Doctoral Programs

The Joint Ph.D. Program in Special Education is offered jointly by the Department of Special Education in the GCOE at SF State and the Graduate College of Education at the University of California at Berkeley. Candidates in the Joint Ph.D. Program are often practitioners in special education and related fields who seek leadership positions in the field. Experiences of students in the Joint Ph.D. program include opportunities to combine theory and applied practice in their research contributions to advance the field, working with mentors from SF State and UC Berkeley. Graduates of the Joint Ph.D. Program assume leadership positions as university faculty, researchers, administrators and supervisors in professional preparation programs for individuals with disabilities across the life span and settings in schools and communities.

The Ed.D. Educational Leadership Program is offered within the Graduate College of Education and is designed to prepare leaders in educational systems for young children through secondary education and in post-secondary education at two-year and four-year colleges. Candidates who enter the Ed.D. Program are often experienced educators who seek leadership positions as administrators, program developers, professional development directors, researchers and faculty to advance education programs for children, youth and adults in schools and communities. The Ed.D. Program at SF State is focused on social justice to ensure that graduates become leaders to improve educational systems to become leaders to improve educational systems to advance equity and access to education for all. Ed.D. students work closely with faculty mentors to complete dissertation work that make real, practical, and immediate impact to improve equity and social justice for students at all grade levels and from all backgrounds.