Final Effective Fall 2004
Revised 3/06
Department of Special Education
Doctor of Philosophy Degree
Program of Study
Program Credit Hour Summary
I. Special Education Research (40-41 credit hours)
-Doctoral Colloquium (2 credit hours)
-Research Design and Analysis (16-17 credit hours)
-Applied Research Skills
-Early Research Experience (6 credit hours)
-Advanced Research Internship (6 credit hours)
-Extramural Funding Seminar and Internship (4 credit hours)
-Area Specialization Seminars or Special Projects (6 credit hours)
II. University Teaching (8 credit hours)
-University Teaching Seminar (2 credit hours)
-University Teaching Internship (3 credit hours)
-Teacher Education Field Supervision (3 credit hours)
III. Professional Service and Community Outreach (6 credit hours)
-Service and Outreach Internship (6 credit hours)
IV. Dissertation Research (17 credit hours)
-Preparation of the Dissertation Proposal (3 credit hours)
-Dissertation Research (14 credit hours)
V. Interdisciplinary Content (Optional) (3-6 Credit Hours)
-Coursework and/or Independent Study in Content Area(s) Outside of the Department of Special Education
Total Ph.D. Program Credit Hours: 71-78 credit hours
Ph.D. Program Study Requirements
Graduate Supervisory Committee
A five-member faculty committee is selected by the student to supervise the Ph.D. program of study. The five-member committee includes (a) four faculty members from the Department of Special Education of which a minimum of three must be tenure-track faculty, and (b) one University of Utah faculty member outside of the Department of Special Education. All committee members must hold a doctoral degree or an equivalent advanced degree in their area of expertise. It is strongly recommended that the faculty member from outside the Department of Special Education have knowledge and expertise in the student's primary area of study.
At the time of admission, each doctoral student is assigned a temporary faculty advisor. During their first two semesters of full-time study, students are expected to identify a faculty member who will serve as the permanent chair of the supervisory committee. Students then select, with assistance from the chair, the four remaining members of their supervisory committee prior to the beginning of their third semester of full-time study.
The supervisory committee is responsible for approving the student's academic program, preparing and evaluating the qualifying examination, approving the dissertation proposal and final dissertation. All matters pertaining to the operation of the supervisory committee must conform to the guidelines of the Graduate School.
Qualifying Examination and Dissertation
The dissertation phase of the Ph.D. program in the Department of Special Education is designed to assess the student's ability to design, implement, and sustain an independent line of scholarly research. This is accomplished through a cumulative process in which the student develops and orally defends:
- A Qualifying Examination for Admission to Candidacy (background, review of literature, and research questions for the doctoral dissertation)
- The Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (research methodology section for the doctoral dissertation)
- The Doctoral Dissertation
Each component of the dissertation phase of the Ph.D. program is described in the Department of Special Education Doctoral Student Handbook.
Primary Area of Emphasis
Each student is expected to identify a primary area of emphasis upon entering the Ph.D. program. This area serves as a framework for the design of the student's program of study. A program emphasis area should reflect the student's future research, teaching, and service interests in the field of special education. A program emphasis area must be reviewed and approved by the student's graduate advisor.
Program Plan
Upon entering the Ph.D. program, the student develops a program plan that lists the course work, internships, and other program tasks (i.e. , special projects, research, or independent readings) that will support professional development in the program emphasis area. The program plan must be reviewed and approved by the student's graduate advisor in consultation with the supervisory committee.
Annual Review
Students in the Ph.D. program are reviewed annually by the tenure-track faculty in the Department of Special Education to determine progress in completing degree requirements. Each student submits to his or her graduate advisor a curriculum vita and a written program plan that includes a description of progress toward completing required tasks. The faculty will provide a written evaluation to each student regarding whether satisfactory progress is being made as per the requirements and timelines of the program plan. The student's graduate advisor meets with the student, communicates the feedback, and assists in the implementation of any modifications in the program plan. The annual review ensures that students have documented feedback on their progress, and maximizes the likelihood that university resources will be utilized to build the strongest possible program for each student.
Publication Requirement
Students are expected to submit a minimum of two papers for publication or presentation prior to the completion of the doctoral program. The two papers may take the form of an article(s) submitted to a nationally recognized professional journal and/or a scholarly presentation at a national meeting of a recognized professional organization. The article(s) or presentation proposal must go through an external peer review process. Prior to completion of the doctoral program, at least one paper and/or presentation proposal must be accepted for publication (in press or in print). The student should be senior author on at least one of the two papers submitted. This process will be undertaken with the assistance and support of the student's graduate advisor and/or members of the supervisory committee. manuscripts and/or reprints must be available for supervisory committee examination and approval as part of the student's portfolio.
Special Education Ph.D. Program
Course, Seminar, and Internship Descriptions
I. Special Education Research (40-41 Credit Hours)
Doctoral Colloquium (2 credit hours)
SpEd 7030 (2) - Doctoral Colloquium. Overview of doctoral study in special education with emphasis on academic research, teaching, and service.
Research Design and Analysis (16-17 credit hours)
SpEd 7010 (3) - Group Design and Research Analysis. Principles of small and large group research design, selection of appropriate data analysis procedures, interpretation of results, and guidelines governing ethical scientific inquiry.
SpEd 7020 (3) - Single Subject Research Design. Application of single/within-subject principles and strategies in educational research. Critical issues in the design, implementation, and analysis of single-subject research.
Ed Ps 70101 (3) - Quantitative Methods I: Foundations of Inferential Statistics, or Nursing 72012 (4) Statistics I. Elementary probability theory, measures of central tendency and variability, sampling distributions, point and interval estimation, hypothesis testing, power, and effect sizes.
Ed Ps 7020 (5) - Quantitative Methods II: Anova and Multiple Regression, or Nursing 7202 (3) Statistics II. Analysis of variance for between-group, within-subject, mixed, and hierarchical designs. Fixed and random effect models, effect sizes, and planned and post hoc comparisons. Includes computer exercises.
Qualitative Research Course (3) (Ed Ps 7420 or other course approved by advisor).
Applied Research Skills (12 credit hours)
SpEd 7910 Early Research I (3)
SpEd 7915 Early Research II (3)
Practical experiences in developing, collecting, and writing up analysis of research data under the direction and supervision of university faculty (6 credit hours are spread over two semesters-3 credit hours each semester)
SpEd 7920 Research Internship I (3)
SpEd 7925 Research Internship II (3)
(Prerequisites Early Research I and II). Student-initiated research experiences in developing, collecting, and analyzing research data in primary emphasis area. (6 credit hours are spread over two semesters-3 credit hours each semester)
Extramural Funding Seminar and Internship (4 credit hours)
SpEd 7114 (2) Principles of Extramural Funding. Obtaining extramural grants in special education, including funding sources, proposal development, and grants management.
SpEd 7125 (2) - Extramural Funding Internship. Development of a grant proposal for public or private agencies under the supervision of university faculty.
Area Specialization Seminars or Special Projects (6 credit hours)
Special projects and doctoral seminars in student's primary areas of research emphasis or other coursework approved by the student's advisor.
II. University Teaching (8 Credit Hours)
University Teaching Seminar and Internship (5 Credit Hours)
Sped 7810 University Teaching Seminar (2). Practical, philosophical, and ethical issues in teaching in higher education. Focus on effective practices in instruction for adult learners, developing courses and practica in special education.
SpEd 7121 University Teaching Internship (3). Internship in university teaching under faculty supervision.
Teacher Education Field Supervision (3 Credit Hours)
SpEd 7930 Teacher Education Field Supervision (3). Internship in supervising teacher licensure candidates in special education.
III. Professional Service and Community Outreach (6 Credit Hours)
Professional Service and Outreach Internships
SpEd 7935 Professional Service and Outreach Internship I (3)
SpEd 7940 Professional Service and Outreach Internship II (3)
Internships in service to the university and community-based outreach activities. (6 credit hours are spread over two semesters-3 credit hours each semester)
IV. Dissertation Research (17 Credit Hours)
Doctoral Dissertation Proposal
SpEd 7970 Preparation of the Doctoral Proposal (3). Development of a doctoral dissertation research proposal under the supervision of the chair of the student's graduate supervisory committee.
Doctoral Dissertation
Special Education 7971 (14) - Dissertation Research Implementation of dissertation research and reporting of the results of dissertation research under the supervision of the student's graduate supervisory committee.
V. Interdisciplinary Content (Optional) (3-6 Credit Hours)
Interdisciplinary Coursework and/or Independent Study
A student may choose to add an interdisciplinary focus to the Ph.D. program in special education by taking course work and/or independent study in a content area(s) outside of the Department of Special Education that relate to the student's program emphasis area.
Ph.D. Program in Special Education
Scope and Required Sequence
(Based on Three Year Full-Time Enrollment)3
Year One
Fall Semester Year One
SpEd 7030 Doctoral Colloquium (2 cr) (First Term)
SpEd 7810 University Teaching Seminar (2 cr) (Second Term)
Area Specialization Seminar or Special Projects (3 cr) (See graduate advisor to obtain course number. )
SpEd 7910 Early Research Experience I (3 cr)
Ed Ps 7010 Quantitative Methods I (3 cr)
or Nursing 7201 Statistics I (4 cr)
Total Credit Hours: 13-14
Spring Semester Year One
Area Specialization Seminar or Special Projects (3 cr) (See graduate advisor to obtain course number. )
SpEd 7915 Early Research Experience II (3 cr)
Ed Ps 7020 Quantitative Methods II (5 cr)
or Nursing 7202 Statistics II (3 cr)
SpEd 7020 Single Subject Research Design (3 cr)
Total Credit Hours 12-14
Summer Semester Year One (Optional)
Interdisciplinary Course(s) or Independent Study (3-6 cr) (See graduate advisor to obtain course number[s])
Year Two
Fall Semester Year Two
SpEd 7114 Principles of Extramural Funding (2 cr)
SpEd 7125 Extramural Funding Internship (2 cr)
SpEd 7010 Group Design and Research Analysis (3 cr)
SpEd 7920 Research Internship I (3 cr)
SpEd 7121 University Teaching Internship (3 cr)
or SpEd 7930 Teacher Education Field Supervision (3cr)
Completion of Qualifying Examination for Admission to Candidacy
Total Credit Hours: 13
Spring Semester Year Two
SpEd 7930 Teacher Education Field Supervision (3 cr) or
SpEd 7121 University Teaching Internship (3 cr)
SpEd 7925 Advanced Research Internship II (3 cr)
Qualitative Research Course (3 cr--such as Ed Ps 7420)
(must be approved by advisor)
SpEd 7970 Preparation of Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (3 cr)
Total Credit Hours: 12
Summer Semester Year Two (Optional)
Interdisciplinary Course(s) or Independent Study (3-6 cr)
Year Three
Fall Semester Year Three
SpEd 7935 Professional Service and Outreach Internship I (3 cr)
SpEd 7971 Dissertation Research I (7 cr)
Total Credit Hours: 10
Spring Semester Year Three
SpEd 7940 Professional Service and Outreach Internship II (3 cr)
SpEd 7971 Dissertation Research II (7 cr)
Total Credit Hours: 10
REVISED: 3/2/06