Education (Ph.D.) - Special Education

Education (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 Core Courses
EDUC 701Advanced Learning Theory and Research3
EDUC 703Theories of Historical and Social Foundations of Education3
EDUC 730Issues & Trends in Learning Technologies 13
or EDUC 745 Organizational Analysis and Problem Solving
Total Hours9
1

Intensive format optional

Special Education Concentration
EDSP 722History and Future of Special Education3
EDSP 723Administration and Supervision of Special Education3
EDSP 724Collaboration and Communication in Special Education3
EDSP 725Assessment and Evaluation in Special Education3
EDSP 726Disability and Learning3
EDSP 727Critical Review of Special Education Literature3
Total Hours18
Research Courses
EDUC 812Advanced Educational Statistics3
EDUC 815Quantitative Methods of Research3
EDUC 817Qualitative Methods of Research3
EDUC 860Literature Review for Advanced Research3
EDUC 980Research Concepts & Methodology 13
Choose one of the following:3
Advanced Quantitative Methods of Research
Advanced Qualitative Methods of Research
Total Hours18
1

Once the student enters the Dissertation phase (after completion of EDUC 980), he/she must maintain continuous enrollment (Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters) until all degree requirements are completed

Dissertation Courses
EDUC 987Dissertation I 15
EDUC 988Dissertation II 15
EDUC 989Dissertation III 15
EDUC 990Dissertation IV0
Total Hours15
1

Ph.D. students are allowed to enroll in EDUC 987, EDUC 988, and EDUC 989 only 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 maximum of 50% of a post-graduate and doctoral degree may be transferred if approved and allowable, including credit from an earned degree from Liberty University on the same academic level
  • 3.0 GPA
  • No grades lower than a B- may be applied to the degree
  • Successful defense of dissertation
  • Degree must be completed within 7 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 701 Advanced Learning Theory and Research 3
EDSP 722 History and Future of Special Education 3
EDUC 703 Theories of Historical and Social Foundations of Education 3
EDSP 724 Collaboration and Communication in Special Education 3
 Hours12
Second Semester
EDSP 727 Critical Review of Special Education Literature 3
EDUC 812 Advanced Educational Statistics 3
EDUC 730
Issues & Trends in Learning Technologies 1
or Organizational Analysis and Problem Solving
3
EDUC 815 Quantitative Methods of Research 3
 Hours12
Second Year
First Semester
EDUC 860 Literature Review for Advanced Research 3
EDUC 817 Qualitative Methods of Research 3
EDSP 725 Assessment and Evaluation in Special Education 3
EDSP 726 Disability and Learning 3
 Hours12
Second Semester
EDSP 723 Administration and Supervision of Special Education 3
EDUC 915
Advanced Quantitative Methods of Research
or Advanced Qualitative Methods of Research
3
EDUC 980 Research Concepts & Methodology 2 3
 Hours9
Third Year
First Semester
EDUC 987 Dissertation I 2,3 5
 Hours5
Second Semester
EDUC 988 Dissertation II 2,3 5
 Hours5
Fourth Year
First Semester
EDUC 989 Dissertation III 2,3 5
 Hours5
Second Semester
EDUC 990 Dissertation IV 0
 Hours0
 Total Hours60
1

Intensive Format optional

2

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

3

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

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