Advanced Educational Studies (Ph.D.) - Special Education

Advanced Educational Studies (Ph.D.) - Special Education

Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2024 through summer 2025. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.

This is a non-licensure degree. Completion of this degree will not lead to the eligibility of a state educator license in Virginia or a license or certificate in any other state for endorsements in teaching, special education, content specialist, or school building-level administration.

Education Elective Courses 1
Education Elective 23
Education Elective 23
Education Elective 23
Education Elective 23
Education Elective 23
Education Elective 23
Education Elective 23
Total Hours21
1

Equivalent courses from a conferred Ed.D. or Ph.D. from a regionally accredited institution, including credit from an Ed.D. previously earned through Liberty, may be applied to the degree. Only 15 credit hours of Graduate Level (500-600) courses may be transferred, all other courses must be Doctoral Level (700-900)

2

Choose a 500-800 level EDUC course not already required by the degree

Special Education Cognate 1
Choose three of the following courses:9
History and Future of Special Education
Collaboration and Communication in Special Education
Assessment and Evaluation in Special Education
Disability and Learning
Issues and Trends in Exceptionality
Total Hours9
1

Equivalent courses from a conferred Ed.D. or Ph.D. from a regionally accredited institution, including credit from an Ed.D. previously earned through Liberty, may be applied to the degree. Only 15 credit hours of Graduate Level (500-600) courses may be transferred, all other courses must be Doctoral Level (700-900)

Research Courses 1
EDUC 812Advanced Educational Statistics3
EDUC 815Quantitative Methods of Research3
EDUC 817Qualitative Methods of Research3
Total Hours9
1

Equivalent courses from a conferred Ed.D. or Ph.D. from a regionally accredited institution, including credit from an Ed.D. previously earned through Liberty, may be applied to the degree. Only 15 credit hours of Graduate Level (500-600) courses may be transferred, all other courses must be Doctoral Level (700-900)

Dissertation Courses 1
EDDR 915Quantitative Dissertation Topic and Planning3
or EDDR 917 Qualitative Dissertation Topic and Planning
EDDR 980Quantitative Dissertation Prospectus3
or EDDR 981 Qualitative Dissertation Prospectus
EDDR 987Dissertation and Research I 25
EDDR 988Dissertation and Research II 25
EDDR 989Dissertation and Research III 25
EDDR 990Dissertation and Research IV0
Total Hours21
1

Once the student enters the Dissertation phase, he/she must maintain continuous enrollment (Fall, Spring, Summer semesters) until all degree requirements are completed

2

Ph.D. students are allowed to enroll in EDDR 987, EDDR 988, EDDR 989, one time. Extensions for exceptional circumstances must be approved by the School of Education

All applicable prerequisites must be met

Graduation Requirements

  • Complete 60 hours
  • A minimum of 21 hours must be completed through Liberty University, not to include from a prior degree earned through Liberty
  • A maximum of 39 hours of transfer credit, including credit from a degree on the same academic level previously earned through Liberty, may be applied to the degree
  • 3.0 GPA
  • No grades lower than a B- may be applied to the degree
  • Successful defense of dissertation
  • Degree must be completed within 5 years
  • Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student’s anticipated graduation date

Program Offered in Online Format

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First SemesterHours
EDUC Elective 1,2 3
EDUC Elective 1,2 3
EDUC Elective 1,2 3
EDUC Elective 1,2 3
 Hours12
Second Semester
EDUC Elective 1,2 3
EDUC Elective 1,2 3
EDUC Elective 1,2 3
Cognate Elective 3 3
 Hours12
Second Year
First Semester
Cognate Elective 3 3
EDUC 812 Advanced Educational Statistics 1 3
Cognate Elective 3 3
EDUC 815 Quantitative Methods of Research 1 3
 Hours12
Second Semester
EDUC 817 Qualitative Methods of Research 1 3
EDDR 915
Quantitative Dissertation Topic and Planning 4
or Qualitative Dissertation Topic and Planning
3
 Hours6
Third Year
First Semester
EDDR 980
Quantitative Dissertation Prospectus 4
or Qualitative Dissertation Prospectus
3
 Hours3
Second Semester
EDDR 987 Dissertation and Research I 4,5 5
 Hours5
Fourth Year
First Semester
EDDR 988 Dissertation and Research II 4,5 5
 Hours5
Second Semester
EDDR 989 Dissertation and Research III 4,5 5
EDDR 990 Dissertation and Research IV 4 0
 Hours5
 Total Hours60
1

Equivalent courses from a conferred Ed.D. or Ph.D. from a regionally accredited institution, including credit from an Ed.D. or Ph.D. previously earned through Liberty, may be applied to the degree. Only 15 credit hours of Graduate Level (500-600) courses may be transferred, all other courses must be Doctoral Level (700-900). 

2

Choose a 500-800 level EDUC course not already required by the degree.

3

Choose one of the following courses: EDSP 722, 724, 725, 726, or EDUC 721.

4

Once the student enters the Dissertation phase, he/she must maintain continuous enrollment (Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters) until all degree requirements are completed.

5

Ph.D. students are allowed to enroll in EDDR 987, 988, and 989 one time. Extensions for exceptional circumstances must be approved by the School of Education.

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