PhD Special Education at University of Oregon

Programme overview

The PhD in Special Education prepares researchers and teachers for higher education, research positions with foundations, school district and state agency administration, and consultation. Faculty cover topics such as dual language learners, assessment, autism, social emotional learning, early childhood and equity in school discipline.

Faculty: College of Education | Department: Special Education and Clinical Sciences | Duration: 81 credits beyond the master's degree | Intake: Fall; final deadline January 4, 2027 for Fall 2027; cohort of 4-8 students per year | Location: Eugene, OR, United States

What you will study

The 81 credits include foundational coursework (doctoral seminar, history of special education and disability, research design, grant writing), 18 credits of research methods in two traditions, educational equity courses, 28 credits of electives and 18 credits of dissertation.

Career pathways

Research and teaching positions in higher education, research positions with private foundations, administrative positions in school districts and state agencies, and consultation.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Special Education PhD: for full consideration, applicants must have completed a master's degree before beginning; strong applicants usually have teaching experience and/or a master's. Materials: transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statement about working with individuals or families with disabilities, professional goals statement, resume or CV and a writing sample. Final deadline January 4, 2027. International applicants whose first language is not English: TOEFL iBT 88, IELTS 7.0 overall or Duolingo English Test 120 (University of Oregon graduate minimum), or a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an institution in Australia, Canada (excluding Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand or the United Kingdom. Application fee: $70 domestic, $90 international.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Each graduate programme sets its own application deadlines and required materials.

Graduate application fee: $70 for domestic applicants and $90 for international applicants for degree-seeking programmes; each doctoral programme sets its own deadlines.

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