Advisors: Kristal Ehrhardt, George Haus, Paula Kohler, Daniel Morgan, Shaila Rao, Sarah Summy, Luchara Wallace, Elizabeth Whitten
Room 3506, Sangren Hall

The Doctor of Education in Special Education prepares individuals to assume leadership roles in special education, serving as faculty in institutions of higher education, professional developers in educational agencies, and administrators in special education programs. Graduates of WMU Special Education doctoral program are prepared to contribute to the knowledge and research base in education and to be discerning consumers of evidence-based practices in education.

Applicants are expected to satisfy all requirements for admission to doctoral programs specified by the Graduate College. Prospective students must also have acquired a minimum of two years of successful professional experience in serving persons with disabilities. Admission to the program is contingent upon a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination and the successful completion of a personal interview with a committee comprised of graduate faculty of the Special Education program in the Department of Special Education and Literacy Studies. Application materials are available from the Office of Admissions and from the Department of Special Education and Literacy Studies.

Upon acceptance to the department, a Program Advisor will be designated to work with the student in developing the student’s overall program. In addition to the prescribed course work, the student will complete an internship in college teaching and an optional internship in administration of programs in special education. During the last semester of course work, the student will be required to complete successfully a written comprehensive examination.

All students in the program will be required to complete successfully a scholarly dissertation. Following the guidelines established by the Graduate College, the student will select a dissertation advisor and a dissertation committee who will guide the student in the development of a dissertation. Following the completion of the dissertation, the student will be required to complete successfully an oral defense of the dissertation as per Graduate College policy.