Graduate Application Checklist: The Ph.D. Academic writing sample

• Option 1: You may submit a paper that you have authored relating to any topic or issue regarding the education of students with disabilities or to a related topic. If you have published one or more articles in professional journals, you may select one such article to submit. All papers or articles must be in English and must represent your scholarly work. Thus, for example, you should not submit a paper or article on which there are multiple authors and for which you were involved in a secondary manner.
• Option 2: If you completed an original thesis as a requirement of your master's degree, you may submit a copy of the approved document. While you may have had feedback during its preparation, it should reflect your independent thought and writing skills.
• Option 3: You may elect to write and submit a 5 page (minimum) typewritten, double -spaced paper in formal academic style addressing either a current issue or evidenced-based practice within the field of special education. Specific instructions for the paper follow:
  • Current Issue: Select one of the issues listed below that is important in special education today. Review current journals and discuss opposing or multiple views of the controversy in your review of the literature. Take a position for one of the points of view and defend that position in a brief discussion including supporting details. Cite sources and prepare a reference list in accordance with the standard format described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Present at least two possible points of view on the issue.
    1. Special education is defined in IDEA (2004) as specially designed instruction at no cost to the parents to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability. Historically, special education has been seen as a "place" where students with disabilities are served. How do these two views of “special” education challenge practice? Discuss the types of specially designed instruction to be provided. Possible discussion points: How can students with disabilities be included in educational reform efforts? What needs to occur to ensure that students with disabilities are not marginalized by such reform efforts? What measures of accountability can be used to ensure that students with disabilities are effectively served in America's schools?
    2. Evidence-based Practice: Identify a practical problem which has arisen in your teaching, administrative, or consulting work in an educational setting. Discuss the scope and implications of the problem. Review current journals to identify relevant evidence-based practices. Discuss the extent to which the practices hold potential for addressing the problem that you identified, including the degree of confidence you have that they represent evidenced based practices. Cite sources and prepare a reference list in accordance with the standard format described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.)
       
       Listed below are examples of questions to help you identify a practical problem.
       • Despite the emphasis on active parental and student involvement in educational planning, many barriers remain to meaningful involvement by parents or students. Why is such involvement so difficult to achieve? What strategies lead to effective parent or student involvement?
       • What strategies are effective for including preschool students with disabilities in general education programs?
       • IDEA (2004) states a preference toward educating students with disabilities in typical classrooms with supplementary supports and services. What effective practices have emerged to include students with disabilities in general education classrooms? What barriers remain?

Additional Professional Work Sample

The application requires three professional work samples, with two of these samples being scholarly writing (e.g., academic papers, published journal articles) as noted above. The third professional work sample is of the applicant’s choosing; either another written sample or a multimedia-based submission of professional experience (e.g., video of applicant teaching, video of applicant conducting a professional development, the applicant’s professional website, etc.).

Official GRE Exam Results

The GRE exam is not required but can be considered for admission to the Department of Special Education as a doctoral student. Request your GRE scores to be submitted as stated: for electronic submission (ETS), the Institution Code is 6871 and the Department Code is 3705. If you have an official copy of your GRE exam results, please upload a copy when applying online. The Admission Committee can use unofficial copies of the exam results for reviewing applications. Official scores must be submitted if recommended for admission.