Office of Admissions
2136 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20052
Telephone Number: 202-994-9283
E-mail Address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Hours of Operation: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Special Education
More than 10 percent of school-age children have diagnosed disabilities requiring special education services. An estimated 25 percent are at-risk for academic or social difficulties requiring early intervention and related services. New research is transforming our understanding of how children grow and acquire language, knowledge and skills. We also have new understandings of how children conceptualize their social, emotional and moral worlds. These discoveries have enormous implications for the development of children at risk and with disabilities.
The doctoral program is designed to prepare students to apply the research from the fields of cognitive and neuroscience to teacher training, intervention and prevention programs in education and related interdisciplinary service delivery fields.
Special Education
Doctor of Education
Department of Special Education and Disability Studies
Mission and Program Outcomes
This program takes an interdisciplinary approach to the preparation of special education scholars and leaders. The program is designed to support the development of doctoral students who possess knowledge of emerging research from the fields of cognitive and neuroscience and an understanding of its capacity to change understanding of human growth and development processes across the life span. It incorporates the changing knowledge landscape of human growth and development by offering opportunities to translate and apply new neuroscience research for populations at risk for atypical development and learning processes. The special education curriculum and student research opportunities are aligned with developing knowledge about the plasticity of the brain and neurological processes as they relate to cognition, language and social-affective development. The program's course work is designed to deepen knowledge of disability in society and understanding of the response of social institutions to atypical development. Also, the program includes a common leadership and research core, and students may work with faculty who have research interests in several focus areas, including early intervention and early childhood, secondary and transition to post-secondary, emotional and behavioral disabilities, and bilingual special education.
The doctoral program seeks applicants who can advance collaborative, interdisciplinary research aimed at improving outcomes for children and families. Candidates are prepared for leadership in academic settings, research communities, policy making, and advocacy organizations. The ideal candidate can assume leadership responsibilities that include translation of scholarly information from cognitive neuroscience into educational practice and policy. Also, candidates are expected to lead transformative efforts to improve the lives of all children and reduce the historical and continuing social exclusion of children with disabilities.
Program Coordinator
Program Details
Program Locations
Foggy Bottom Campus (DC)
57-62 Credit Hours (without dissertation research)
Dissertation research: minimum 12 research hours
Sampling of coursework:
- Foundations of Neuroscience in Special Education
- Disability and Contemporary Society
- Research and Trends in Special Education
- Doctoral Clinical Internship
Admissions Deadline:
Fall - January 15 (Priority deadline to be considered for tuition support) or April 1 (final deadline)
Spring: October 1
Semesters for Entry:
Fall and Spring
For more information, please contact:
| Andre Wright Assistant Director of Admissions 202-994-1450 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Dr. Carol Kochhar-Bryant |
Follow us on Twitter @GSEHDAdmissions to keep updated on opportunities and processes for funding, application tips and deadlines, as well as upcoming events.
Special Education
Education Specialist
Department of Special Education and Disability Studies
Concentrations: Leadership and policy development, personnel training, assessment and programming, and research
Mission and Program Outcomes
This program provides advanced professional preparation for individuals who have demonstrated capacity leading in the special education field. This program is designed to prepare school-based special educators and leaders with the knowledge and expertise to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students, including those with special education needs. It trains highly qualified educators to promote and implement evidence-based inclusive practices for individuals with exceptional learning needs and to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment to support culturally and linguistically diverse student needs within the school and community. Graduates of this program will earn the degree in Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) in Special Education.
Program Coordinator
Program Details
Program Locations
Foggy Bottom Campus (DC)
57-62 Credit Hours
Sampling of coursework:
- Leadership and System Change
- Collaboration Service Coordination
- Legal Issues and Public Policy
Admissions Deadline:
Spring: October 1
Summer: March 1
Semesters for Entry:
Spring and Summer
For more information, please contact:
Andre Wright, Assistant Director of Admissions
Phone: 202-994-1450
E-mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Follow us on Twitter @GSEHDAdmissions to keep updated on opportunities and processes for funding, application tips and deadlines, as well as upcoming events.
