Disability and Equity in Education, Ed.D.

Social equity and justice require action and social action requires leaders who are critically reflective, future-oriented thinkers willing to take risks and accept responsibilities for enacting the vision of a just society. The heart of the Disability and Equity in Education doctoral program is a commitment to working actively and strategically toward social justice and equity in schools, communities, policy, politics and practice.

This program is designed for those interested in exploring the historical, political, social, cultural, pedagogical and philosophical values, beliefs and processes that have constructed disability in education. The Disability and Equity in Education program prepares educators for roles in higher education, teacher education, research, community leadership or public policy analysis.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):

PLO1. Understand relationships with and among authors, texts, and audiences in the form of speech, conversation, writing and enactment

PLO2. Foster appreciation of different types of knowledge, scholarship, and research

PL03. Gain an advanced level of understanding and skills of collaborative learning and communication

PLO4. Enhance the knowledge of professional ethics and responsibilities

In addition to National College of Education Doctoral Admissions Requirements, applicants must:

• Submit three letters of recommendation. Two of the three required letters should be completed by people who can attest to the candidate’s capacity to complete rigorous graduate studies and one by a person supervising the applicant’s professional work.
• Submit written responses to the following four questions:
  • What are your professional goals and how do you envision doctoral experiences supporting and/or relevant to achieving those goals?
  • What previous professional and personal experiences encouraged you to apply to this doctoral program?
  • Please explain what readings, academic studies or specific ideas have contributed to your current understandings as a professional.
  • How do you strive to enact these understandings?
• Note: The admission process occurs in two stages:
  • First, the applicant submits the application and supporting documentation to the Office of Admissions by the published deadlines. The Office of Admissions will forward to the doctoral committee the completed application form once all documentation is received. A faculty committee will review the documents and decide if and when to invite the applicant for a second stage of the admissions process.
  • The second stage will consist of having all applicants who appear to be a good match for the program being invited to campus for the second stage of the review process that includes three components: a group interview, a written response, and an individual interview
  • The first part of this will be a group interview in which a faculty committee will interview applicants as a group. This will include a discussion/conversation among the candidates and the committee members, focusing on an article, selected by faculty and sent to the applicant in advance. 
  • After the group discussion, students will write a reflective essay on the ideas provoked by the discussion. Faculty will later review the essays to assess the student’s ability to construct a written document. 
  • Individual interviews will follow the writing portion to enable faculty and the applicant to focus on individual and programmatic goals

Program Details:

• Requires 63 SH for completion
• Requires a qualifying paper
• Requires a dissertation

Required Courses

Foundational Courses - 19 SH

CCD 606	Scholarly Habits of Mind I	2
CCD 607	Scholarly Habits of Mind II	2
CCD 615	Psychological Foundations of Teaching and Learning	3
CCD 620	Epistemology of Learning, Teaching and Inquiry	3
CCD 625	Critical Policy Analysis	3
CCD 630	Teacher Knowledge in Disciplines	3
CCD 698	Dissertation Research Seminar	1 TO 3

Note: CCD 698 must be taken for a total of 3 semester hours.

Disability and Equity in Education Major - 15 SH

DEE 604	Social and Political Implications of Assessment	3
DEE 605	History of Disability and Education	3
DEE 606	Applied Disability Studies: Advocacy Through Consulting	3
DEE 690	Seminar: Special Topics in Disability and Equity in Education	1 TO 12
DEE 693	Disability Studies in Education Seminar	3

Note: DEE 690 must be taken for a total of 3 semester hours. 

Research and Dissertation - 19 SH

ESR 608	Foundations of Doctoral Research	2
ESR 612	Statistical Methods in Research	3
ESR 614	Interpretive and Critical Research Methodology	3
ESR 616	Mixed Methods Design	3
	or
ESR 618	Interpretive and Critical Research Design	3
CCD 699E	Dissertation	1 TO 8

Note: CCD 699E must be taken for a total of 8 semester hours.

Program Electives - 9 SH

Choose 9 SH of NCE graduate courses in consultation with the doctoral advisor

Qualifying Paper

Students take the qualifying exam when they have completed their coursework or in conjunction with their last required program course. If they have completed all coursework before taking the qualifying exam, they may also register for dissertation hours. Students will work with a faculty advisor to plan a qualifying paper that represents a synthesis of their learning. This plan must be approved by the faculty advisor for the paper’s focus and the start date. Before starting the writing, but after obtaining approval, the student registers for CCD 696E.