The doctoral program in Special Education is designed for candidates who desire to continue their education as educators and scholars prepared for leadership roles in the area of special education in public or private institutions. This program develops special education experts who can design, implement, evaluate, manage and lead special education in a variety of public and private settings.
The goals of doctoral study in this program are:
- to develop the abilities for research and critical thinking in the field of special education, with a theoretical and practical knowledge;
- to develop competency in special education leadership, curriculum access and program evaluation;
- to improve understanding of the needs of families as it relates to special services;
- to understand the role of advocacy in supporting key stakeholders; and
- to support and lead reform and change efforts related to teacher development in special education.
General Graduate Admission Requirements
All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Concordia University Chicago graduate programs as published in the Concordia University Chicago academic catalog.
New students are accepted into graduate degree-seeking, certificate, endorsement and/or post-graduate programs for online and on-campus study in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Previously admitted students seeking to change programs may do so at the beginning of a semester (only) by submitting a Change-of-Program quick app. Applicants must be in good academic standing according to Concordia University Chicago’s satisfactory academic progress standards at the time of requesting a program change.
Program Specific-Admission Requirements
Master’s degree in Special Education or a related field
Degree Requirements for Ed.D. Track
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Doctoral Program Core | ||
EDL-7140 | Organizational Change | 3 |
EDL-7210 | Policy Analysis | 3 |
EDL-7300 | Ethics for Educational Leaders | 3 |
FPR-7011 | Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Leadership | 3 |
Research and Statistics | ||
RES-7605 | Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
RES-7700 | Qualitative Research | 3 |
RES-7900 | Research Design | 4 |
Comprehensive Exam and Dissertation | ||
COMP-7000 | Comprehensive Examination (fee-based) | 0 |
DISS-7010 | Dissertation I | 3 |
DISS-7020 | Dissertation II | 3 |
DISS-7030 | Dissertation III 1 | 3 |
Special Education Specialization Courses | ||
EDL-6250 | Special Education Law and Policy | 3 |
EDL-6310 | School, Families and Community Partnerships | 3 |
EDL-7120 | Research-Based Decision Making | 3 |
SPED-6375 | Supervision of Programs and Facilitation of LRE for Children with Disabilities | 3 |
SPED-7010 | Assistive Technology for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
SPED-7020 | Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, Assessment, and Single-case Design | 3 |
SPED-7030 | Seminar in Low Incidence Disabilities | 3 |
SPED-7040 | Seminar in High Incidence Disabilities | 3 |
SPED-7060 | Current Issues and Trends in Special Education | 3 |
SPED-7100 | Disability Studies and International Perspectives on Special Education | 3 |
Total Hours | 61 |
- 1
Upon completion of the nine required hours of dissertation coursework, candidates must maintain continuous enrollment with DISS-8000 Dissertation Supervision until program completion.
Degree Requirements for Ph.D. Track
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Doctoral Program Core | ||
EDL-7140 | Organizational Change | 3 |
EDL-7210 | Policy Analysis | 3 |
EDL-7300 | Ethics for Educational Leaders | 3 |
FPR-7300 | Philosophy of Scientific Knowledge | 3 |
Research and Statistics | ||
RES-7605 | Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
RES-7700 | Qualitative Research | 3 |
RES-7800 | Mixed Methods Research | 3 |
RES-7900 | Research Design | 4 |
RES-7620 | Advanced Topics in Statistics | 3 |
or RES-7710 | Advanced Qualitative Analysis | |
Comprehensive Exam and Dissertation | ||
COMP-7000 | Comprehensive Examination (fee-based) | 0 |
DISS-7010 | Dissertation I | 3 |
DISS-7020 | Dissertation II | 3 |
DISS-7030 | Dissertation III 1 | 3 |
Special Education Specialization Courses | ||
EDL-6250 | Special Education Law and Policy | 3 |
EDL-6310 | School, Families and Community Partnerships | 3 |
EDL-7120 | Research-Based Decision Making | 3 |
SPED-6375 | Supervision of Programs and Facilitation of LRE for Children with Disabilities | 3 |
SPED-7010 | Assistive Technology for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
SPED-7020 | Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, Assessment, and Single-case Design | 3 |
SPED-7030 | Seminar in Low Incidence Disabilities | 3 |
SPED-7040 | Seminar in High Incidence Disabilities | 3 |
SPED-7060 | Current Issues and Trends in Special Education | 3 |
SPED-7100 | Disability Studies and International Perspectives on Special Education | 3 |
Total Hours | 67 |
- 1
Upon completion of the nine required hours of dissertation coursework, candidates must maintain continuous enrollment with DISS-8000 Dissertation Supervision until program completion.
Doctoral Graduation Requirements
- Have on file an application as a doctoral graduate student in this program.
- Have on file one official transcript from EACH college/university attended of all previous coursework taken.
- Complete, for this degree and program,
- the credit hours and levels as designated,
- within the specified time limit,
- with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Students completing multiple advanced programs or degrees at CUC must have a 3.0 GPA in each academic program in addition to a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- If transfer credit is approved to be applied: have on file an approved “Graduate Transfer Credit Approval” form(s) or evaluation(s).
- Have on file the Intent to Graduate/Complete form with the Office of the Registrar by the published deadline.
- Have on record the dissertation uploaded into ProQuest.
- Take and pass the final examination or terminal requirements in the program during or after the final course.
- Approval of the faculty.
- Payments of all tuition and fees due to Concordia University Chicago. All holds must be removed to receive transcripts and diploma.
Every attempt has been made to include information to aid the student with information about his/her program, degree and graduation/completion requirements. It is, however, the student’s responsibility to complete all steps and meet all deadlines relevant to graduation requirements.