A Consumer's Report to Special Education Doctoral Programs

Abstract

The marketplace for new graduates of doctoral training programs in special education has changed from one in which demand exceeded supply to a more balanced one in which supply meets or may exceed demand. The resulting competition for faculty positions has resulted in higher expectations of these applicants by special education departments, a major "consumer" of the "products" of doctoral training programs. Results of recent searches for new faculty members indicate that those who have accomplished professionally valued objectives during their doctoral training have a distinct advantage over those who have completed only a "traditional" doctoral program. Implications for doctoral training and future investigations are discussed from a "consumer's" point of view.