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UF
College of Education
Special Education Prospective Students On-campus Ph.D.

On-Campus Ph.D.

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Lead the future of strengths-based learning with a Ph.D. in special education from the University of Florida. This full-time, on-campus program equips future leaders with the skills to teach at undergraduate and graduate levels, perform rigorous research and support individuals with disabilities in educational contexts. Our Ph.D. in special education graduates thrive as faculty in higher education and hold pivotal leadership positions in agencies, school districts and other academic settings.

Contact us to learn more about our exciting program!

Program Overview

Learn how to conduct the research that shapes special education curriculum and policy. Our full-time, on-campus program allows you to immerse yourself in the field. With small class sizes and an emphasis on faculty mentorship, our program supports and sustains our students as they progress. UF’s special education programs are consistently highly ranked by the U.S. News and World Report, reflecting our steadfast leadership.

Graduates of the UF Ph.D. in special education program thrive in fields where they apply extensive knowledge about the research process. Our alumni hold faculty positions in tenure-track and clinical lines, with many going on to work in other top-ranked programs. Other graduates work for research organizations, like the American Institutes for Research, WestEd or the Learning Policy Institute. Beyond traditional research routes, our alumni are making significant contributions in agencies like the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), Institute for Education Sciences or the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER). All of these career pathways benefit students with disabilities and their families. 

Our Ph.D. in Special Education program is for aspiring researchers and educators dedicated to advancing scholarship that tackles vital societal challenges. This is not a program where we expect students to return to the classroom or to go into district leadership positions. Prospective students who are looking for a practice-based program are a better fit for our online Special Education Ed.D. program.

Ph.D. in Special Education Program Highlights

Our program includes a robust required research course sequence covering quantitative and qualitative methods. With classes in data collection, survey design, measurement, evaluation and more, we empower students to work with many information types before starting their dissertation research. By conducting research to tackle the pressing problems facing special education teachers, our graduate students are helping to create a more stable and effective workforce ready to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

Students in the Ph.D. in special education program have the unique opportunity to work with internationally known centers that use research to advance teacher preparation and development. Our students and faculty regularly partner with the Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) Center and the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) to support scholarship that intentionally improves special education workforce needs.

Transformative Journey

Join us on a transformative journey where you’ll learn to shape the future of special education. Dive into scholarship and become a leader in the field through our Ph.D. in special education program. Your path to academic excellence begins here.

Ready to unlock your potential? Apply now to start your journey. Contact us today to learn more about the UF Ph.D. in special education.

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    Ph.D. in Special Education Program Curriculum

    Our carefully crafted curriculum provides a comprehensive foundation for success. The program’s requirements include core special education courses, quantitative and qualitative research courses, electives and dedicated dissertation hours. 

    Programs of study are developed collaboratively by the doctoral student and reviewed by the supervisory committee before approval. The University of Florida requires that students earn a minimum of 90 credit hours beyond their baccalaureate degree to complete a Ph.D. program.

    Courses in this program take place over a whole semester at the University of Florida campus in Gainesville. You can find details about semester dates on the UF Academic Calendar.

    Required Courses

    • EEX 6745|Trends 1-Historical and Theoretical Foundations of Disability in Education
    • EEX 7934|Trends 2-Trends in Special Education
    • EEX 7304|Research 1-Introduction to Field of Inquiry in Special Education
    • EEX 7303|Research 2-Inquiry in Special Education: Analysis of the Literature
    • EEX 6936|Research 3-Inquiry in Special Education: Proposal Development

    Research Requirements

    Qualitative Methods

    • EDF 6475–Qualitative Foundations of Educational Research (4)
      Prereq: None
    • EDF 7483–Qualitative data collection (3)
      Prereq: EDF 6475
    • EDF 7479–Qualitative data analysis (3)
      Prereq: EDF 6475
    • EDF 7639–Research in Educational Sociology (3)
      Prereq: EDF 6475

    Quantitative Methods

    • EDF 6403–Quantitative Foundations of Educational Research (6) OR EDF 6400–Quantitative Foundations in Educational Research: Overview (3) AND EDF 6402–Quantitative Foundations in Educational Research: Inferential Statistics (3)
    • EDF 6436–Theory of Measurement (4)
      Prereq: EDF 6403 or 6400 & 6402
    • EDF 6471–Survey Design and Analysis in Educational Research (3)
      Prereq: EDF 6403 or 6400 & 6402
    • EDF 6481–Quantitative Research Methods in Education (4)
      Prereq: EDF 6403 or 6400 & 6402
    • EDF 7405–Advanced Quantitative Foundations of Educational Research (4)
      Prereq: EDF 6403 or 6400 & 6402
    • EDF 7491–Evaluation of Educational Products and Systems (3)
      Prereq: EDF 6403 or 6400 & 6402
    • EDF 7412–Structural Equation Models (3)
      Prereq: EDF 6403 or 6400 & 6402 plus EDF 7405
    • EDF 7439–Item Response Theory (3)
      Prereq: EDF 6403 or 6400 & 6402 plus EDF 6436
    • EDF 7474–Multilevel Models (3)
      Prereq: EDF 6403 or 6400 & 6402 plus 7405
    • EDF 7432–Multivariate Analysis in Educational Research (3)
      Prereq: EDF 6403 or 6400 & 6402 plus 7405

    Electives

    Students will work with their academic advisor committee to select elective courses.

    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: December 1
    Typical Course Load: 9-12 credits per semester
    Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-time
    Application Deadline: See dates published by the college
    Average Class Size: 20-27
    Program Completion: About 4 years

    Program Plans
    Doctoral Student Handbook (.PDF)