasing cultural diversity, curriculum and structural reforms in schools and pedagogical innovations across the educational spectrum.
The Ph.D. program in Special Education is designed to prepare candidates in theory, pedagogy, research methodology, evidence-based practice, public policy and advocacy, and collaboration. The philosophy of the doctoral program is based on the concept that learning is an active, self-regulated process. The doctoral program is composed of required courses in special education, research methods, electives, research tools, and requires the completion of a dissertation. 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 dissertation is defended by the Doctoral Learner in a committee meeting open to the campus community. The program can be completed in 3-5 years, depending on enrollment status (full- or part-time) and professional goals.
In joint planning sessions, the doctoral learner and advisor, in consultation with the doctoral committee, should establish a tentative doctoral plan of study during the first and second semesters on campus. This plan should be based on past experience and training and on the student’s interests and goals. The plan of study must include an emphasis on critical thinking, breadth and depth of theoretical understanding, scholarship, methods of inquiry, direct experiences in schools with diverse populations, and collaboration with faculty and student colleagues. Doctoral learners are expected to become stewards of the discipline, demonstrating: a) the ability to conduct research and scholarship; b) an understanding of the history and foundational ideas of special and gifted education; and c) the ability to represent and communicate ideas effectively and clearly.
Each applicant must receive a positive recommendation from representatives of the School of Special Education faculty to be recommended for admission to the Graduate School.
See program requirements:
Special Education Administration Licensure
Special Education Doctoral Minor
Admission
General Doctoral Degree Admission Requirements
Program 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 Review 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 (www.unco.edu/graduate-school/admissions/domestic-admissions.aspx), 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 (3-5 page, 12 font, double spaced) that addresses the following:
- Your interest in a particular area of exceptionality (e.g., learning disabilities, autism, deaf or hard of hearing, transition, gifts and talents);
- A brief discussion of some of the trends in that area of your chosen exceptionality; and,
- Your future goals after you earn a doctorate in special education from the University of Northern Colorado. Your future goals should focus on teaching, research, and leadership in the field of exceptionalities.
- 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 references 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.
International Applicants:
Admissions requirements for international applicants include the same requirements mentioned above. In addition, all applicants, including applicants who have successfully completed a master’s degree in the US, whose native language is not English, must meet a minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 80 on the internet based (iBT) test. Applicants may request the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send an official TOEFL score report directly to the University of Northern Colorado. The institution code for the University of Northern Colorado is 4074. Materials from international applicants will not be reviewed until the Doctoral Admissions and Review Committee receive official TOEFL scores.
If you have questions or concerns regarding the application process, please contact Dr. Silvia Correa-Torres at silvia.correa-torres@unco.edu or 970-351-1660.
Degree Requirements — 77-83 Credits
Students will be required to demonstrate literacy and competency in computer applications as part of the program.
Doctoral Core Courses (25 hours)
| EDSE 701 | Introduction to Doctoral Study in Exceptionalities | 1 |
| EDSE 702 | Law of Exceptionalities | 3 |
| EDSE 721 | Theories of Exceptionality | 3 |
| EDSE 727 | Seminar in Exceptionalities | 3 |
| EDSE 728 | Seminar in Professional Writing | 3 |
| EDSE 732 | Research in Exceptionalities | 3 |
| EDSE 733 | Preparing Teachers of Students with Exceptionalities | 3 |
| EDSE 744 | Grant Writing Seminar | 3 |
| EDSE 745 | Advanced Doctoral Seminar | 3 |
Externships (3 hours - minimum)
| EDSE 730 | Externship in Exceptionalities | 1- 9 |
Externships are taken in one to three hour blocks and involve an off-campus experience. Variable titles related to inquiry, university teaching, research, and administration are selected based on the nature of the externship.
Elective Credits — 9 hours (minimum)
Students are to select 9 semester hours of courses in a cognate closely related to the student’s program goals. Electives are chosen in consultation with the major advisor and are an integral part of the program plan.
Areas of Special Interest
The student may select an area of interest (one or more), in conference with their advisor, from the following areas: transition of children and youth with exceptionalities; education of infants and preschool children with exceptionalities; one of the categorical areas of special education (autism, blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, emotionally disturbed, learning disabilities, mental retardation, etc.); gifts and talents; curriculum development; special education administration; university teaching/research; or other areas as designed by the student and their advisor.
Research Core — 12 hours
Research Proposal/Dissertation — 16 hours
Requires permission of major advisor. Explores dissertation research problems, theoretical frameworks, methodology, and data analysis procedures expected to develop an approved dissertation proposal. Students enroll for 1- to 4-hour blocks for a maximum of 4 hours. The student works closely with the Research Advisor and Doctoral Committee members to develop the proposal.
Requires permission of major advisor. Dissertation research is taken in 1- to 12-hour blocks for a maximum of 12 hours. The student works closely with the Research Advisor and Doctoral Committee members to develop the proposal.
Research Tools — 12-18 hours
Students in special education must demonstrate proficiency in two of the four research tools listed below:
1. Research Design/Applied Statistics (3 hours from the following courses)
The GPA for this course and the 12 hours of Research Core above must be 3.0 or higher.
| SRM 606 | Multiple Linear Regression Analysis | 3 |
| SRM 607 | Non-Parametric Statistics | 3 |
| SRM 608 | Experimental Design | 3 |
| SRM 609 | Sampling Methods | 3 |
| SRM 610 | Statistical Methods III | 3 |
| SRM 611 | Advanced Statistical Data Analysis | 3 |
| SRM 625 | Applied Multiple Regression Analysis | 3 |
| SRM 627 | Survey Research Methods | 3 |
| SRM 629 | Structural Equation Modeling | 3 |
| SRM 635 | Categorical Data Analysis | 3 |
| SRM 685 | Educational Ethnography | 3 |
| SRM 686 | Qualitative Case Study Research | 3 |
| SRM 687 | Narrative Inquiry | 3 |
| SRM 688 | Writing Qualitative Research | 3 |
| SRM 705 | Advanced Issues in Research Methods | 3 |
2. Evaluation (9 hours from the following courses)
| ELPS 654 | Instructional Leadership and Supervision | 3 |
| ELPS 665 | Policy Analysis and Development | 3 |
| SRM 670 | Evaluation: Models and Designs | 3 |
| SRM 673 | Evaluation: Advanced Methods | 3 |
3. Instructional Technology (9 hours from the following courses)
| ET 502 | Instructional Design | 3 |
| ET 602 | Performance Technology for Instructional Environments | 3 |
| ET 617 | Development of Online Applications | 3 |
| ET 628 | Design of Multimedia Learning Environments | 3 |
4. Collateral Field (9 hours)
Contact the doctoral coordinator for examples of approved courses taken in a collateral field (cognition, instruction, measurement, psychology, human development, rehabilitation; additional research courses may be considered) that will support the dissertation research (600-level and above).
Comprehensive Performance Assessment
The comprehensive examination consists of a written Major Paper plus a matrix of performance options that demonstrates competency in theory, pedagogy, research methodology, evidence-based practice, public policy/advocacy, and collaboration.