The Department of Special Education offers a doctoral (Ph.D.) degree with a concentration in Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders (LD/BD). This program will prepare you to work in a variety of settings including higher education, leadership roles in schools and districts, and further research into the practices and interventions that effectively treat learning disabilities. This program focuses substantial coursework and research in the areas of reading and math disabilities as well as school-based behaviors.
During your studies, you will learn about trends and effective interventions used for individuals with learning disabilities and behavioral disorders. In addition, you will have the opportunity to explore courses in at least two other areas of Special Education, research methods, professional coursework, and courses outside the Department of Special Education.
You will be encouraged to become involved in research projects under the direction of faculty in the Department of Special Education. The program generally takes four years of full-time study to complete.
Faculty
 Doris BakerAssociate ProfessorDevelops and evaluates interventions and assessments using technology to support the academic success of Latinx students and other students whose home language is not English. |
 Diane Pedrotty BryantProfessorMollie Villeret Davis Professor in Learning Disabilities Researches instructional strategies and assistive technology adaptations for students with learning disabilities, specifically in Mathematics. |
 Nathan ClemensAssociate ProfessorFellow of Mollie Villeret Davis Professor in Learning Disabilities Works to enhance teachers’ ability to make data-based decisions, and improve interventions for students with reading difficulties. |
 Christian T. DoablerAssociate ProfessorFocuses on the instructional design and efficacy testing of early mathematics and science interventions for at-risk learners. |
 Peng PengAssistant ProfessorFocuses on embedding high-level cognitive skills training into academic instructions for children with severe learning disabilities that address the cognitive impairments underlying those disabilities. |
 Sarah PowellAssociate ProfessorDevelops and tests interventions for students with mathematics difficulties, emphasizing word-problem solving, mathematics writing, and the vocabulary within math. |
 Jessica TosteAssociate ProfessorFocuses on effective interventions for students with and at-risk for reading disabilities, with a focus on motivational process and use of data to improve instructional decision making. |
 Sharon VaughnExecutive Director, The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational RiskManuel J. Justiz Endowed Chair in Math, Science, and Technology in Teacher Education Investigates effective interventions for a diverse group of students with reading difficulties and students who are English language learners. |
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