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    Mar 28, 2024  
2011-2012 Graduate Catalog 
    
2011-2012 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Special Education, PhD


Applicants must meet requirements for admission to the Toulouse Graduate School. The general requirements are described in the College of Education section.

Given the importance of appropriate educational experiences during the early years for both the individual and the society at large, graduate programs are needed that provide education for future leaders in the conceptualization and provision of special education programs, as well as expertise in conducting research that will extend understanding of the importance and means of providing special education experiences.

PhD Admission Process/Requirements

The Department of Educational Psychology application includes a two-step process: the graduate school application and the departmental application.

Step 1: University Graduate School Application

Apply through the Toulouse Graduate School at www.applytexas.org. Submit application fee and official transcripts from all schools attended to their office. If the minimum GPA requirements are met, the packet will be forwarded to the department for review. You must meet the admission requirements of the Toulouse Graduate School, including a minimum 3.4 GPA on a master’s degree work (if applying with a master’s degree), 2.8 on bachelor’s (if applying without a master’s degree), or (alternatively) GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 credit hours you took if applying with a bachelor’s degree.

Step 2: Departmental Admissions Process

  1. Submission of official GRE scores is required: verbal, quantitative and analytical writing. The department views high GRE scores as positive indicators of potential success in the programs; however, low GRE scores do not exclude a candidate who shows positive indicators in other areas. GRE scores must be sent electronically from ETS, institutional code 6481. GRE scores must be less than 5 years old.
  2. Three (written) letters of recommendation from academic or professionally applicable sources.
  3. Professional resume that delineates the applicant’s previous work, educational experiences, membership and involvement in professional organizations or scholarly activities.
  4. A personal statement of career objectives including how this doctorate will advance those objectives.
  5. Critical response to “What is ‘good’ education research?” (2 pages maximum, double spaced; contact department for more information), considering issues within your anticipated field of study.
  6. Writing sample from previous research project(s) or course work.

Degree Requirements


Special Education Requirements (9–12 hours)


  1. Each student must complete a 9–12 hour core chosen from the following courses listed below. The courses are chosen based on the student’s specialization area.
  In addition to the above 9–12 hour requirement, students must complete a sequence of specialization courses at their respective degree-granting institutions. In general, the following courses apply to each institution, but variations in requirements may occur based on the academic background and the terminal goals of the student.
   
  1. Each student must complete a minor area. The number of hours in the minor area is determined by the respective program areas.
  2. All entering students may complete 9 semester hours of introductory research and statistics and 9 additional credit hours in either advanced research and statistics or computer education.

Dissertation (12 hours)


Tool Subject Requirements


Additional Requirements


The student must complete successfully the written and oral qualifying examination.

The student must successfully develop a dissertation proposal, defend the proposal, and successfully complete and defend the proposed research. The research project should add substantive confirmation or understanding of the principles, theories and practices of special education. Both quantitative and qualitative research projects are acceptable. Journal-formatted dissertations are encouraged.