Special Education PhD
- Doctoral Degree
- Online
- Online
3-5 Years
Fall Term (Aug.)
$771/Credit
Online Doctorate in Special Education
Do you have a passion to expand and advance the field of special education? Our online Special Education Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is designed for you. This degree will help you pursue your specific interests and goals in the field. You’ll learn how to research, lead and improve programs for students with exceptionalities.
This program is delivered completely online, so you can earn your degree while you keep working. Study at your own pace with part-time or full-time enrollment. See the Course of Study section below for details.
What You’ll Learn
This core of this program is special education theory, teaching practices and research methodology. Beyond that you collaborate with your advisor and doctoral committee to tailor this program to your goals. You can learn about:
- Creating change
- Evidence-based practice
- Educating for diversity
- Categorical areas of special education
- Using research to truly help students
- Public policy, advocacy and discourse
The goal is to prepare you to be a special education leader who provides the best possible outcomes for students.
Your Career in Special Education
Become a Leader and Advocate
This degree prepares you for a wide range of leadership jobs. You will be ready to create change and become an advocate for students with exceptionalities. You can lead in:
- Public and private schools
- Colleges and universities
- Government agencies, businesses and non-profit organizations
Most importantly, you will empower yourself to improve the lives of infants, children and youth with exceptionalities.
Course of Study
Convenient Online Delivery
- You will take content courses in the fall and spring terms. Three 16-week courses are available. You can enroll in 1–3 courses.
- In Summer terms, you will focus on electives, research tools courses, externship and your dissertation. These courses are also available in fall and spring if needed.
Full-time or part time: Choose the enrollment level that is right for you. Full-time students generally finish in three years. Part-time students typically finish within five years.
To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for this program.
Courses and Requirements
This is a 77-83 credit doctoral degree program.
You can complete the program in 77 credits. Additional credit hours could be required depending on your research tools coursework choices, or if you add additional externship hours.
View Courses & Degree Requirement Details
Area of Special Interest
Working with your advisor, you can choose to select an Area of Special Interest. Topics include curriculum, administration, university teaching and categorical areas of special education. You can also choose Director of Gifted Education Endorsement preparation. Contact the Program Coordinator for details and advice based upon your academic background.
Transfer Credit
If you have taken graduate courses that align with program courses, you can request transfer credit. Approved transfer credit can reduce the cost of completing this program. Program faculty will review your transfer credit to confirm that it matches course content and objectives. See the full graduate transfer credit policy for details.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Anna Taylor
Enrollment Counselor
Silvia Correa-Torres
Program Coordinator
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): UNC provides a health insurance plan to all degree-seeking graduate students who are enrolled in 6 or more credits for a term. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you can opt out of this plan. Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.
Graduate Assistantships
Paid graduate assistant opportunities are available for this program. We encourage you to apply as early as possible for the best chance at an assistantship. If you have any questions, contact the Program Coordinator.
Federal Financial Aid
Degree-seeking students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Doctoral degree students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full-time enrollment is based on 9 credits per term.
You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC Applying for Aid page provides important dates, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).
- Late FAFSA submissions are still accepted throughout the academic year, but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.
- If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses.
- Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.
You can also find helpful information in the Federal Student Aid Resources.
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
- Possess a master’s degree from an institutionally accredited college or university.
- Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better, on a 4.00 point scale, for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are in the process of completing a previous degree or have special GPA considerations, please read the specific requirements for this program type.
- The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for graduate school admission.
Program-Specific Requirement
- If you have not taken SRM 600 Introduction to Graduate Research or an equivalent course, you will need to take it before taking your first SRM course in the program. This not required at the time of admission.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.
International Student Eligibility
You are eligible to apply: We accept international students to online UNC programs. We can’t guarantee that our programs meet distance education requirements for every country. Before you apply, check your country’s policies and regulations. You should not apply if you live in a country that is subject to U.S. sanctions.
No student visa: Students in online UNC programs do not need to come to the United States. You will not get a student visa or receive any immigration documentation. You do not need to provide financial documentation when applying.
You will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Applying as an international student
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Meet the Program Faculty
Visit the Academic Department
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Application Deadline
Completed applications (including all supplemental materials) are due Dec. 15 each year (for Fall term start).
Admission is competitive, and all applications will be reviewed as a group after the deadline.
Application Process Details
On the application, you will choose:
- Special Education (Ph.D.)
- Start term: Fall Term (Aug.)
View the full program-specific application details in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
Apply to This Program
Register & Start Your Application
Submit a Started Application
Application Checklist & Status