The doctoral program in Special Education emphasizes pedagogical and research competencies necessary to respond to high-need students with disabilities.
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Contact Information
Program Assistant
Tel: (415) 422-2099
Fax: (415) 422-5527
Email: landi@usfca.edu
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The Ed.D. in Special Education includes coursework and practica experiences that develop the competencies to be successful university faculty, school district personnel, researchers, and consultants.
Students learn to consider ethnic, linguistic, socioeconomic, contextual, and communicative issues essential to address the specialized traits and instructional requirements of students with disabilities, especially those in high-poverty and low-performing schools (e.g., English learners, students living in poverty). Research emphasizing practical solutions to problems in these schools is emphasized.
Upon completion of the program, graduates will join a cadre of uniquely qualified and diverse instructional leaders to prepare K-12 special education teachers to address the needs of high-need students with disabilities in high-need settings. These skills are often in demand in educational as well as other professional settings.
Program Description
The doctoral program consists of 60 credit hours of study beyond the
master’s degree and culminates in the completion of a doctoral
dissertation.
Students can complete the doctoral program in five years or less depending upon how many courses are taken a semester. See a typical program of study over five years.
Use this link to see L&I and General Education course descriptions in the School of Education section of the USF General Catalog online.
Unique Program Features
- Weekend classes (usually meet every other weekend)
- Classes meet nine times a semester to meet the needs of working professionals (Teaching Weekend schedule)
- Summer courses available
- Small classes
- Expert faculty in special education and educational psychology
- Diverse and supportive environment
- Mentored practica experiences
Our Students
Because the doctoral program is designed for working professionals, the level and diversity of student knowledge and expertise in the classroom is a real asset to the program. Doctoral students come from many professional areas such as:
- Teachers
- Principals
- District and county office administrators
- Consultants
- University and community college instructors
Foundation Core (12 credits):
- GEDU 704 Psychological Foundations
- GEDU 706 Applied Educational Statistics
- GEDU 708 Research Methods in Education
- L&I 700 Cognitive Psychology
Special Education Core (18 credits):
- L&I 718 Special Education Law and Public Policy
- L&I 716 Curriculum and Instruction in Special Education
- L&I 717 Research-Based Practices and Critical Issues in Special Education
In addition to the above, students are required to complete Intercultural Competence in Special Education, Nondiscriminatory Instruction and Evaluation, and Urban School Leadership.
Special Education Practica (3 credits):
- L&I 719 Practicum in SPED Higher Ed I
- L&I 722 Practicum in Research in Special Education
and Practicum in Urban School Leadership
Advanced Research Core (12 credits):
- GEDU 707 Advanced Statistics
- GEDU 714 Educational and Psychological Measurement
- L&I 707 Literature reviews
One advanced Methodology course selected in consultation with the student’s advisor.
Elective courses (9 credits):
- Cognitive Psychology
- Motivation
- Creativity
- Human Abilities
- Instructional Design
- Inquiry-Based Learning
- Constructivism in Technology
- Multimedia Learning
- Grant Writing
- Essentials for Teaching in Higher Education
- Performance-Based Assessment
- Models of Teaching and Instruction
Dissertation Core (9 credits):
- L&I 709 Dissertation Proposal Seminar
- L&I 790 Dissertation Proposal Development
- L&I 791 Dissertation Research and Writing
Students complete the program by successfully defending their dissertation research in Dissertation Research and Writing.
