The focus of the program is to prepare scholars for leadership roles in teaching, research, and program supervision and development, depending on a student's program goals and objectives. The Ed.D. and Ph.D. degrees represent alternate but comparable doctoral programs in psychological and educational studies each with a specialization in special education.  A person pursuing either degree program must possess competence in teaching.  There are, however, the following distinctions.

Doctor of Education, (Ed.D.)  The emphasis is upon the application of theory to the improvement of educational practice.  The test of knowledge is the skill to demonstrate applicability to a variety of educational situations.  Emphasis is upon the development of decision oriented inquiry skills in which the educator applies theory and knowledge to the solution of educational problems.  The person holding the Doctor of Education degree is a practitioner of education, but one whose practice draws from a highly developed, scholarly study of educational theory coupled with skills of analysis which permit direct application of that theory.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)  The emphasis is upon the generation of new knowledge or the reformulation of existing knowledge as a basis for the development of educational theory through research efforts.  The test of knowledge for a person working on this degree is not conditioned upon skill to improve educational practice but on possible contribution to the development of educational theory.  Persons educated in this way may aid in the improvement of practice, but their interests in the results are conditioned primarily by the extent to which they help in reformulation of their own theoretical base.

Selection of Options The student chooses the degree in relation to stated goals.  The issue to consider is whether the person wants to become a skilled practitioner or a skilled theoretician in educational studies with an specialization in special education.  For more information on the differences in these degree options see the UNL Graduate Studies Bulletin or contact any of the faculty listed below.

All applicants for the doctoral program in special education are required to discuss their professional goals/interests with at least one faculty member in the department and secure faculty sponsorship before admission is awarded.

A full description of the Doctoral Program degree requirements is available from the Graduate Secretary in Room 318, Barkley Memorial Center or at 402-472-2141.