Purpose

The Doctor of Education in Special Education is designed to prepare competent effective leaders and researchers with a biblical worldview who will model high standards and assume a leadership role in the field of education. Researchers and leaders in the field of education are seen as those who assume a role in shaping the future direction of policies, goals, and objectives within an educational setting whether it be in K-12, business, or state or federal government.

Program Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to:

• Evaluate education theories for application in both a professional and academic setting.
• Analyze pedagogical concepts and approaches based upon research and knowledge of the discipline.
• Design and conduct original research to address a problem of practice in the discipline.
• Integrate a biblical worldview through decision making within the field of education.
• Evaluate best practices in the field of special education.

Program-Specific Admissions Requirement

In addition to the general admission requirements, specific admission procedures for the Ed.D. are listed below. Submit the following items to the Office of Graduate Admissions prior to registering for any graduate courses. Where noted, forms are available online at: http://www.liberty.edu/apply.

1. Academic Records.  Applicants must submit an official transcript indicating successful completion of a master’s degree program from an institution accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Transcripts should be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions from all schools previously attended.
2. Ed.D. applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above on graduate degree required for entrance to the program.

Transfer of Credit

All graduate transfer credits are subject to the approval of the School of Education (SOE) Graduate Committee. Such courses must carry a grade of at least a B- and be comparable to Liberty University graduate courses. Transfer credit will only be considered from institutions or schools accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. With approval, up to 15 hours may be transferred into the Ed.S. program and up to 27 semester hours may be transferred into the Ed.D. program. It is the responsibility of each applicant to supply official transcripts along with a written request to have credit applied to the degree program. Transfer credits must have been completed within the previous seven (7) years to be eligible for transfer to the Ed.D.

Applicants who have previously completed an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) or equivalent degree from an institution or school accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education will be considered for advanced standing (up to 24 hours) in the Ed.D. program. Students who have earned an Ed.S. through Liberty may apply up to 27 hours (as applicable) from that degree toward the Ed.D. This may include credit for up to 27 hours of actual coursework toward satisfaction of Ed.D. requirements. Where previous courses from an Ed.S. degree are appropriate, this entails credit for up to half of the actual courses required for the Ed.D.

Time Limits for Degree Completion

The time limit for completing the degree from the date of admission to the program is seven years for the Ed.D. Only in unusual circumstances may the candidate be granted an extension. Granting of an extension of time may result in additional requirements.

There will be a time limit of five years for completion of the Ed.D. for candidates who were granted 18 hours or more of advanced standing from a previously completed Ed.S. or equivalent degree.

Any candidate who does not complete coursework within the permissible time limit, for any reason including discontinued enrollment, must reapply for admission. A candidate may reapply only once, and will be subject to the current standards and curriculum. The SOE Graduate Committee will determine if any previous courses are sufficiently time sensitive and must be repeated. Beginning with the date of readmission, the candidate’s time limit for degree completion is determined by the number of hours remaining.

Graduation Requirements

• Complete 54 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 more than one grade of B- may be applied to the degree
• Successful completion of capstone project
• 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

Notes

• A minimum of 20 Doctoral credit hours must be earned prior to enrollment in EDUC 750
• EDUC 880 must be the final course taken before enrolling in Capstone Project courses.
• Once the student enters the Capstone Project phase (after completion of EDUC 880), they must maintain continuous enrollment (Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters) until all degree requirements are completed
• Ed.D. students are allowed to enroll in EDUC 887, 888, 889 a maximum of two times, Extensions for exceptional circumstances must be approved by the School of Education.
• Enrollment in EDUC 890 is contingent on School of Education approval

Delivery Format: Online Only

• University Professor
• University Administrator
• K-12 Administrator
• K-12 Special Education Teacher
• K-12 Educational Technology Director
• Educational Consultant
• Education instructor