The OU Special Education Doctoral Program requires a minimum of 90 hours of coursework which includes a minimum of two hours of dissertation credit. Subject to the approval of a Student’s Advisory Conference Committee and the OU Graduate College, up to 30 hours of prior graduate coursework may be applied to the Ph.D. credit hour requirement. The OU Special Education Doctoral Program prepares students for careers in higher education, school instruction, and/or educational leadership
The Special Education Doctoral Program consists of 36 hours of required courses. There are 15 hours of content area required coursework and 21 hours of required educational research courswork. Students, in consultation with their Advisory Committee, complete additional coursework that aligns with their specialization to support their dissertation work and career aspirations. Last, students complete a minimum of 2 hours of dissertation credit.
Students will graduate with a minimum of 90 hours of coursework (this can include up to 30 hours of prior graduate coursework transferred in, provided it is consistent with the Graduate College's policies and approved by the Advisory Committee). It is not uncommon for students in the Ph.D. program to, with feedback from their Advisory Committee, create a customized program of study that is more than 90 hours.
Educational Research (minimum 21 hours)
Choose a minimum of two courses from below to fulfill the Educational Research requirements
Transfer of Graduate Hours Into the Masters of Special Education Program
With Advisory Conference Committee approval, students may transfer up to 30 semester hours of recent and relevant graduate coursework that earned a grade of “B” or “A” taken at OU or another accredited institution of higher education. Coursework that counted as part of a relevant Masters Degree has no time limit. Coursework that was not part of graduate degree must have been completed within the last five years. Required courses may be petitioned for waiver if the content of course to be transferred matches the content of the required courses, and the Advisory Conference Committee and the Dean of the Graduate College approves the petition.
Concentration Area Electives
In addition to the 36 hours of required coursework, in consultation with their advisor and Advisory Conference Report Committee, students select a mix of additional courses to prepare for a career in one of the following concentration areas.
Dissertation Hours
Once students have completed their coursework they must enroll in dissertation research hours. Once a student has enrolled in dissertation hours, he/she must maintain continuous enrollment of at least two hours of dissertation research during each Fall and Spring semester until all degree requirements are completed.
In consultation with their advisor and Advisory Conference Committee, students identify additional elective courses in areas relevant to special education (e.g. educational psychology, general education instruction/curriculum, educational policy, social work, psychology, research methods, statistics, etc.) to reach the 90 credit hour minimum of coursework.
