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Special Education, Ph.D.
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Program Overview
Develop the Next Generation of Special Educators
The Ph.D. in Special Education prepares special educators as innovators, teachers, leaders and researchers whose work contributes to enhancing the quality of life of exceptional learners and their families. This program provides the solid research foundation needed for the rapidly changing field of special education. Alumni of the program are currently employed as special education faculty, research scientists and special education administrators.
Our program welcomes students from a variety of professional backgrounds, including those with classroom or related experience at different stages of their careers. Students may enroll full-time or part-time and progress through the program in a supportive cohort model that fosters collaboration, networking, and peer mentorship. We blend doctoral seminars, research methods, specialty coursework, and self-directed learning guided by a dedicated faculty advisor.
You’ll complete a carefully sequenced series of core doctoral seminars in four key areas: research, teaching, collaboration, and leadership. You’ll also engage in courses focused on research and practice in special education, gaining skills in professional writing, research implementation, grant writing, leadership, and university teaching. These experiences will help you build professional portfolios, completed at two specified time points prior to the dissertation, that showcase your competencies and accomplishments.
Program Contact
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Frequently Asked Questions
Admissions
The following criteria will be considered in the admission decision: GPA, Master’s degree in Special Education or a related field, high level of professionalism and potential for leadership, strong writing skills, experience with individuals with exceptional needs, years of teaching experience and clear career objectives related to obtaining a Ph.D.
In your application, we require:
- Two official transcripts of all academic work attempted since high school indicating a GPA of 3.5 (on a scale of 4.0) in a graduate degree program.
- The GRE/MAT is no longer required for admission to the PhD Program.
- At least three references of someone who knows your current work and/or academic achievements in previous degree work.
- A two-page essay describing prior experiences with individuals with exceptionalities and objectives for pursuing doctoral studies.
- A current resume or vita.
- A professional writing sample (e.g., published article, manuscript submitted for publication, term paper submitted in prior coursework, abstract of thesis, teaching manual).
- Documentation of teaching and other field experience (e.g., letter of recommendation from supervisor, or teacher evaluations).
- International students must submit official test scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of at least 550 on the written test or 220 on the computer-based test or a score of at least 85% on the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB). All tests must have been taken within the past two years.
- Read more about English Language requirements for international students on the Graduate School website.
Know Before You Go
Our program offers both part-time intensive (~6 years; 2 courses per semester) and full-time (4 years, 4 courses per semester) programs. Part-time students traditionally keep their current jobs (usually in schools or clinics) while completing the Ph.D. Both programs are face-to-face and require in-person attendance.
Our application deadline each year is December 1, and admissions decisions are typically made in mid-February for the upcoming fall.
Funding opportunities through the department are typically only available for full-time students and may come in the form of grant funding or graduate assistantships, and students must submit a letter requesting support to be considered.
Typically, these cover tuition and provide a living stipend, but fund availability does vary year to year. Funding packages are offered around the same time that admissions decisions are made. Other sources of funding may be pursued through the Financial Aid Office.
Why Get a Ph.D. in Special Education?
Program of Study
Charlotte’s Ph.D. in Special Education focuses on four core competencies: research, collaboration, university teaching, and leadership.
- Research
- Don’t just interpret research, generate your own. You’ll have the chance to be on research teams from your very first semester, assisting faculty and conducting studies with real-world impact.
- Feed your future career in research. Take additional research-focused coursework, explore additional methodologies, and develop your own research agenda as you progress through the program.
- Collaboration
- Special education serves a broad variety of learners and their families. Develop skills in culturally responsive teaching, and learn how to impart those skills on the next generation of special educators.
- Positive change can only happen when learners and their families feel equipped to change. Gain experience in sharing your expertise with stakeholders across a learner’s support system, and across the lifespan.
- University Teaching
- Build on our college’s long tradition of preparing classroom teachers. Teach alongside university faculty, supervise student teachers, and prepare teacher candidates to implement evidence-based practices in their area of specialization, be it general or adapted curriculum, early childhood or adult learners.
- Leadership
- You’ve got the passion – use it to light the way. Hone soft skills like decision-making, collaboration, and public speaking in real-world settings like research teams, community partnerships, and the university faculty work environment as you become an expert voice in your field.
- Gain the foundational knowledge to guide others. Learn educational law and policy that can be incredibly particular to the field of special education, that will guide your future work, wherever you may go.
To further customize your training, you’ll design a 15-credit specialty area. Six credits focus on advanced research methods, and nine credits make up an Advanced Specialty Track in either Research or University Teaching. Your program culminates in the dissertation — an independent, student-directed research project that identifies gaps in the literature and contributes new knowledge to the field.
Career Potential
Our Ph.D. alumni go on to careers like…
- Clinicians and specialists at government or community agencies
- Tenure track or clinical university faculty
- Researchers
- School and district leaders in special education
They work all over in the world in teaching, research, school district, and nonprofit roles across 24 states and six countries, from right here in Charlotte to Bangkok, Thailand and so many places in between. Check out our alumni map to learn more.
Top Tips for Completing Your Application
Find out more about graduate education at UNC Charlotte by requesting information and attending an upcoming information session.
Explore Official University Catalog
Check out the official catalog for information on specific degree requirements, course progressions, curriculum and more.