Program Overview

The Ph.D. program in Special Education prepares leadership personnel to help shape the future of special education.The program focuses on outcomes that will prepare graduates in the areas of research, program development, leadership, and evaluation, and teacher preparation.

Program Handbook

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Tuition Cost Estimate

For the most accurate estimates of tuition please see the Cost Estimator located on the Student Business Services page. Below estimates do not account for potential scholarships, assistantships, or program-specific fees added to your bill. Please also remember that this not a tuition guarantee as the Texas Tech Board of Regents reviews tuition and fees annually.

Get a detailed tuition estimate ❯ - all fully online graduate students should select "TTU Online."

Degrees Offered

Ph.D., many courses offered at a distance. Program tracks and areas of focus include:

• Assessment Program Track
• Generic: High Incidence Disabilities Track
• Applied Behavior Analysis Program Focus
• Autism Program Focus
• Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program Focus
• Orientation and Mobility Program Focus
• Visual Impairment Program Focus
• Deafblind Focus

Career Opportunities with This Degree

Graduates are prepared for roles as faculty and researchers in university programs and specialists and consultants in direct-service agencies. The Ph.D. program in special education seeks to provide personnel for these roles by preparing reflective, culturally sensitive practitioners and leaders in the profession of education who practice within the Code of Ethics adopted by the Council for Exceptional Children.

Application Materials

College Transcripts – Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded to the Graduate School application. Information on submitting official transcripts will be provided to you by the Graduate School. Grade reports or unofficial transcripts from university web portals will not be accepted. Please redact the Social Security Number anywhere it appears on your transcript. If documents are written in a language other than English, a copy of a complete and official English translation must be provided with the original language records.

Required Supplemental Application Materials

Resume, Applicant Statement, 3 Professional Recommendations. Download a comprehensive list of requirements.

Application Process

Please visit the Graduate Application Process for more information on how to apply.

GRE Scores

• Due to ongoing accessibility concerns, the Graduate School has suspended GRE test score requirements for applications through at least Summer 2025. For more information, please contact the Graduate School.

Semester in which the program can be started.

Spring, Fall, or Summer I or II

Estimated Hours to Completion

90 credit hours for Ph.D.

Allowable Transfer Hours

30 credit hours maximum

Financial Aid

TTU Graduate School and COE scholarships, research assistantships, student loans (loans not available for cert only students)

Deadlines

No hard deadlines for applications. Continuous application review occurs but applicants are encouraged to apply early as acceptance to the program is competitive.

Tuition & Fees

Use the Student Business Services Tuition Estimator to estimate your costs.

Contacts

Faculty