Special Education Programs: Department of Health and Behavior Studies
Teachers College, Columbia University
525 West 120th Street—Box 223, New York, NY 10027-6966
Phone: 212-678-3880 Fax: 212-678-4034
DOCTORAL ADVISORY STATEMENT
Ed.D. and Ph.D.
Exceptionality Focus Area: Intellectual Disability/Autism (ITDS)
Program Advisor
Professor Hsu-Min Chiang (hchiang@tc.columbia.edu)
Intellectual Disability/Autism is one of the exceptionality focus areas that may be selected by
applicants to either the Ed.D. or the Ph.D. Program in Special Education. Individuals who are interested
in and committed to contributing to special education through leadership and applied research may apply
for the Ed.D. degree program (90 credits), which represents the highest level of achievement in the
profession. Individuals who are interested in scholarly careers as researchers and theoreticians in special
education, inclusive education, and related social sciences may apply for the Ph.D. degree program (90
credits), which represents the highest level of achievement in the Arts and Sciences. Interested students
should read the admission requirements and general information about the Ed.D. and Ph.D. Programs in
Special Education in the Teachers College catalog (available online at the Teachers College website)
before reading this supplementary statement.
The program of study in the intellectual disability/autism exceptionality focus area has been
designed to prepare graduates for a variety of leadership roles in the education of individuals with
intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities. Doctoral students may orient their
preparation towards careers as college and university professors, researchers and evaluators, program
directors, or curriculum and instructional specialists in a variety of school and community programs.
Students may also choose to emphasize a particular age or ability level through supervised internships,
independent study, and research.
Successful doctoral candidates will pass a doctoral certification examination in general special
education and will complete a doctoral certification project in their area of specialization. Upon
achieving official status as a doctoral candidate, students will be eligible to select a faculty committee
and begin work on their doctoral dissertation research.
May 24, 2013
Course requirements in each of the following categories must be satisfied in order to complete the 90credit Ed. D. or Ph. D. program:
1. Major/Exceptionality Focus (51 credits)
Masters level courses in intellectual disability/autism
HBSE 5010 Study of the philosophic foundations of special education
HBSE 6010 Advanced study of problems and issues in special education
HBSE 6501-I Advanced seminar in intellectual disability/autism
HBSE 6501-II Advanced seminar in intellectual disability/autism
HBSE 5901 Problems in special ed – intellectual disability/autism
HBSE 6401 Adv. internship in special ed – intellectual disability/autism
HBSE 4880 Opportunities & outcomes for people with disabilities
2.
Research Core (15 credits)
HUDM 4122
HUDM 5122
HBSE 6001
HBSE 6005
HBSE 6003
HBSE 7500
3.
Probability & statistical inference
Applied regression analysis
Research in special education: Experimental
Research in special education: Single-subject
Research in special education: Qualitative
Dissertation seminar
Credits
32
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
51
Credits
3
3
2
2
2
3
15
Professional Specialization (12 credits)
Students in the Ed.D. Program may select, in consultation with their advisor, a 12-credit
block of courses in instructional leadership, administration/supervision, research and evaluation,
or an academic cognate to constitute their area of professional specialization.
Students in the Ph.D. Program must complete a 12-credit block of courses in advanced
statistics and research/evaluation/measurement in lieu of a selected area of professional
specialization.
4.
Electives (12 credits)
Students in both the Ed.D. and Ph.D. programs may select both general elective courses
(6 credits) and elective courses in special education (6 credits).
May 24, 2013