DOCTORAL PROGRAMS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION WERE STUDIED IN 14 UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES WHICH RECEIVED FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR DOCTORAL STUDY IN AT LEAST THREE AREAS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION. DATA WERE COLLECTED THROUGH (1) REVIEW OF GRADUATE BULLETINS AND OTHER PUBLISHED MATERIALS ABOUT PROGRAMS, (2) INTERVIEWS WITH DOCTORAL ADVISERS AND ADVISEES IN EACH PROGRAM, AND (3) SITE VISITS TO SIX OF THE LARGER PROGRAMS. THE STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROGRAMS WERE ANALYZED AND DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. A SECTION FOR DISCUSSION AND INTERPRETATION INCLUDED SPECIAL COMMENTS ABOUT SEVERAL GENERAL FEATURES OF DOCTORAL STUDY. PROFESSIONAL LITERATURE AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS WERE REVIEWED AND SUMMARIZED WHERE APPROPRIATE. ALSO INCLUDED WERE REFERENCES, SAMPLES OF THE INTERVIEW SHEETS, AND SUMMARIES OF THE DOCTORAL REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH OF THE 14 UNIVERSITIES. (DF)