Special Education PhD Admissions

Admissions

Application Timeline

Students are only accepted for fall admission. Late applications will not be considered.

  • Application Deadline: January 2nd
  • Priority Deadline: December 1st.  We will continue to review applications until the final College of Education application deadline (January 2), however, we encourage applicants to apply by the December 1st deadline in order to obtain full consideration for fellowships.
  • Applicant Interviews: Late February/Early March
  • Notification to Applicants about recommendation for admission: by Mid-March
  • Commitment to the Program: by April 15th

Prerequisites

Applicants applying for the PhD degree in Special Education should possess a master's degree in special education or a related area (e.g., psychology, school psychology, communication disorders, school counseling, elementary/secondary education, educational administration) and demonstrate they have met the prerequisite competencies in special education which include the foundations of special education (e.g., laws, policies, and beliefs), assessment, curriculum and instruction in special education, and child development. It is preferred that applicants possess a teaching and/or administrative license from an NCATE-approved program in special education or a related area and at least three years of teaching and/or administrative experience.

Applicants will meet criteria for admission to the Graduate School and admission policies of the College of Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Admission decisions are based on multiple sources of information. College transcripts, work experience, interests, and recommendations are considered in the selection process. Quantitative, verbal, and analytic aptitude, motivation to do well, a specific interest in the field of special education, and likely fit are four characteristics that are evaluated in the selection of potential doctoral students.  GRE  scores are not required for completion of our application but scores can be submitted optionally and will be considered along with the rest of your application materials.

Students selected from the initial applicant pool will be asked to campus for an interview with the faculty.

All doctoral students in the College of Education must demonstrate competency in five (5) required areas: social issues/justice, pedagogy (instruction), philosophy of education, and research. If these competencies have been met at the master's degree level, doctoral students will not be required to undertake additional course work in these areas upon admission. Elective courses may be used to meet these competencies.

Course completion culminates with the comprehensive exam, the successful completion of which marks the beginning of doctoral candidacy. The doctoral candidates then declare a program of doctoral research which ultimately leads to the PhD.

Required Application Materials

  • Online Application
  • 2 letters of recommendation that evaluate applicant’s educational and professional experiences
  • Personal statement including applicant's interest, skills, and career goals
  • Résumé
  • Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts

Optional Application Materials

  • GRE scores
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) - For international applicants.