Ed.D. – Special Education
Become a Champion in Special Education
Are you ready to lead and make a lasting difference in the underserved area of special education? Regent’s Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Special Education provides career development for special education teachers seeking leadership positions in special education research, practice, and policy. Here’s your chance to drive the change you want to see to best serve children, youth, and adults with high-incidence disabilities.
INCREASE YOUR INFLUENCE & SALARY
Advance in leadership roles and earn a higher salary.
WIDEN YOUR JOB PROSPECTS
Enjoy rewarding opportunities in schools and communities.
MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE THROUGH AN ED.D. IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
Create engaging special education environments that foster learning.
Presented from a Christian worldview, the Ed.D. in Special Education is supported by award-winning faculty in Virginia Beach.
Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.
On completing the Ed.D. – Special Education degree, you can:
- Interpret data so that you can draw sound conclusions and understand ramifications.
- Develop empirical, research-based interventions and develop tools to deter empirically unsupported yet perennially popular interventions.
- Explore the history of special education as well as current issues and best practices.
Career Opportunities
- Education Research
- Education Policy
- Education Advocacy & Consulting
- Central Office Executive Leadership
| EFND 725 | Advanced Study of Best Practices in Special Education | 3 | Advanced study of empirically based interventions for children with mild disabilities for academic, emotional, and social deficits. Emphasis on current best practices and practices often used but empirically unsupported as well as legal and ethical issues surrounding intervention implementation. |
| ESPC 705 | History of Special Education | 3 | An advanced historical survey of the origins of special education. Focus on historical figures in special education, their theories of and interventions with people with disabilities; on the evolution of the social construction of disability; on broad legal and ethical issues related to people with disabilities; and on some current issues facing the field. |
| ESPC 710 | Advanced Study of High-Incidence Disabilities | 3 | Advanced study of special education high-incidence disability categories: Learning Disabilities, Emotional and Behavioral Disturbance, and Intellectual Disabilities. Focus on the historical development of identification, including distinguishing characteristics and definitions, as well as empirically based interventions that address characteristic issues of each group. |
| ESPC 730 | Meta-Analysis in the Social Sciences | 3 | Advanced course in understanding and executing meta-analyses in special education or other social sciences. Study of the history of meta-analysis, its major functions and limitations, and the successful completion of a meta-analysis in a social science area. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor; prior completion of core courses in statistics and research design (e.g., EFND 702 & 722 or equivalent). |
| ESPC 740 | Fad Interventions in Special Education | 3 | Advanced study of empirically unsupported yet perennially popular interventions for children with disabilities. |
| ESPC 800 | Doctoral Seminar: The Editorial & Review Process | 3 | Advanced study of the entire publishing process from submission to publication for both authors and editors in special education or closely related areas. Examination of publication objectives for different audiences such as refereed vs. non-refereed journals and other publication formats. Study of duties related to guest reviewing, regular reviewing, editorial board duties, responsibilities of refereed journal editors and co-editors. Guest lectures by editors of journals in special education or related social science fields focusing on single/multiple author works and responsibilities, submitting or editing special journal issues highlighting current research and practice, and copy-editing for final printing. Writing and submitting an original article to a refereed journal. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor. |
| ESPC 830 | International Special Education | 3 | Advanced review of international special education; UN Charter, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to the Salamanca Statement and the Rights of Persons with Disability, and attention to special education in the developing world. |
| ESPC 840 | Bioethics in Special Education | 3 | Advanced study of the modern origins of bioethics and its relation to persons with disabilities with particular attention to genetic fetal anomalies, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. |
2024-25 Semester Check-In Deadlines
All students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.
| Session | Semester Check-In | Session Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| Session A | Friday, August 9 | Monday, August 19 |
| Session M | Friday, September 6 | Monday, September 16 |
| Session B | Friday, October 11 | Monday, October 21 |
| Session C | Wednesday, January 8 | Monday, January 13 |
| Session T | Friday, January 31 | Monday, February 10 |
| Session D | Friday, March 7 | Monday, March 17 |
| Session E | Friday, May 2 | Monday, May 12 |
| Session F | Friday, June 13 | Monday, June 23 |
Admissions Requirements
Step 1: Apply to Regent University
Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.
Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.
Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts
Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.
Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.
Step 3: Submit Your Government-Issued ID
To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.
Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.
Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.
PART-TIME STUDENTS
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Education (M.Ed.) | $565 | 6 | $3,390 |
| Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) | $800 | 6 | $4,800 |
| Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) | $800 | 3 | $2,400 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $800 | 3 | $2,400 |
Full-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Education (M.Ed.) | $565 | 9 | $5,085 |
| Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) | $800 | 9 | $7,200 |
| Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) | $800 | 6 | $4,800 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $800 | 6 | $4,800 |
Student Fees Per Semester
| University Services Fee (On-Campus Students) | $850 (Fall & Spring) $700 (Summer) |
|---|---|
| University Services Fee (Online Students) | $700 |
Part-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Education (M.Ed.) | $565 | 6 | $3,390 |
| Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) | $800 | 6 | $4,800 |
| Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) | $800 | 3 | $2,400 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $800 | 3 | $2,400 |
Full-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Education (M.Ed.) | $565 | 9 | $5,085 |
| Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) | $800 | 9 | $7,200 |
| Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) | $800 | 6 | $4,800 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $800 | 6 | $4,800 |
Student Fees Per Semester
| University Services Fee (On-Campus Students) | $850 (Fall & Spring) $700 (Summer) |
|---|---|
| University Services Fee (Online Students) | $700 |
*Rates are subject to change at any time.
Advanced Standing
Students possessing an Ed.S. or equivalent may be admitted to the Ed.D. program with advanced standing after a review of their post-master’s transcript(s). Offered in a cohort model. Students may begin the program in the spring, summer or fall semesters. Courses are delivered online with some required face-to-face components. School division cohorts are also offered in varying formats.