Department of Special Education

Doctoral Program Admission Requirements

All students applying for admission to the doctoral program in the Department of Special Education must meet the USF admission requirements.  In addition, the Department of Special Education has the following admission requirements.  Students must:

• Have a master's or educational specialist's degree, or equivalent, from a regionally accredited college or university.

• Have earned a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in upper division baccalaureate work, or a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in graduate coursework.

• Have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

• Provide three letters of recommendation from professionals who are familiar with their scholarship and work history.

• Provide evidence of at least three years of successful work experience in relevant professional roles.

• Present self professionally in an oral interview with two or more faculty members.

• Demonstrate the ability to write professionally by submitting a spontaneous writing sample at the time of the interview.

• Provide a statement of professional goals (immediate, intermediate, and long term) and research interests.  Professional goals and research interests should be compatible with the opportunities provided through a doctoral degree in special education.

• Receive endorsement by the majority of tenured and tenure-earning faculty members in the department.

This is a full-time program. However, in some instances, a small number of flex time students will be admitted. In rare and exceptional cases, candidates who do not meet the above requirements may be admitted if there is substantial alternative evidence indicating their potential to successfully complete the doctoral program.