Dec 02, 2024  
ACE Catalog - Volume 56 
  
ACE Catalog - Volume 56

Special Education, Ed.D.


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Program Description

The Ed.D. in Special Education provides an advanced degree specifically targeting research, theory, and best practices in the special education field. A student completes coursework focused on developmentally appropriate practice, advocacy, diversity and research, and scholarship. Students complete a final dissertation at the end of their program. This degree is not designed for licensure and is best suited for individuals who seek to work as a leader or scholar-practitioner in this field. The focus of study allows a student to select a concentration that will support their professional goals. Students will engage in scholarly research throughout the coursework to support their final dissertation. 

Program Outcomes

  1. Design and modify general and specialized curricula to increase access and meet the diverse learning needs and developmental growth of students with exceptionalities.  
  2. Analyze, synthesize, and apply seminal and current research, pedagogical principles, and assistive technology to support the use of best practices in the special education classroom. 
  3. Examine, design, and implement appropriate assessments to minimize bias, support individual student needs, and utilize results for instructional and placement decisions. 
  4. Construct models to support positive collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders to improve programs, services, and outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities and their families.
  5. Develop strategies to support professional development, leadership, and advocacy efforts in special education. 
  6. Examine current trends, laws, and policy in special education and the role that they play in safeguarding the rights of students with exceptionalities. 
  7. Demonstrate understanding of cultural, social, and economic diversity and individual learner differences to inform the creation of an inclusive learning environment where all students feel respected and valued and have the resources and support necessary to reach their fullest potential.  

Mission Statement

The mission of the Ed.D. in Special Education is to provide an advanced degree that promotes research, theory, and best practices. Students gain skills to become expert practitioners ready to work with individuals with special needs and their families. Students who complete the program will be prepared to serve as educators, educational consultants, school leaders, professional development providers, and advocates for individuals with disabilities. The Ed.D. in Special Education will culminate in a student designed dissertation that will be supervised by ACE professors who are experts in the field. Graduates will be able to apply the research-based practices honed during the program to improve academic, social and transition outcomes for their students with disabilities. 

Focus of Study Options


Curriculum and Instruction  

The Curriculum and Instruction focus of study prepares students for today’s educational environments.  Today’s learning environments require understanding critical aspects of how learning happens for a diverse population spanning multiple ages.  This focus of study examines how standards shape assessment while building needed skills in content areas each strengthen by the ability to read well.  

Early Childhood Education  

The Early Childhood Education focus of study will provide an in-depth exploration of theory, research, and practical applications relevant to professionals working in the early childhood field. Students will gain advanced knowledge of developmental theories and modern early childhood practices which influence children, educators, families, stakeholders, and public policy. 

Health and Wellness  

The Health and Wellness focus of study provides students with the information necessary to expand their knowledge in the health and wellness field.  The program provides content that includes not only the fundamentals of health and wellness, but also the theories, systems, and policies.  Students enrolled in this focus of study will be provided the opportunity to learn foundational leadership skills in health education.  

Higher Education

The Higher Education focus of study is intended to prepare administrators in acquiring or enhancing necessary skills to successfully lead higher education institutions. The courses offer a broad perspective of critical issues facing higher education, emphasizing the complexity of student concerns while balancing the demands of outside constituents, e.g. accreditors, state and federal regulators, community, students, and faculty. Designed to complement and support professional agendas, individual studies prepare leadership to understand the integrated aspects of complex systems influenced by modern societal issues.  

Instructional Leadership  

The Instructional Leadership focus of study prepares practitioners in PK-12 settings to assist their schools and organizations in moving away from less effective, traditional views of teaching and learning by embracing a more proactive approach of using formative assessment data to build curriculum, design instructional delivery, collaborate with stakeholders and teach with the future in mind instead of solely relying on summative evaluations. Educational leaders can then make informed decisions and learner-centered adjustments much earlier in the process, maximize all available resources, and ultimately, foster higher levels of achievement and performance within their schools or organizations.

Each course within this study builds upon one another through an interactive manner using collaborative hands-on learning experiences with stakeholders aligned to theory and professional application. Opportunities for reflection and professional growth are embedded in each course to allow students to reimagine their role as teachers and leaders within their community and empower teams to create productive change in a PK-12 setting.

Disclaimer: The Instructional Leadership Focus of Study is only applicable to those practitioners in the PK-12 setting.

Instructional Technology  

The Instructional Technology focus of study supports candidates who seek to serve as technology leaders and emphasizes new ways of thinking about technology and the integration of applications. Learning how to design environments which enhance and support organizational goals are considered to maximize learning for both individual and corporate purposes.  

Leadership

The Focus of Study supports candidates who seek to serve in leadership positions or grow in their leadership practice. Students expand their knowledge in key areas such as ethics, resource management, coaching, strategic planning and organizational culture to become more confident in their advanced leadership practice throughout diverse organizational settings. 

Literacy

The Literacy focus of study provides students with a detailed examination of best practices in literacy education. Students will gain advanced knowledge of curriculum design, assessment, and leadership skills relevant to literacy education. The courses will provide the foundation to become educational leaders in the field of literacy.

Public and Nonprofit Leadership

Whether a student wants to assume a leadership role or learn more about a societal sector that stirs their passion, the Public and Nonprofit Leadership focus of study will sharpen critical thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills and increase societal and global awareness. The six courses in the sequence, emphasize ways to make an impact on both local and global communities through public and nonprofit service. The courses address unique challenges facing public and nonprofit organizations, including societal service, structural variations, development, policymaking, funding, and political and advocacy activities.

Second Language Instruction 

The Second Language Instruction focus of study provides students with information to work with second language learners in a variety of settings. The program provides content addressing key foundational theories and research-based strategies to support the educational or instructional needs of diverse learners. Students enrolled in this focus of study can select courses which address instructional methods applicable to traditional classroom settings or they may select courses which support working with second language learners through a leadership role.   

STEM Education

The STEM Education focus of study utilizes digital resources to foster the innovative engagement of diverse learners associated with the integrated contents of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The courses offer a holistic overview of historical and current issues and trends impacting integrated science education while cultivating research-based strategies to improve learning and leadership in the field. 

 

Course List (64 Total Semester Credits)


Leadership Courses (3 Semester Credits)


Choose a Six-Course Focus of Study (18 Semester Credits)


Customize this degree by choosing a six-course focus of study to fulfill the remaining 18 semester credits.

General Track


Any six courses selected from above, ACE graduate level courses, or doctoral courses transferred in.

Additional Courses (if required or desired)


Courses may be required if progression is not achieved in courses OR students can elect to take courses to support their progress. If an Ed.D. student is required to take either the Research or Dissertation Boot Camp (RES6223 or RES6233) course, they will be charged for the tuition and fees associated with the Boot Camp course and not the tuition and fees associated with the dissertation sequence course they are retaking with the boot camp (RES6512, RES6521, RES6531, RES6541, or RES6551). 

CITI Training


All students pursuing advanced degrees are required to have completed a certificate of completion for the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) in Human Subjects Research. There will be no additional fee. This is strongly recommended for students who anticipate conducting dissertation research involving human subjects. The CITI offers training modules for a Social-Behavioral-Educational (SBE) track, as well as additional modules of interest. More information can be found in Student Commons.  Scroll down under Doc Program Resources where you will find the CITI Program Guide.

Note


  • This program is neither designed nor approved (as of the publication date of this Catalog) to prepare students for licensure, certification, or endorsement in any state. 
  • Check availability in your state on the Programs by State section of the ACE website.

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