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Colleges and Schools
Most K–12 educators are strong advocates for improved services for exceptional/disabled individuals. Unfortunately, resources for the delivery of these services are often far less than schools and school districts desire. At Walden, you will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to provide leadership in the special education field and to better assist your own students in the self-actualization process. Emphasis is on services to exceptional/disabled individuals and to the related areas of special education administration, including law, finance, and ethics. Graduates hold leadership, administrative, and teaching positions in schools and school districts and research and teaching positions at colleges and universities throughout the United States. Other positions include director of special education and director of disability services.
Completion Requirements
- 134 total quarter credit hours
- Foundation course: SBSF 8005 (6 cr.)
- KAMs and/or courses and research sequence (98 cr.)
- Proposal, dissertation, and oral presentation (30 cr.)
- Minimum 8–10 quarters enrollment
- 20 days of residency (two 4-day and two 6-day residencies)
For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call your enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336.
Walden offers frequent start dates so that you can begin when it’s convenient for you. Next Start Date: June 2. Admission policies vary by program. Call 1-866-492-5336 or apply now.
Core Curriculum
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| SBSF 8005 | Foundations for Doctoral Study | 6 |
| KAM I: Principles of Social Change | ||
| SBSF 8110 | Breadth: Theories of Social Change | 5 |
| EDUC 8121 | Depth: Current Research in Social Change: Special Education | 5 |
| EDUC 8131 | Application: Professional Practice and Social Change: Special Education | 4 |
| KAM II: Principles of Human Development | ||
| SBSF 8210 | Breadth: Theories of Human Development | 5 |
| EDUC 8221 | Depth: Current Research in Human Exceptionality | 5 |
| EDUC 8231 | Application: Professional Practice and Human Exceptionality | 4 |
| KAM III: Principles of Social Systems | ||
| SBSF 8310 | Breadth: Theories of Organizational and Social Systems | 5 |
| EDUC 8321 | Depth: Individuals With Special Needs: Social, Legal, Political, and Economic Systems in Context | 5 |
| EDUC 8331 | Application: Professional Issues in Organizations and Systems: Special Education | 4 |
Core Research Sequence
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| SBSF 8417 | Research Seminar I: Human Inquiry and Science | 4 |
| EDUC 8428 | Research Seminar II: Research Design in Education | 5 |
| EDUC 8438 | Research Seminar III: Quantitative Research in Education | 5 |
| EDUC 8448 | Research Seminar IV: Qualitative Research in Education | 5 |
Specialized KAMs
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| KAM V: Theories of Learning, Motivation, and Intelligence; and Implications for Persons With Special Needs | ||
| EDUC 8511 | Breadth: Theories and Principles of Human Learning and the Human Side of Exceptionalities | 5 |
| EDUC 8521 | Depth: Educators as Facilitators of Inclusive Learning in Varied Educational Environments | 5 |
| EDUC 8531 | Application: Educational Practice Grounded in Principles/Theories of Learning, Diversity, and Inclusion | 4 |
| KAM VI: Institutional Contexts for Special Education: Leadership, Learning, and Accommodation | ||
| EDUC 8611 | Breadth: Diversity and Exceptionality in Special Education: Leading Within Learning Organizations | 5 |
| EDUC 8621 | Depth: Due Process in Special Education: Legal and Moral Implications | 5 |
| EDUC 8631 | Application: Practical Issues in Placement and Service Delivery | 4 |
Advanced Research Sequence
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| EDUC 8458 | Conducting Pilot and Field Studies | 5 |
| EDUC 8468 | Communicating Knowledge in Educational Research | 4 |
Dissertation
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| EDUC 9000 | Dissertation | 30 |
Course Descriptions (pdf)
