Applying to the Joint Doctoral Program in Special Education

Application for Admissions Deadline

Deadline, December 1 (Fall Admission Only)

Application Checklist

San Francisco State University

• SFSU Application: To be completed after a final selection of candidates are determined for admission. Students selected for admisison will be notified by the SPED department to complete the appropriate admission applications.

University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

• Departmental Application for Graduate School of Education
• Application Fee
• Two sets of official transcripts of all universities and colleges attended (graduate and undergraduate)
• Graduate Application for Admission and Fellowships (Sections A, B, F, G, H;  Section F–Fellowships)
• (Not required for fall 2022) GRE (verbal, quantitative and written analytical scores available from within the last 5 years)
• Letters of Recommendation
• For additional information see UCB Graduate School of Education

If you are recommended for admission you will be directed to formally apply to Graduate Studies at San Francisco State University.

Initial Screening of Applicants

Your completed application is preliminary for the initial screening of all candidates. Evaluation of applicants includes consideration of the following:

• undergraduate grade point average
• graduate grade point averages
• verbal and quantitative scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• letters of recommendation from professional sources
• statement of purpose
• writing sample
• related professional experience
• personal interview for semi-finalists

General Admission Information

Following admission to the program, coursework and requirements at both campuses include:

• A minimum of two years full-time study with courses taken at
  SFSU and UCB
• Three areas of specialization or "emphasis"
• Three position papers
• Oral Qualifying Examination
• Dissertation

Inquiries and More Information

For additional inquiries, please contact our offices for program information and Faculty referrals:

Joint Doctoral Program
Department of Special Education
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
Burk Hall 156
San Francisco, CA 94132 USA
Phone: (415) 338-1161
Email: spedcd@sfsu.edu

Education Admissions Office
Joint Doctoral Program, Special Education
Graduate School of Education
2121 Berkeley Way
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-1670 USA
Phone: (510) 642-0841

Caron Williams
(510) 642-4202
spedinfo@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail)

Faculty Coordinator Contacts

San Francisco State University, Coordinator
Gloria Soto, Ph.D.
Professor and Co-Director
Joint Doctoral Program in Special Education,
San Francisco State University

University of California, Coordinator
Anne J. Cunningham, Ph.D.
Professor and Co-Director
Graduate School of Education,
The University of California, Berkeley