About the Special Education Program
In conjunction with the state of Texas, the special education program provides for coursework in the certification areas of generic special education, educational diagnostician, visual impairment, and deaf education. Additional national certifications are available in orientation and mobility and applied behavior analysis. Students in the graduate special education program are prepared to work with individuals with disabilities in a variety of settings, including the public schools, higher education, and the private sector. To obtain a professional certificate in the state of Texas, students must pass TExES examination(s) for their area as well as meet other State Board for Educator Certification requirements.
Specific areas of interest within the special education program include autism, applied behavior analysis, generic special education, orientation and mobility, visual impairment, deafblindness, and deaf education.
A minimum of 36 hours is required for the master’s degree. Additional hours are required for certain certificates. Students may select to write a thesis or complete the non-thesis route. Most of the courses in the master’s program in special education are available online.
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Special Education offers both online and limited face-to-face programming requiring 90 credit hours. Courses in the doctoral core are generally available throughout the year, including the summer sessions. The doctoral courses are available online. The Special Education Ph.D. offers a track for students interested in a generic or assessment special education emphasis.
Special education program applicants for the certification, master’s, or doctoral program must complete an application found at www.depts.ttu.edu/education/graduate/. Acceptance to the master’s program does not guarantee later acceptance to the doctoral program. For additional information, visit www.educ.ttu.edu.
