Special Education

Admission to Ph.D. in Special Education at KU

Individuals applying to the Ph.D. in Special Education at the University of Kansas must have relevant professional training, usually represented by undergraduate and graduate degrees in special and/or general education or a related field. Also, doctoral applicants are usually expected to have at least three years of professional teaching experience in public schools or related agencies that serve individuals with disabilities. Both your formal education and experience in the field help to demonstrate that you have the foundational knowledge necessary to develop expertise in special education. The Department’s doctoral graduates pursue faculty positions at other institutions of higher education. Accordingly, the doctoral program educates you to become a researcher and scholar who will then prepare prospective teachers and administrators to work in the profession.

Applicants are strongly advised to establish a dialogue (e.g., videoconference, telephone, and email correspondence) with one or more faculty members in the preferred specialization area prior to applying for the doctoral program. The purpose of the dialogue is to understand how your scholarship interests align and/or intersect with departmental faculty, and to ensure the specialization focus aligns with your interests and skills. Finally meeting with faculty will assist you to identify a good match of specialization advisor with whom you would like to study. This dialogue also is critical for informing you about various social, academic, and teaching aspects of the doctoral experience that will complement your development as a scholar. Communicating with specialization faculty prior to submitting your application is strongly recommended and is considered vital to the Department admissions process. 

The link below provides additional considerations along with guiding questions for prospective applicants that will be helpful when establishing dialogue with faculty members and assembling application materials for submission to the Department.

Thinking about Doctoral Studies? (pdf)

Admission Process Components

There are several important factors to consider before submitting your application. Doctoral program applications are only reviewed for fall admission. All materials must be received prior to that date to be considered. After the Admission Committee has reviewed applications, selected applicants will be invited to participate in an interview.

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