Ph.D. in Special Education: Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The Ph.D. in Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is administered and awarded through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Columbia University. The degree requires a minimum of 84 credits beyond the master’s degree and presumes a background in and/or direct professional experience in working with individuals who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing. The Ph.D. program comprises several areas of study including: 1) advanced study in general special education, 2) advanced study in research paradigms, 3) advanced study in the education of the d/Deaf and hard of hearing, and 4) advanced study in a professional specialization.
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 terms.
Program is not accepting applications for the 2025 cycle.
Doctor of Philosophy
- Points/Credits: 84
- Entry Terms: Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based, Part-Time Campus-Based
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term Available | Priority Deadlines | Final Deadlines | Extended Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Summer | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Fall | December 1, 2024 | July 1, 2025 | N/A |
Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines, such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.
Application Requirements
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume | |
| Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed | |
| Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable) | |
| $75 Application Fee | |
| Two (2) Letters of Recommendation | |
| Academic Writing Sample | |
| GRE General Test | |
| Interview (phone, video, or in-person) required |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact HAEPadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2024-2025)
Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 terms.
ard of Hearing
The Ph.D. doctoral program is divided into several areas of study including 1) advanced study in general special education, the philosophy of science, and theory building; 2) advanced study in a minimum of two paradigms of research; 3) advanced study in the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, including advanced study in linguistics, psycholinguistics, and developmental psycholinguistics; and 4) a professional specialization.
The Ph.D. in Special Education: Deaf and Hard of Hearing is administered and awarded through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Columbia University and requires the equivalent of an undergraduate liberal arts degree. The degree requires a minimum of 54 credits beyond the master’s degree and presumes a background in, and/or direct professional experience in, working with individuals who are deaf or Hard of Hearing.
Core Requirements for all Ph.D. Special Education majors (15):
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HBSE 5010 Study of the Philosophic Foundations of Special Education (3)
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HBSE 6001 Research in Special Education: Group Design (3)
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HBSE 6010 Advanced Study of Problems and Issues in Special Education (3)
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HBSE 6031 Research in Special Education: Single Case Design (3)
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HBSE 7500 Dissertation Seminar in Special Education (3)
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HBSE 8907 Dissertation Advisement in Special Education: Deaf and Hard of Hearing (0)
Research Requirement (15)
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HUDM 4122 Probability and Statistical Inference (3)
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HUDM 5122 Applied Regression Analysis (3)
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HUDM 5123 Linear Models (3)
Advanced Statistics/Research/Evaluation/Measurements Courses (examples listed below)
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HUDM 5059 Psychological Measurement (3)
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HUDM 6122 Multivariate Analysis I (3)
Area of Concentration: Deaf and Hard of Hearing (18):
Deaf and Hard of Hearing (6)
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HBSE 5907 Problems in Special Education: Deaf and Hard of Hearing (3)
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HBSE 6507 Advanced Seminar in Special Education: Deaf and Hard of Hearing (3)
Depending upon the student’s background and research interest, the student is expected to choose 12 credit hours of study in a specialization area determined through advisement.