Speech & Hearing Science, PhD
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Speech & Hearing Science
department head: Karen Iler Kirk, Ph.D.
director of graduate studies: Cynthia Johnson Parsons, Ph.D.
overview of admissions & requirements: https://ahs.illinois.edu/speech-&-hearing-science/phd
overview of grad college admissions & requirements: https://grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply
department website: https://ahs.illinois.edu/speech-&-hearing-science
program website: https://ahs.illinois.edu/speech-&-hearing-science/phd
department faculty: https://ahs.illinois.edu/shs-directory
college website: http://www.ahs.illinois.edu/
graduate support: Andrea Paceley
department office: 901 South Sixth Street, Room 220, Champaign, IL 61820
phone: (217) 333-2230
email: shs@illinois.edu
Graduate Degree Programs in Speech & Hearing Science
Audiology, AuD
Speech & Hearing Science, MA
Speech & Hearing Science, PhD
optional concentration (PhD only):
Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education
The department offers programs leading to the Master of Arts, Doctor of Audiology, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees, with specialization in various aspects of audiology and speech-language pathology. The Department of Speech and Hearing Science offers graduate programs of study in speech-language pathology, audiology, and speech, language, and hearing science. The department prepares scientists and professionals who specialize in the study of perception and production of spoken, written, signed, and alternative communication and communication disorders, as well as dysphagia. Graduate degrees are offered at the master's and doctoral levels.
Admission
Admission to the doctoral program requires completion of a bachelor's degree. The doctoral program is divided into three stages: Stage I, which includes the master's degree or its equivalent; Stage II, which is advanced course work and completion of all departmental requirements, with the exception of the dissertation defense and deposit; and Stage III, which is the conduct of the dissertation, its defense and deposit.
For more information about admissions, see: https://ahs.illinois.edu/speech-&-hearing-science/phd
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program.
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Speech & Hearing Science
The program may be planned with specialization in many areas of audiology, speech-language pathology, and speech, language or hearing science. Individual programs of study will be tailored to the student's area of scholarly and research interests and are planned by the student and the advisor. The minimum academic course requirements for this degree are 40 graduate hours of course work beyond those required for a master's degree or equivalent, a qualifying exam, and a dissertation.
The first two to four years of the doctoral program are typically devoted to course work, including the completion of an Early Research Project (ERP), in the area of concentration selected by the student. For students entering with a M.A./M.S., the ERP occurs early in Stage II and must be completed before the Qualifying Exam. For students entering the PhD program directly from a B.A./B.S. degree, the ERP may be undertaken and completed in Stage I or Stage II. In the middle of Stage II, students will take a Qualifying Exam. Successful completion of the Qualifying Exam provides evidence of the student's satisfactory progress toward scholarly independence and indicates the student is then qualified to begin the planning stages of a dissertation proposal. A preliminary exam on the dissertation proposal occurs at the end of Stage II and marks the transition to Stage III. The doctoral program culminations with a Final Exam/Dissertation Defense, and oral examination over a written document.
For additional details and requirements refer to the department's graduate programs and the Graduate College Handbook.
Entering with approved M.A./M.S. or Au.D. degree
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 3 courses in statistics-related areas | 12 | |
| SHS 590 | History of CSD | 4 |
| SHS 592 | Prosem Spch & Hear Sci | 2-4 |
| SHS 594 | PhD Early Research Project | 6-8 |
| One or two advanced 500-level seminars in SHS | 4 | |
| Restricted elective hours, not including SHS 594, SHS 594, SHS 599 1 | 8-12 | |
| SHS 599 | Thesis Research (min/max applied toward degree) | 24 |
| Total Hours | 64 | |
Other Requirements2
| Other requirements may overlap | |
| Qualifying Exam Required | Yes |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
| 1 | Restricted elective courses, requiring approval by the mentor with input from the advising committee, are identified to support students’ individualized areas of study within the broad field of communication sciences and disorders. If minimum credits are completed in SHS 592/SHS 594, then the maximum of restricted electives are required. If maximum credits are taken in SHS 592/SHS 594, then the minimum of restricted electives are required. |
| 2 | For additional details and requirements refer to the department's graduate programs and the Graduate College Handbook. |
Entering with approved B.A./B.S. degree
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 3 courses in statistics-related areas | 12 | |
| SHS 590 | History of CSD | 4 |
| SHS 592 | Prosem Spch & Hear Sci | 2-4 |
| SHS 594 | PhD Early Research Project | 8 |
| One or two advanced 500-level seminars in SHS | 4 | |
| Restricted elective hours, not including SHS 592, SHS 594, SHS 599 1 | 40-42 | |
| SHS 599 | Thesis Research (min/max applied toward degree) | 24 |
| Total Hours | 96 | |
Other Requirements2
| Other requirements may overlap | |
| Qualifying Exam Required | Yes |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
| 1 | Restricted elective courses, requiring approval by the mentor with input from the advising committee, are identified to support students’ individualized areas of study within the broad field of communication sciences and disorders. If minimum credits are completed in SHS 592/SHS 594, then the maximum of restricted electives are required. If maximum credits are taken in SHS 592/SHS 594, then the minimum of restricted electives are required. |
| 2 | For additional details and requirements refer to the department's graduate programs and the Graduate College Handbook. |