The Special Education doctoral program is a full-time course of study designed to prepare students for academic positions in universities and research institutions. The program offers challenging coursework grounded in the field's most current evidence and the latest advancements in research methodologies. Doctoral students receive valuable vita-building research and teaching competencies that provide a competitive advantage upon graduation.  

The Special Education Doctoral Program reviews applications in December and April each year. For faculty interest areas and contact information click here.

Below are just a few of the unique qualities of the Special Education doctoral program:

Our Faculty

     • Special education faculty include world-class leaders who publish extensively in the areas of

o Academic interventions for students with or at-risk of learning and behavioral problems
o Applied behavior analysis
o Autism
o Differentiated instruction
o Emotional/behavioral disorders
o Interventions for students with challenging behaviors
o Early literacy
o Formative progress measures for academic performance and social behavior
o Positive behavior support and school-wide discipline
o Self-determination
o Transition/secondary education

     • Faculty research projects are supported by external funding sources from a number of federal, state, and local entities. The array of research projects within our program provides opportunities for doctoral students to collaborate and gain valuable grant management and collaborative research experience.

Our Students

     • SPED doctoral students are actively involved in innovative field-based research collaboratives with faculty and are also afforded opportunities to

o Conduct their own original research
o Present at national conferences
o Publish in high-quality journals.

     • Our students co-author publications in a variety of journals including:

o Developmental Neurorehabilitation
o Exceptional Children
o Journal of Behavioral Disorders
o Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities
o Journal of Science Teacher Education
o Journal of Special Education
o Journal of Special Education Technology
o Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
o Remedial and Special Education
o Review of Educational Research

     • SPED doctoral students present at national conferences including:

o Council for Exceptional Children
o Association for Behavior Analysis International
o Association for Positive Behavior Supports

Our Program

     • We are home to a nationally funded Center for Disability and Development.
     • We offer competitive opportunities for various sources of funding for our doctoral students. While we make every effort to match students with funding opportunities, early applicants have a competitive advantage.
     • The program consists of extensive coursework in cutting-edge research design and statistical methodologies.
     • Students receive specialized coursework in special education practices and related issues.
     • Additional core competencies are designed to enhance student competence in grant writing, research, and college teaching.

We invite you to learn more about the Special Education Program's innovative doctoral program.

Contact us:
Graduate Academic Advisor
College of Education and Human Development
Department of Educational Psychology
4225 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-4225
(979) 845-1833
epsyadvisor@tamu.edu