New Walden specialization for those who teach adults
Do you teach at a community college or provide training for adults in a school district or corporate setting?
Walden’s new Ed.D. specialization in Higher Education and Adult Learning was designed to help you meet your professional goals.
Special Education
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
- 127 total quarter credit hours
- Foundation course: EDUC 8008 (6 cr.)
- KAMs and/or courses and research sequence (91 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.
Core Curriculum
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| EDUC 8008 | 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 Organizational and 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 |
| RSCH 8100D | Research Theory, Design and Methods | 4 |
| RSCH 8200D | Quantitative Reasoning | 4 |
| RSCH 8300D | Qualitative Reasoning | 4 |
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 | Advanced Research: Conducting Pilot and Field Studies | 5 |
| EDUC 8468 | Advanced Research: Communicating Knowledge in Educational Research | 4 |
Dissertation
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| EDUC 9000 | Dissertation | 30 |
Enrollment Advisors Help You Make an Informed Decision
Meet the advisors who will present you with a complete picture of the university to help ensure that you meet your goals.
