Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services
Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling
The department’s Ph.D. program in Disability Disciplines prepares graduates for university faculty positions in research and personnel preparation in the areas of special education, rehabilitation, applied behavior analysis, speech-language pathology, pathokinesiology, and audiology. The PhD program is designed to develop students’ competence in (1) mastery of the theoretical and applied content underlying the provision of appropriate and effective services for persons with disabilities; (2) ability to conduct independent research; and (3) ability to conduct effective personnel preparation, including college teaching and supervising students who are learning to deliver services.
The PhD is available at Utah State University’s main campus in Logan, Utah.
Degree Completion Requirements:
- A master’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or a similarly recognized international university is required for admission to and completion of a graduate program.
- Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades of C- or lower will not be accepted for a graduate degree.
- Depending on specialization, 57 – 61 credits are required beyond master’s degree
- A doctorate must be completed within eight years of entering the degree program.
Coursework
Coursework includes a set of core courses that establish a foundation and framework for a rigorous and scholarly understanding of issues related to disability disciplines. In addition, each specialization provides unique coursework focused on issues that are more specific to that specialization. See details of specializations for details.
Preliminary Exams
Early in his/her program - typically after one year of full-time study - students must pass a preliminary exam. This two-part exam is completed across a two-day period. Components of the exam required of all Disability Disciplines students are:
- Critique of Research: The student critiques a manuscript reporting research relevant to their specialization.
- Design of Research: The student outlines the design of a research project on a given topic relevant to their specialization.
In addition, specializations may include an examination of disciplinary knowledge on a third day of the preliminary exam.
Products and Demonstrations of Competence
A set of seven required products and demonstrations of competence provide a context for collaboration and mentoring around the critical skill sets necessary for successful university professors. The products and demonstrations of competence include research, college teaching, supervision, conference presentation, publication, review of literature, and grant writing. These activities are focused on the particular content and issues that are important within the student’s specialization. Thus, the products and internships provide both a cohesive program-wide structure and disciplinary depth. This set of activities constitutes the program’s comprehensive exam; they must be completed before the student proposes their dissertation.
Dissertation
The dissertation is the culminating project of the doctoral program. It involves original research that advances the field by contributing new knowledge that is relevant to an important question. The dissertation is a creative and scholarly endeavor that builds upon the student’s coursework, products and demonstrations of competence, and extensive mentoring from the faculty. A dissertation proposal is written by the graduate student and approved by the student’s supervisory committee prior to data collection.
Successful defense of the dissertation is required for graduation.
Specializations
Applied Behavior Analysis with Individuals with Disabilities
The Applied Behavior Analysis doctoral specialization prepares graduates to be highly effective university faculty and behavior analytic practitioners who significantly improve individuals’ lives through research, intervention, and teaching.
The specialization offers students the opportunity to advance their behavior analytic skills by taking advanced coursework in behavior analysis theory, research and practice; practicing applied behavior analysis in clinical and educational settings; and collaborating extensively with faculty in the areas of research, teaching, and staff supervision.
For more specific information, please visit the department’s website: https://cehs.usu.edu/sperc/sped/doctoral/applied-behavior.
Audiology Specialization
The Audiology doctoral specialization prepares graduates to be highly effective university faculty in audiology programs. Prospective students enter the program with an earned graduate degree in audiology (AuD, MS). Programs of study can be created for students with an earned bachelor’s degree in Communicative Disorders, or for students interested in completing a combined AuD/PhD.
For more specific information, please visit the department’s website: https://cehs.usu.edu/sperc/sped/doctoral/audiology.
Pathokinesiology
The Pathokinesiology specialization within the Disability Disciplines doctoral program focuses on the scientific study of human movement (kinesiology) as it relates to any abnormal condition (patho) affecting movement or postural dysfunction. The specialization is designed to prepare students to be productive in research and to pursue a career in academia or industry. The program offers training to investigators who seek to answer questions about human movement, its functions and dysfunctions. Students will be exposed to three core areas: motor control, motor learning and biomechanics.
For more specific information, please visit the department’s website: https://cehs.usu.edu/sperc/sped/doctoral/pathokinesiology.
Rehabilitation Counselor Education and Supervision
The Rehabilitation Counselor Education and Supervision doctoral specialization at Utah State University offers students a unique combination of extensive collaboration with faculty; direct experience in research, teaching, counselor supervision, and grant writing; and focus on preparing outstanding rehabilitation counselor educators and researchers. This specialization prepares graduates to be highly effective university faculty and agency administrators in rehabilitation counseling. Graduates significantly improve the lives of persons with disabilities through research, teaching, and program administration.
For more specific information, please visit the department’s website: https://cehs.usu.edu/sperc/sped/doctoral/rehabilitation-counseling.
Special Education
The Special Education specialization of the Disability Disciplines PhD prepares graduates to be effective university faculty in special education who significantly improve children’s lives through research, scholarship, and teaching.
This doctoral specialization offers students a unique combination of extensive collaboration with faculty; direct experience in research and scholarship, teaching, supervision, and writing; behavior analytic orientation to special education; and focus on producing outstanding special education services.
For more specific information, please visit the department’s website: https://cehs.usu.edu/sperc/sped/doctoral/special-education.
Speech-Language Pathology
The Speech-Language Pathology specialization within the Disability Disciplines PhD brings together faculty and students across disciplinary and departmental lines to explore interrelated aspects of disabilities.
For more specific information, please visit the department’s website: https://cehs.usu.edu/sperc/sped/doctoral/speech-language-pathology.
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