Doctor of Philosophy in
Communication Sciences and Disorders

Applicants wishing to pursue the Ph.D. design a program suited to meet their future teaching and research goals in speech-language pathology, audiology, and/or applied speech/hearing sciences within the framework of the core requirements described below. For full-time students, it is anticipated that they can complete the Ph.D. in three years. There is also a Ph.D. program handbook that details the admission and degree requirements, as well as additional information about the program. The current handbook is available for download below (Adobe Acrobat PDF format).

Download the Ph.D. Program Handbook for the
Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology

There are two tracks that students can choose in pursuit of the Ph.D. degree: Track One is for applicants who have completed both undergraduate and graduate level training in the profession or a related field. For these students, it is assumed that they have either already met course work requirements toward certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), or they are not pursuing certification. Students with bachelor's degrees within the discipline may enter this program but do not complete the clinical requirements for certification through ASHA (i.e., CCC-A or CCC-SLP). Applications for Track One of the Ph.D. program are accepted at any time and enrollment can begin any semester.

Track Two is designed for students who wish to obtain clinical certification in either discipline as part of their training. This track is available as a fast-track option to the Ph.D. program and is available to students currently enrolled in the department's Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology or Doctor of Audiology programs. Current students are eligible to apply after they have completed one half of their degree program. That is, M.S. students can convert to the Ph.D. program after one year of the master's degree, and complete the Ph.D. in three years. They are awarded the Ph.D. only. They will have, however, demonstrated the core knowledge and skills necessary to be eligible for the ASHA certification (CCC-SLP). They will still need to complete the Clinical Fellowship (CF). Au.D. students can apply to the Ph.D. program after the first two years of their Au.D. training. If accepted, they proceed to complete the requirements for the Au.D. and the Ph.D. programs simultaneously. They are awarded both degrees at the completion of all program requirements, and they are eligible for ASHA certification (CCC-A).  Applications for the Track Two program are accepted after November 1 during the student's first year of the master's program in Speech-Language Pathology or during the second year of the Au.D. program. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is February 15.

Download the Graduate Application Packet for the
Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

Minimum admission consideration requirements are as follows:

Track One

1. Bachelor’s or graduate degree. If the applicant wants to earn ASHA certification then a graduate degree in speech-language pathology or audiology is needed.
2. For bachelor's applicants, minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.2 (based on 4.0) and minimum undergraduate GPA in the professional area of 3.5. For those holding a graduate degree, a minimum overall graduate GPA of 3.5.
3. Combined score of at least 1000 on the Verbal and Quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
4. Three letters of reference from faculty at the undergraduate institution are required. Two of these references must be provided by the Ph.D. faculty.
5. A Letter of Intent stating the applicant's reasons for pursuing the degree.

Track Two

1. Bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology or audiology, or successful completion of undergraduate equivalency course work in the area of Speech and Hearing Sciences, or equivalent. (See prerequisite program above.)
2. Current status within the Au.D. or M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology program at USA with a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5 (based on 4.0).
3. Combined score of at least 1000 on the Verbal and Quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
4. Three letters of reference from current faculty, two of these references being provided by the Ph.D. faculty.
5. A Letter of Intent stating the applicant's reasons for pursuing the degree.

CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS

Core Courses (12 hours)

Pre-dissertation course work in experimental design, statistical procedures, and research instrumentation. Includes doctoral colloquia.

CSD 650

CSD 651

IDE 620

IDE 621

Electives (29 hours)

Electives include directed studies and directed research. Research projects are designed to give the student direct experience in the design, analysis and interpretation of experimental questions. This directed research is intended, in part, to provide the student with a project for their pre-comprehensive examination manuscript and oral presentation. These experiences are also designed as prerequisites to the preparation of the prospectus of the doctoral dissertation. Additionally, students may take course work within and outside the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology.

Professional Practicum (4 hours)

Professional practicum experiences are designed to give direct experience with, at least, two of the following professional areas: teaching, clinical supervision and administration. These may be repeated but only 4 hours count toward degree requirements.

Dissertation (21 hours)

Total: 66 hours

NOTE: The above represent minimum requirements. A student, with approval or recommendation of the graduate faculty, may take additional course work in a specific area if it is needed to support the student's specialization area or to obtain knowledge in an ancillary area.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

Ph.D. students must pass a comprehensive examination following successful completion of academic work. The content of the student's comprehensive examination is determined by the student's comprehensive examination committee. The comprehensive examination consists of 18 hours of written examination followed by a 2-hour oral examination.

CANDIDACY

Admission to candidacy is achieved upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination and professional presentation of a completed research project. The research project is undertaken with the guidance and approval of a pre-dissertation project committee. The doctoral candidate is therefore, a student who has fulfilled all preliminary requirements for the Ph.D. and has only the dissertation research project as the remaining program requirement. After reaching candidacy, students have a maximum of two years to complete the dissertation.

DISSERTATION/DISSERTATION DEFENSE

While only 21 semester hours of dissertation research may count towards the degree, a student must continually enroll in CSD 799 (Dissertation Research) until the final dissertation document has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The final oral defense of the dissertation is scheduled after the study is completed and prepared in written form. Additional revisions of the dissertation may be required as a result of the defense or Graduate School evaluation.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS/TUITION FELLOWSHIPS

Graduate assistantships and tuition fellowships are available annually on a competitive basis.

TRANSFER CREDIT

Normally, students are not permitted to transfer doctoral level credits. Exceptions to this policy would require approval of the Admissions Committee, Director of Graduate Studies for the College of Allied Health Professions, and the Dean of the Graduate School.