Special Education Leadership and Advocacy (PhD)

The doctoral program in Special Education Leadership and Advocacy (SELA) is designed for candidates who desire to continue their education as educators, administrators, and scholars prepared for leadership and administration roles in the area of special education in PreK-22 schools, public or private institutions, and/or educator preparation higher education programs. This program develops special education experts who can design, implement, evaluate, supervise, manage, and lead programs in a variety of public and private settings, with an emphasis on advocacy—helping others understand their rights and responsibilities.

The goals of doctoral study in this program are to:

• Develop the abilities for research and critical thinking in the field of special education, leadership, special education administration, and advocacy from a domestic and international lens;
• Exhibit high standards of professional competence and ethical practice;
• Critically analyze and apply theoretical and practical knowledge across settings;
• Develop competency in special education leadership, administration, specialized instruction, curricular access, accessible technology,  program development, and program evaluation;
• Improve understanding of the needs of families as it relates to special services;
• In the work of serving those with disabilities and their families, understand the role of collaboration and advocacy in supporting key stakeholders specific to main social issues regarding disability;
• Expand existing special education and related service provider’s or current special education administrator’s, knowledge, skills, and application of leadership and advocacy relevant to special education, disability, and learning differences in PreK-22 settings and higher education applications;
• Teach future special education administrators/directors to establish, supervise, and oversee equitable and effective special education systems and increase current special education leader’s expertise, and
• Analyze, synthesize, support, and lead change efforts related to teacher development in special education; and
• Remain current as a scholar:
  • understand, conduct, disseminate, and critically evaluate original research
  • promote the learning of others through strong written and oral communication
  • critically analyze and understand content in one’s chosen field
  • prepare program development and research proposals