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.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Education Elective Courses 1 | ||
Education Elective 2 | 3 | |
Education Elective 2 | 3 | |
Education Elective 2 | 3 | |
Education Elective 2 | 3 | |
Education Elective 2 | 3 | |
Education Elective 2 | 3 | |
Education Elective 2 | 3 | |
Total Hours | 21 |
- 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
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
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 Hours | 9 |
- 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)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Research Courses 1 | ||
EDUC 812 | Advanced Educational Statistics | 3 |
EDUC 815 | Quantitative Methods of Research | 3 |
EDUC 817 | Qualitative Methods of Research | 3 |
Total Hours | 9 |
- 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)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Dissertation Courses 1 | ||
EDDR 915 | Quantitative Dissertation Topic and Planning | 3 |
or EDDR 917 | Qualitative Dissertation Topic and Planning | |
EDDR 980 | Quantitative Dissertation Prospectus | 3 |
or EDDR 981 | Qualitative Dissertation Prospectus | |
EDDR 987 | Dissertation and Research I 2 | 5 |
EDDR 988 | Dissertation and Research II 2 | 5 |
EDDR 989 | Dissertation and Research III 2 | 5 |
EDDR 990 | Dissertation and Research IV | 0 |
Total Hours | 21 |
- 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
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
First Semester | Hours | |
EDUC Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
EDUC Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
EDUC Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
EDUC Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
Hours | 12 | |
Second Semester | ||
EDUC Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
EDUC Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
EDUC Elective 1,2 | 3 | |
Cognate Elective 3 | 3 | |
Hours | 12 | |
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 |
Hours | 12 | |
Second Semester | ||
EDUC 817 | Qualitative Methods of Research 1 | 3 |
EDDR 915 or EDDR 917 |
Quantitative Dissertation Topic and Planning 4 or Qualitative Dissertation Topic and Planning |
3 |
Hours | 6 | |
Third Year | ||
First Semester | ||
EDDR 980 or EDDR 981 |
Quantitative Dissertation Prospectus 4 or Qualitative Dissertation Prospectus |
3 |
Hours | 3 | |
Second Semester | ||
EDDR 987 | Dissertation and Research I 4,5 | 5 |
Hours | 5 | |
Fourth Year | ||
First Semester | ||
EDDR 988 | Dissertation and Research II 4,5 | 5 |
Hours | 5 | |
Second Semester | ||
EDDR 989 | Dissertation and Research III 4,5 | 5 |
EDDR 990 | Dissertation and Research IV 4 | 0 |
Hours | 5 | |
Total Hours | 60 |
- 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.