PhD Exceptionalities

This area of specialization prepares professionals to work as leaders in the education and support of individuals who have unique needs, often due to disabilities. The field is broad, addressing life-span concerns and involving such services as special education, advocacy, family support, community services, and vocational training and support. Graduates of the program are expected to assume leadership roles addressing local, regional, national, and international issues related to research and higher education and/or program development and evaluation. The program varies in the number of credit hours required, depending on the candidate s qualifications, and includes courses required by the college, courses in the specialization, courses that provide an emphasis/breadth, a field project/internship or an apprenticeship in college teaching, and the dissertation.