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A teacher with students: Explore the PhD in Education - Special Education degree program offered by Regent University.

Ph.D. in Education – Special Education

Become a Leader in Special Education

If you’re an educational professional seeking a career as a university faculty member or senior educational administrator in the in-demand arena of special education, then this path will help you achieve your goal and make a big impact too. Regent’s Doctor of Philosophy in Education – Special Education prepares special education teachers and administrators to advance in special education research, practice, and policy. This research-based Ph.D. will prepare you more specifically for a career in academia. You’ll enjoy developing advanced proficiencies in the theoretical and analytical applications and comprehensive knowledge of the special education field. The program is ideal for professionals seeking a career as a university faculty member or senior educational administrator.

Online
67+
May 8, 2023
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INCREASE YOUR EARNING POTENTIAL

Capitalize on a higher salary with your Ph.D. degree.

EXPAND YOUR CAREER PATH

Take your career to the next level with exciting leadership opportunities.

MAKE AN IMPACT

Present ground-breaking research to improve the world of education.

ALIGN YOURSELF WITH EXCELLENCE

Regent has been ranked among Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report for four years (2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023). Our programs have also been ranked among the Top 10 Best Online Graduate Education Programs in Virginia for 11 years in a row (2013-2023). Experience the Regent difference through the Ph.D. in Education – Special Education program.

Presented from a Christian worldview, this specialty degree is supported by award-winning faculty in Virginia Beach.

Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.

Regent University ranked #2 of Top 25 Accredited Online PhD & Doctoral Degree Programs | Learn.org, 2020
Top Online Degrees - AffordableSchools.net
Regent University ranked #47 of the top 50 Ph.D. degree programs | Intelligent.com

On completing the Ph.D. in Education – Special Education degree, you will be able to:

  • Explain the history of special education, as well as current issues and best practices.
  • Interpret data and ramifications; craft empirical, research-based interventions; and codify research and practice for effective implementation.
  • Develop vital skills in critical thinking, scholarly research, writing, and learning from a Christian worldview.

Career Opportunities

  • Special Education Administrator
  • Special Education Executive Leader
  • University Faculty
$90Thousand
Mean annual wage for postsecondary teachers U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019
Advanced study of empirically based interventions for children with mild disabilities for academic, emotional, and social deficits. Emphasis on current best practices and practices often used but empirically unsupported as well as legal and ethical issues surrounding intervention implementation.
An advanced historical survey of the origins of special education. Focus on historical figures in special education, their theories of and interventions with people with disabilities; on the evolution of the social construction of disability; on broad legal and ethical issues related to people with disabilities; and on some current issues facing the field.
Advanced study of special education high-incidence disability categories: Learning Disabilities, Emotional and Behavioral Disturbance, and Intellectual Disabilities. Focus on the historical development of identification, including distinguishing characteristics and definitions, as well as empirically based interventions that address characteristic issues of each group.
Advanced course in understanding and executing meta-analyses in special education or other social sciences. Study of the history of meta-analysis, its major functions and limitations, and the successful completion of a meta-analysis in a social science area. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor; prior completion of core courses in statistics and research design (e.g., EFND 702 & 722 or equivalent).
Advanced study of empirically unsupported yet perennially popular interventions for children with disabilities.
Advanced study of the entire publishing process from submission to publication for both authors and editors in special education or closely related areas. Examination of publication objectives for different audiences such as refereed vs. non-refereed journals and other publication formats. Study of duties related to guest reviewing, regular reviewing, editorial board duties, responsibilities of refereed journal editors and co-editors. Guest lectures by editors of journals in special education or related social science fields focusing on single/multiple author works and responsibilities, submitting or editing special journal issues highlighting current research and practice, and copy-editing for final printing. Writing and submitting an original article to a refereed journal. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor.
Advanced review of international special education; UN Charter, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to the Salamanca Statement and the Rights of Persons with Disability, and attention to special education in the developing world.
Advanced study of the modern origins of bioethics and its relation to persons with disabilities with particular attention to genetic fetal anomalies, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

2022-23 Semester Check-In Deadlines

All new students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.

SessionSemester Check-InSession Start Date
Session AFriday, August 12Monday, August 22
Session MFriday, September 9Monday, September 19
Session BFriday, October 14Monday, October 24
Session CWednesday, January 4Monday, January 9
Session TFriday, January 27Monday, February 6
Session DFriday, March 3Monday, March 13
Session EFriday, April 28Monday, May 8
Session FFriday, June 9Monday, June 19

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Step 2: Complete Your Admissions Questionnaire

  • After you submit your application, you will receive a link to complete the required admissions questionnaire.

Step 3: Submit Your Unofficial College Transcripts

  • Email your unofficial college transcripts to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: Unofficial Transcripts.
  • Upon conditional acceptance, Regent University will attempt to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution.
  • International transcripts must be evaluated by an NACES-approved company.

Step 4: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

  • Email a photo of your government-issued ID to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: Government ID.
  • Please note that all items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

PART-TIME STUDENTS

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Career Switcher$2506$1,500
Master of Education (M.Ed.)$5656$3,390
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)$8006$4,800
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)$8003$2,400
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)$8003$2,400

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Career Switcher$2509$2,250
Master of Education (M.Ed.)$5659$5,085
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)$8009$7,200
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)$8006$4,800
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)$8006$4,800

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$800
University Services Fee (Online Students)$650

Part-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Career Switcher$2506$1,500
Master of Education (M.Ed.)$5506$3,300
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)$7756$4,650
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)$7753$2,325
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)$7753$2,325

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Career Switcher$2509$2,250
Master of Education (M.Ed.)$5509$4,950
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)$7759$6,975
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)$7756$4,650
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)$7756$4,650

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$800
University Services Fee (Online Students)$650

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

Estimated Cost of Attendance: View the estimated cost of attendance to see an example of the total cost of tuition and fees.

Ph.D. Requirements

A Ph.D. student will (a) complete 21 hours associated with the Ed.D. core curriculum, (b) complete 24-26 hours associated with an Ed.D. concentration, (c) complete an additional 6 hours of research related credit, and (d) complete 16 hours of dissertation research credit—the total program is 67 hours. A candidate for the Ph.D. degree must present an acceptable research-based dissertation. The dissertation demonstrates that the candidate has technical competence in the field and has done research of an independent character. It must add to or modify what was previously known in the candidate’s field of interest or present a significant interpretation of the subject based upon original investigation and research.

Ph.D. students are required to take the following courses:
EDCO 806 Multivariate Statistics (3)
EHEA 805 Advanced Research Design and Analysis (3)

“What I love about Regent is being treated not only as a student trying to pursue an education but as a person who is trying to make a difference in the world.”

Jasmine Farnsworth, Doctor of Education, 2022

“Regent's Christian education program taught me best practices in education, and the faculty inspired and challenged me to reach my full potential.”

Randy Brunk, M.Ed., 1989 Head of Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy

“The Virginia Beach City Public Schools cohort of ESL teachers in training was the perfect platform in which to study and learn. Upon completion of my last TESOL class, I was blessed with the opportunity to join the ESL staff of VBCPS. The amazing faculty of Regent's TESOL department helped make it possible.”

Altina Suber, M.Ed., 2015 Teacher

“Looking back, I can take almost every single facet of my daily work and tie it to my training at Regent. ”

Thomas "Randy" Brunk, M.Ed., 1989 Head of School, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy

“The program offered a great financing opportunity for teachers, and it also had that caliber of education I was looking for but at a reasonable price. Plus, it’s local, yet also accessible from a distance.”

Kristin Garmin, M.Ed. , 2016 Reading Specialist (with endorsement)