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Online Ed.D.

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Elevate your career with the University of Florida’s online Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Special Education, a program inspired by the principles of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED). This professional practice doctorate is meticulously designed to forge expert practitioners equipped to make significant impacts as service providers, school leaders, professional development facilitators, and advocates for individuals with disabilities.

Program Overview

As a participant in this program, you will engage deeply with your professional practice and the broader context of your work, leveraging evidence-based strategies to foster academic and social advancements for students with disabilities. Spanning approximately four years, this journey culminates in a practical dissertation experience, mentored by our globally acclaimed special education faculty.

For more information about our Online Ed.D. in Special Education contact our program coordinator, Dr. Kristi Cheyney-Collante.

Ed.D. in Special Education Core Curriculum

Our carefully crafted curriculum provides a comprehensive foundation for success. Mandatory courses are available both online and face-to-face, enhancing the collaborative learning experience. The program’s requirements include electives, quantitative and qualitative research courses, and dedicated dissertation hours. The Ph.D. in Special Education is a full-time, on-campus program at the UF College of Education in Gainesville, Florida.

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    Ed.D. Program Curriculum

    The Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) degree consists of 90 total credits: 30 credits are transferred from a student’s relevant master’s degree, and they obtain 60 credits through the program.

    Required Courses

    All students in the cohort will move through a structured program plan together. All students will take a series of required special education courses on topics such as:

    • Inquiry in Special Education
    • Critical Issues and Trends in Special Education
    • School Improvement
    • Critical Pedagogy
      A sample program plan for Cohort 5 with explanations of major program milestones and core course descriptions can be found here.

    College of Education Ed.D. Research Requirements

    All doctoral students in the College of Education must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of research methodology coursework to meet the college-wide requirement for preparation in research methodology.

    Programs and supervisory committees have the discretion to require more than 12 hours of research methodology courses. The courses used to meet these additional requirements are not subject to review by the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies.

    Specialization Area

    All students admitted to the online Ed.D. program will select an area of specialization which consists of 12 credits of coursework within the structured program plan. Areas of specializations include dyslexia, disability in society, early childhood, and teacher leadership and learning.

    Program Requirement

    • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a degree deemed equivalent by the University of Florida Office of Admissions.
    • A minimum grade point average of 3.0 upper-division (last 60 credits) undergraduate work.
    • An acceptable grade point average for previous graduate work.

    Program Highlight

    Entry:Fall Semester
    Typical Course Load: 12-15 credits per semester
    Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
    Application Deadline: February 1st
    Average Class Size: 20-27
    Program Completion: 3-4 years
    Program Courses (.PDF)