Mentoring and advising are an essential part of the program. Students meet with faculty and the academic program director to ensure that educational goals and career learning and development goals are met. To learn more about the program, prospective students should contact the program co-director, Dr. Agnesanne J. Danehey via email: adanehey@umd.edu.

• A 70-credit curriculum that provides provide high quality coursework, internships, and a research to practice doctoral capstone experience with mentoring by faculty, to develop scholars with top-quality special education leadership skills. Using a research-to-practice model, the Ed.D., USG will equip special education leaders with skills to implement and oversee effective evidence-based interventions to maintain high expectations and ultimately close the achievement gap for the children with disabilities.
• Plan of study includes completion of 70 credits over five years, with 54 credits of coursework, including internships, and 16 credits of doctoral capstone/dissertation. For the capstone project, scholars conduct research on a question or issue of interest under the mentorship of University of Maryland faculty during the final year of the program. Students formally defend their project in the final semester of the program.
• In this 5-year, part-time Ed.D., courses and associated program activities run fall, spring, and summer semesters. Two courses per semester in fall (August – December), two course per semester in spring (January-May), and during the summer semesters there may be a course and a program related project/activities depending on the year. Courses are scheduled back-to-back so graduate students take one course at a time.
• The Ed.D., USG prepares scholars to address the needs of students with disabilities, evaluate special and general education research to improve outcomes for students, and to understand current policy and legal issues regarding special education best practice.
• The table below provides an outline of the curriculum. Students take courses in several focus areas: Content, Leadership, Research, Internship, Doctoral Capstone Dissertation, and Other Professional Development.

The program features a mix of traditional seminar-style, in-person instruction, and online learning. Instruction is provided by University of Maryland faculty and professionals in the field.

In Person Instruction

• Instructors present dynamic and interactive seminar-style instruction. 
• Classes are held in The Universities at Shady Grove campus classrooms, offering a focused, distraction-free learning environment. 

Online Instruction

• Using advanced audio and video technology, UMD’s online learning environment delivers dynamic and interactive content.
• Featuring convenience and flexibility, online instruction permits asynchronous or synchronous participation.
• Students attend in real time via the use of webcams and headsets with microphones. Through synchronous participation, students see slides, see and hear instructors speaking, and also ask questions.
• Lectures are video archived. Students who are unable to attend in real time can review the session through asynchronous participation. 

Upon successful completion, graduates will have mastered the following competencies:

• Use effective “Assessment” practices to evaluate educational programs and personnel, serving individuals with disabilities and their families. They will be able to advocate for and implement procedures for the participation of individuals with disabilities in accountability systems; and design and implement evaluation procedures that improve instructional content and practices.
• Use “Curricular Content Knowledge” to evaluate educational programs and personnel serving individuals with exceptionalities and their families.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of “Programs, Services, and Outcomes” in the general education curriculum to achieve positive outcomes for individuals with disabilities and promote school engagement. Develop and implement a continuum of effective services using data-based educational expectations and evidence-based programs that account for the impact of diversity on individuals with exceptionalities and their families.
• Use “Research and Inquiry” in administrative practices to support individuals with exceptionalities and their families. Engage in data-based decision making for the administration of educational programs and services that support individuals with disabilities and their families. Participate in professional administrative organizations to guide administrative practices when working with individuals with disabilities and their families.
• Demonstrate knowledge of “Leadership and Policy Models” for the administration of programs and services, while understanding the significance of the laws as they apply to such, for individuals with disabilities and their families. Be knowledgeable of fiscal policies and funding mechanisms and be able to apply current laws and regulations to the administration of services. Develop a budget in accordance with local, state or national laws in education, social, and health agencies for the provision of services for individuals with exceptionalities and their families. Communicate a personal inclusive vision and mission for meeting the needs of individuals with exceptionalities and their families.
• Demonstrate knowledge of “Professional and Ethical Practice” in the administration of programs and services for individuals with exceptionalities and their families. Be knowledgeable of adult learning theories for professional development programs; as well as professional development practices that improve instruction and instructional content for individuals with exceptionalities. Know the effect of diversity on educational programming expectations for individuals with exceptionalities and their families. Know how to demonstrate a high standard of ethical administrative practice and know how to develop and implement professional development activities and programs that improve instructional practices and lead to improved outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities and their families.