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College of Education
Special Education Prospective Students Online Ed.D.

Online Ed.D.

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Elevate your career with the University of Florida’s online doctorate in special education (Ed.D.) program. We designed our part-time, fully online degree with working educators in mind. This professional practice program is meticulously crafted to equip expert practitioners to significantly improve the special education field. Our graduates improve their communities working as service providers, school leaders, professional development facilitators and advocates for individuals with disabilities.

Contact us today for more information about our online doctorate in special education (Ed.D.).

Program Overview

Our fully online doctorate in special education (Ed.D.) is tailored for individuals working in education and related fields. Through part-time study, it takes most students approximately four years to complete their degree. The format of our program derives from the principles of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED). This approach focuses on rigor and developing applicable, practice-focused leadership skills. Because of this, our program has a culminating dissertation, rather than a project, requirement.

Our program is cohort-based, so our students progress through their doctorate in special education with a group of like-minded adults focused on expanding their subject area knowledge and leadership skills. You will engage deeply with your professional practice and its broader context through stimulating synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities. There are also pathways to further develop expertise in a specialization area.

Our globally acclaimed special education faculty guide students to support their individual career advancement goals. Students receive one-on-one mentorship in the program’s culminating applied dissertation research phase, in addition to the support provided throughout the program.

Doctorate in Special Education (Ed.D.) Program Highlights

This well-rounded program includes a core curriculum, qualitative and quantitative research courses, the opportunity to choose a specialization, electives and dedicated dissertation hours. Together, these courses teach our docterate in special education students how to leverage evidence-based strategies to foster academic and social advancements for individuals with disabilities.

Faculty in this program are committed to providing new and fresh perspectives on educational issues. With regularly updated courses, our program presents and contextualizes the ideas driving contemporary special education. Student feedback is taken seriously and is meaningfully incorporated when refining courses.

Shape your Experience with Specialization Areas

We offer five specialization areas that allow students to develop career-focused depth in a particular area. This approach elevates your practice, establishing you as a leader and specialist. By gaining this expertise, you become the go-to expert who can solve complex challenges in your workplace to better support students with disabilities.

We offer the following specialization areas for students pursuing their doctorate in special education (Ed.D.):

Contact us today if you’d like to learn more about our program and specialization areas.

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    Ed.D. Program Curriculum

    Our doctorate in special education (Ed.D.) requires a minimum of 90 graduate credits to complete your degree. These credits are structured to build upon your prior educational experience. 

    • Transfer Credits: Up to 30 credits can be transferred from a relevant master’s degree from an accredited institution.
    • Program Credits: The remaining 60 – 70 credits are earned through our doctoral curriculum and dissertation credits.

    Your personalized plan of study determines your final credit count. This ensures your coursework aligns directly with your academic background and career goals.

    Required Courses

    Required coursework includes:

    • 15 to 18 credit hours of core special education coursework
    • 12 to 15 credit hours in research and evaluation methodology
    • 12 to 15 credits in a specialization area

    College of Education Ed.D. Research Requirements

    All doctoral students in the College of Education must complete at least 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.

    Areas of Specialization

    Dyslexia

    • EEX 6135-Foundations of Literacy Development & Dyslexia
    • EEX 6136-Dyslexia: Language and the Brain
    • EEX 6137-Dyslexia: Assessment for Intervention
    • EEX 6138-Dyslexia: Intervention Methods
    • *EEX 6855-Dyslexia: Practicum in Assessment and Intervention (*optional)

    Early Childhood Practitioner

    • EEC 6205-Early Childhood Curriculum
    • EEC 6933-Families in Early Childhood Education
    • EEC 6933-Assessment & Evaluation in Early Childhood Educational Practice
    • EEC 6933-Policy & Transition in Early Childhood Educational Practice

    Early Childhood Policy

    • EEC 6636-Examining Practices, Policies, and Key Issues in EC Policy
    • EEC 6665-History, Child Development, and Equity in EC Policy
    • EEC 6667-Theory and Analysis in EC Policy
    • EEC 7056-Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy

    Disability and Society

    • EEC 6636-Examining Practices, Policies, and Key Issues in EC Policy
    • EEC 6665-History, Child Development, and Equity in EC Policy
    • EEC 6667-Theory and Analysis in EC Policy
    • EEC 7056-Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy

    Special Education Teacher Leadership

    • EEX 6058-Families & Teacher Perspectives
    • EEX 6936-Literacy Leadership
    • EDG 6348-Instructional Coaching for Enhanced Student Learning
    • EEX 6936-Professional Development for Special Educator
    “The online Ed.D. program is designed in such a way that I feel I am receiving the same attention, support, and level of instruction I would expect from in person coursework, but with the flexibility to complete assignments around my work schedule. It is the perfect program for a working professional who wants to improve and refine their practice, increase their body of knowledge, and grow into a leader in their field.”
    Colleen Pollett, M.Ed.

    Partnership Facilitator, James Patterson Literacy Challenge , Current Ed.D. student

    Program Requirements

    • A bachelor’s and master’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university in special education or a related field, or a degree deemed equivalent by the University of Florida Office of Admissions.
    • A minimum grade point average of 3.0 undergraduate upper-division (last 60 credits) and graduate coursework.

    Program Highlights

    Entry: Fall 
    Typical Course Load: 6 credits per semester
    Full-Time/Part-Time: Part-time
    Format: Fully online, primarily synchronous 
    Application Deadline: February 1
    Average Class Size: 12-18
    Program Completion: 4 years

    Student Handbook (.PDF)