Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education
This program will prepare students to serve in an exciting career in which you can lead the educational or behavioral professions through administration, scholarship, and entrepreneurship. It is designed to meet the needs of advanced graduate students seeking to assume leadership roles in special education in one or more of the following positions: school leadership, administration; consultation; or in higher education, special education manager, curriculum specialist, director of clinic or treatment center, or researcher/evaluator. Upon successfully completing the program, the candidate will hold a doctor of philosophy degree in special education.
91 credits
Special education core, 34 credits
| DISS 799 | Doctoral Dissertation | 1 TO 24 |
| ID 705 | Research Colloquium | 1 TO 3 |
| SPCE 600 | Education of Exceptional Children | 3 |
| SPCE 609 | Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| SPCE 632 | Introduction to Emotional and Behavioral Disorders | 3 |
| SPCE 701 | Seminar: Policies and Issues in Special Education | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 622 | Introduction to the Law and Higher Education Issues for Students with Autism | 3 |
| SPCE 702 | Learning, Behavioral, and Developmental Disabilities and Special Needs | 3 |
| SPCE 706 | Seminar-Instructional Strategies for Students with Intense Intervention Needs | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 707 | Seminar-Instructional Strategies for Students with Mild Intervention Needs | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 709 | Behaviorology and the Exceptional Person | 3 |
| SPCE 764 | Seminar in Special Education | 3-6 |
Another SPCE 700-level seminar may be substituted for SPCE 706, SPCE 707, or SPCE 709 with permission from the chair or director. DISS 799 must be taken for a minimum of 10 credits. ID 705 must be taken for 3 credits.
Research Foundations in Disability Cognate (15 credits)
The Department of Special Education offers a single cognate of 15 credits that will satisfy the required research cognate for the doctoral program. Of these 15 credits, 9 must be taken at Ball State.
| EDPS 641 | Introduction to Statistical Methods | 3 |
| EDPS 642 | Analysis of Variance | 3 |
| EDST 650 | Introduction to Qualitative Research | 3 |
| SPCE 630 | Research Methods for Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| SPCE 636 | Research in Special Education | 3 |
Concentration classes, a second cognate, and/or directed electives approved by the doctoral committee.
Policy and Administration concentration (15 credits)
Required courses
| SPCE 637 | Special Education Administration and Law | 3 |
| SPCE 639 | Special Education Administration and Organizational Behavior | 3 |
Directed elective requirements
| SPCE 706 | Seminar-Instructional Strategies for Students with Intense Intervention Needs | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 707 | Seminar-Instructional Strategies for Students with Mild Intervention Needs | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 709 | Behaviorology and the Exceptional Person | 3 |
SPCE 709 is the preferred seminar course.
3 credits from each of the following areas:
Policy
| SPCE 677 | Collaborating with Families of Exceptional Children | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 687 | Educational Assessment: Mild Interventions | 3 |
Administration
| SPCE 624 | Vocational Preparation and Transition for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 636 | Research in Special Education | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 694 | Internship in Special Education | 3 TO 9 |
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Autism concentration (15 credits)
Required courses
| SPCE 609 | Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| SPCE 610 | Behavioral Consultation | 3 |
Directed elective requirements
| SPCE 706 | Seminar-Instructional Strategies for Students with Intense Intervention Needs | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 707 | Seminar-Instructional Strategies for Students with Mild Intervention Needs | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 709 | Behaviorology and the Exceptional Person | 3 |
SPCE 709 is the preferred seminar course.
3 credits from each of the following areas:
ABA
Autism
| SPCE 680 | Introduction to Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 682 | Interventions and Treatments for Persons with Autism | 3 |
Emotional and Behavioral Disorders concentration (15 credits)
Required courses
| EDPS 606 | Human Learning and Achievement Motivation | 3 |
| SPCE 604 | Applied Behavior Analysis for Teachers | 3 |
| SPCE 632 | Introduction to Emotional and Behavioral Disorders | 3 |
| SPCE 634 | Educating Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders | 3 |
| SPCE 635 | Advanced Studies in Emotional and Behavioral Disorders | 3 |
Multi-Tier System of Supports/Response to Intervention concentration (15 credits)
Required courses
| EDEL 655 | Principles of Differentiation in the Elementary Classroom | 3 |
| SPCE 606 | Multi-Tier System of Supports/Response to Intervention: Seminar | 3 |
| SPCE 607 | Multi-Tier System of Supports/Response to Intervention: Tracking Student Progress | 3 |
Select two courses from one of the sequences listed below
Behavior (SPCE)
| SPCE 610 | Behavioral Consultation | 3 |
| SPCE 690 | Student Teaching in Exceptional Needs | 1 TO 12 |
Reading (ELED)
| EDRD 690 | Reading Practicum | 3 |
| EDRD 692 | Clinical Diagnosis of Reading Difficulties | 3 |
| | or | |
| | six credits of discipline specific course work (with permission). | 6 |
Low Incidence: Teaching and Learning concentration (15 credits)
Required courses
| SPCE 577 | Introduction to Students with Intense Intervention Needs | 3 |
| SPCE 578 | Educational Methods for Students with Intense Intervention Needs | 3 |
Directed elective requirements
| SPCE 706 | Seminar-Instructional Strategies for Students with Intense Intervention Needs | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 709 | Behaviorology and the Exceptional Person | 3 |
SPCE 706 is the preferred seminar course.
3 credits from each of the following areas:
Severe
| SPCE 609 | Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 631 | Computer Technology and the Learner with Special Needs | 3 |
Autism
| SPCE 680 | Introduction to Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 682 | Interventions and Treatments for Persons with Autism | 3 |
High Incidence: Teaching and Learning concentration (9 credits)
Required courses
| SPCE 686 | Introduction: Mild Interventions | 3 |
| SPCE 687 | Educational Assessment: Mild Interventions | 3 |
Directed elective requirements
| SPCE 603 | Collaboration in Special Education | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 631 | Computer Technology and the Learner with Special Needs | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 688 | Methods of Mild Intervention | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 707 | Seminar-Instructional Strategies for Students with Mild Intervention Needs | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 709 | Behaviorology and the Exceptional Person | 3 |
SPCE 707 is the preferred seminar course.
Special Education General concentration (9 credits)
Required courses
| SPCE 600 | Education of Exceptional Children | 3 |
| SPCE 636 | Research in Special Education | 3 |
Directed elective requirements
| SPCE 706 | Seminar-Instructional Strategies for Students with Intense Intervention Needs | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 707 | Seminar-Instructional Strategies for Students with Mild Intervention Needs | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPCE 709 | Behaviorology and the Exceptional Person | 3 |
(SPCE 707 is the preferred seminar course.)