Special Education (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. in Education program produces leaders who can address the nation's most pressing educational challenges. Each of the specializations is designed to match your professional interests and meet the needs of your organization. In fact, it requires educators to come to the program with defined learning goals and challenges them to design their own program of study. The program combines collaborative online study with self-paced, faculty-guided research modules and face-to-face residencies.

Most K-12 educators are strong advocates for improved services for exceptional/disabled individuals. Unfortunately, resources for the delivery of these services are often far less than schools and school districts desire. At Walden, you will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to provide leadership in the special education field and to better assist your own students in the self-actualization process. Emphasis is on services to exceptional/disabled individuals and to the related areas of special education administration, including law, finance, and ethics. Graduates hold leadership, administrative, and teaching positions in schools and school districts and research and teaching positions at colleges and universities throughout the United States. Other positions include director of special education and director of disability services.