Program Overview

Doctor of Philosophy in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

The Ph.D. program in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Colorado offers an exciting interdisciplinary research and learning environment that focuses on understanding the basic processes of and mechanisms underlying human speech, language, and hearing. The Ph.D. program in SLHS prepares students for research or clinical work in a broad range of areas, including both theoretical and clinical perspectives.

Program Overview

• The program may be a good choice for students if there is a faculty member who shares their area of interest and expertise.
• The student's program of study is designed by the student, their advisor, and their doctoral committee.
• Because the science of human communication is interdisciplinary by nature, students from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines related to human communication pursue their doctoral degree at CU Boulder.
• Students take coursework in other departments as well, such as neuroscience, linguistics, cognitive psychology, and education.

Advisory Committee

• A student's advisory committee will consist of a minimum of three full-time SLHS graduate faculty who hold a doctoral degree, two of whom will be regular faculty.
• The committee will be chaired by a member of the committee who is a Regular Member of the Graduate Faculty.
• The chair of the committee will oversee doctoral practica, assure pre-dissertation research experiences, facilitate and monitor student's progress, and provide coursework in the major area.

Coursework and Plan of Study

• Students will select an advisory committee during the first semester of their program.
• Then, the student will develop a plan of study in conjunction with the advisory committee during the first year of doctoral study.
• The plan of study will detail the student's goals, coursework to be completed to meet requirements, and a proposed schedule for completion of doctoral work.
• The advisory committee must approve the plan of study, which may be amended later with the committee's approval.
• Departmental requirements for doctoral students are intended to allow maximum flexibility in developing a plan of study.
• All students take three doctoral seminars, at least two courses in statistics, and a research tools course, in addition to coursework in their own research area.
• There is no foreign language requirement in the department.
• The Graduate School specifies that not more than 25% of coursework can be taken through independent study.

Course Work

Research

• Students will participate in an ongoing research program every semester during the doctoral program.
• Often, the student begins working with data from their advisor, with the student gradually assuming greater responsibility and becoming increasingly independent.
• Prior to presenting a dissertation prospectus, the student should be the principal investigator on a project that is submitted for convention presentation and, hopefully, publication.

Examinations and Dissertation Defense

Preliminary Examination

• The student will demonstrate competence for doctoral study to the advisory committee during the first year of the doctoral program through an independent written examination.
• Students will receive a reading list related to their interests.
• The committee must reach consensus regarding adequacy of performance.
• If performance is inadequate, a written statement detailing areas needing development will be provided for the student by the committee.
• Unsatisfactory performance on the preliminary examination may be grounds for dismissal from the program.

Comprehensive Examination

• Before admission to candidacy for the Ph.D., the student must pass a comprehensive examination in the field of concentration, the minor area, and related fields as shown on the student's plan of study.
• The examination will be both written and oral and will test the student's mastery of a broad field of knowledge, not merely the formal course work that has been completed.
• The specific nature of the comprehensive exam will be determined by the student and the student's advisory committee.
• The advisory committee must approve the proposal for the examination.
• The committee must reach consensus regarding adequacy of performance on the exam.

Prospectus

• Students must prepare a prospectus for the dissertation.
• This document will be presented to the dissertation committee two weeks before the prospectus meeting.
• The student is expected to present the prospectus at this meeting and provide the committee with an opportunity to discuss the plan.
• The committee must reach consensus for approval of the prospectus.

Final Defense

• After the completed dissertation has been accepted by the student's advisory committee, the student has a final oral defense of the dissertation, which is open to the public.
• The committee must reach consensus with regard to approval of the document and defense.
• The Graduate School publishes a list of deadlines for each semester; the student is expected to obtain this information from the graduate school for the semester in which completion of the program is anticipated.