Communicative Disorders and Sciences PhD

Program Overview

This doctoral program in Communication Disorders provides a comprehensive education in speech, language, hearing, and cognition. Students engage in foundational coursework, advanced research, and supervised clinical practica, preparing them for careers in academia, clinical practice, industry, or government. The program boasts experienced faculty, excellent research facilities, and a supportive learning environment in Buffalo, NY. Graduates are highly sought after and secure competitive positions in their chosen fields.

Program Outline

Outline:

• First Year:
• Foundational coursework in speech, language, hearing, and cognition.
• Research methods and statistics.
• Clinical observation and practice.
• Second Year:
• Advanced coursework in specific areas of interest, such as aphasia, developmental language disorders, or hearing science.
• Continued research experience.
• Clinical practica in a variety of settings.
• Third Year:
• Independent research culminating in a dissertation.
• Advanced coursework or electives.
• Clinical practicum experiences.
• Comprehensive exam.
• Fourth and Fifth Years:
• Completion of dissertation.
• Additional research and teaching experiences.
• Graduation.

Assessment:

• Coursework:
• Exams, quizzes, assignments, and projects.
• Clinical practica:
• Supervisor evaluations, case presentations, and client progress reports.
• Dissertation:
• Proposal defense, dissertation defense, and final manuscript.

Teaching:

• Lecture:
• Interactive lectures by experienced faculty.
• Seminars:
• Discussion-based learning with peers and faculty.
• Laboratory work:
• Hands-on experience with research methods and equipment.
• Clinical practica:
• Supervised clinical experience with diverse populations.
• Research mentorship:
• One-on-one guidance from faculty mentors.

Careers:

• Academia:
• Professor, researcher, or administrator at a university or research institution.
• Clinical practice:
• Speech-language pathologist, audiologist, or other clinical professional working with individuals with communication disorders.
• Industry:
• Research and development, product development, or marketing in the hearing aid, speech recognition, or other related industries.
• Government:
• Policy analyst, researcher, or administrator working on issues related to communication disorders.

Other:

• **Strong faculty with expertise in a variety of areas of communication disorders.

• **Excellent research facilities and resources.

• **Active student organizations and clubs.

• **Located in Buffalo, NY, a vibrant and affordable city with a rich cultural scene.

• **Graduates are highly sought after by employers and consistently secure competitive positions in their chosen fields.