Doctoral Student Handbook

The faculty and staff in the Department of Special Education welcome you as a doctoral student in our department. We are pleased that you have selected The University of Texas at Austin to pursue your doctoral degree and look forward to working with you throughout your academic career at UT.

The doctoral degree is the highest level of academic preparation in special education available at The University of Texas at Austin. The mission of the Department of Special Education is to advance society’s knowledge about disabilities and to enhance the capacity of society to accommodate and fully include persons with individual differences by preparing outstanding teachers, educators, counselors, educational leaders, rehabilitation professionals, and researchers.

The Department of Special Education is committed to preparing all its graduates to provide leadership in an increasingly multicultural and technological society.

This handbook provides you with key information on the procedures for completing your doctoral Program of Work in the Department of Special Education. This information, along with information provided by the Graduate School, will assist you in preparing for various aspects of your degree and in submitting required documents within established guidelines and in a timely manner.

All new students admitted to the Doctoral program in the Department of Special Education during the 2021-2022 academic year will be required to adhere to the Degree requirements described in this handbook. Changes in program requirements must be approved by the student’s Academic Adviser. Students who were admitted to the Doctoral program previous to the 2021-2022 academic year must use requirements described in the previous handbook.

The Department of Special Education website is updated on a regular basis. Information regarding University policies, procedures, deadlines, and forms required by the Graduate School can be found on the UT Graduate School website. We strongly encourage you to regularly check these resources for updated information.