Charlottesville,
VA,
United States
Type
Public
Degrees offered
Bachelor's Degree
PhD in Education - Special Education in Charlottesville United States | University of Virginia
University of Virginia
|
Charlottesville United States
Visit institution website
for more information
Qualification
Doctor of Philosophy
Languages
English
Delivery Mode
On-Campus
Tuition (2025)
USD
30,300
Attendance
Full-time
Full-time Duration
48 months
Pursuing a doctoral degree in special education at the University of Virginia's School of Education and Human Development offers students a distinctive chance to cultivate essential skills for careers as teacher educators, researchers, and academic leaders. Beyond standard coursework, doctoral candidates collaborate directly with faculty on research initiatives, university instruction, professional organization involvement, and other career-shaping experiences.
Alumni of the Special Education Ph.D. program have emerged as distinguished scholars and heads of professional associations.
Advanced special education students typically envision careers in either academic institutions or research-focused organizations. The Ph.D. curriculum combines academic study, research mentorship, and hands-on training to equip graduates for conducting groundbreaking research that advances special education knowledge and teacher preparation. The program also develops leadership capabilities in the field. For those targeting academic positions, the degree further prepares graduates to train future special educators using evidence-based instructional methods.
Destination of Study
Subjects of Study
Language Requirements
English
IELTS 7.0
Qualification Requirements
Admission to the Special Education Ph.D. program requires a relevant master's degree (e.g., special education or closely aligned field).
Applicants must have a minimum of three years of experience teaching students with disabilities.
Applicants must provide a goals statement as part of the online application. The goal statement should include (a) why you want to pursue a doctoral degree in the selected area (e.g., high-incidence disabilities), (b) with whom you want to study and why, and (c) your goals for work after graduation.
Applicants must provide a writing sample as part of the online application. The writing sample requirement may be met by submitting one of the following:
A paper written for a graduate-level course completed within the past 5 years,
A published journal article,
A newsletter article published by a professional organization,
A grant proposal submitted for funding (must have been written independently), or
A 3-5 page topical essay on a current issue in special education of interest to you.
English proficiency requirement:
Paper-based TOEFL: 600
Computer-Based TOEFL: 250
IELTS: 7.0
IBT TOEFL: at least 22 in writing, 22 in speaking, 23 in reading, and 23 in listening for a total score of 90.
Applicants must have a minimum of three years of experience teaching students with disabilities.
Applicants must provide a goals statement as part of the online application. The goal statement should include (a) why you want to pursue a doctoral degree in the selected area (e.g., high-incidence disabilities), (b) with whom you want to study and why, and (c) your goals for work after graduation.
Applicants must provide a writing sample as part of the online application. The writing sample requirement may be met by submitting one of the following:
A paper written for a graduate-level course completed within the past 5 years,
A published journal article,
A newsletter article published by a professional organization,
A grant proposal submitted for funding (must have been written independently), or
A 3-5 page topical essay on a current issue in special education of interest to you.
English proficiency requirement:
Paper-based TOEFL: 600
Computer-Based TOEFL: 250
IELTS: 7.0
IBT TOEFL: at least 22 in writing, 22 in speaking, 23 in reading, and 23 in listening for a total score of 90.
Tuition
USD
30,300