Speech and hearing sciences concern the processes and disorders of human communication and swallowing across the life span. This includes the study of typical hearing, speech, and language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing development; anatomy and physiology of speech, hearing, and swallowing; speech acoustics and perception; the nature of language, speech, cognitive-communication, swallowing, and hearing disorders in children and adults; social and cultural aspects of communication disorders; and the clinical processes involved in identification, prevention, and remediation of those disorders.
An accelerated, fee-based, Bachelor of Science degree with a major in speech and hearing sciences for candidates with an existing bachelor's degree.
Suggested First and Second-Year College Courses: Introductory course in anthropology, public health, psychology, or sociology; introductory biological science course – BIOL 118 recommended; introductory course in physics or chemistry – PHYS 107, PHYS 110, or CHEM 110 recommended; statistics course – STAT 220 or EDPSY 490 recommended.
Admission is competitive. The admissions committee reviews all applicants based on the following criteria: GPA (minimum 2.50 overall GPA guarantees consideration but not admission); personal statement reflecting an interest in and commitment to speech and hearing sciences; other evidence of a commitment to becoming a speech and hearing sciences major. Students may apply any time after they have earned 75 credits. The application deadline for current UW students is Monday of the third week of the quarter for admission the next quarter; transfer students may apply to the department (if they are at or near junior standing) and to the University concurrently. Admission is for autumn, winter, or spring quarter. Only students admitted to the UW are eligible for admission to the major. Applicants are notified of the department's decision within four weeks. Applications and additional information are available outside 210 Eagleson and on the department's website.
Option 1, General Academic, is intended to provide broad perspectives of the discipline, but not to prepare students specifically for careers in clinical speech-language pathology and audiology. It is appropriate for students with interests in education, healthcare, and communication.
Approved 3-5 credit college-level human- or animal-based biological science, anatomy and physiology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, human genetics, or veterinary science course. Laboratory component not required. See adviser for approved list.
Approved 3-5 credit college-level psychology, sociology, anthropology, or public health course. See adviser for approved list.
Approved 3-5 credit college-level chemistry or physics course. Laboratory component not required. See adviser for approved list.
Approved 3-5 credit college-level statistics course. See adviser for approved list.
The fee-based postbaccalaureate program is designed for individuals who already have a bachelor's degree or an advanced degree in a discipline other than speech and hearing sciences and wish to obtain the necessary academic background to apply directly to a graduate program. This is an intensive program designed to take five quarters with a mandatory summer start. Postbaccalauareate students have matriculated status as they are working toward a second bachelor’s degree in preparation for graduate school.
Postbaccalaureate program admission is based on multiple factors: the overall academic record from the first bachelor's or advanced degree, the personal statement, the letters of recommendation and the perceived commitment to speech, language, and hearing sciences.
Applying is a two-part process. The applicant is responsible for ensuring both the UW Office of Admissions and the Speech and Hearing Sciences Department receive the application materials by the February 15 deadline. Incomplete applications are not processed. Admission to SPHSC is contingent upon admission to UW. See the program website for details on the two-part admission process.
Three letters of recommendation sent to the department. The SPHSC recommendation form is available on the department website, depts.washington.edu/sphsc/. However, a letter is acceptable in lieu of the recommendation form. Students should read and fill out the top section of the recommendation form before giving it to the evaluator.
In addition, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) requires the following four course requirements for anyone seeking certification in speech-language pathology and audiology. Courses are taken outside the Speech and Hearing Sciences Department, can be any number of credits, and can be taken for a grade or satisfactory/not-satisfactory. If students need to complete these courses prior to graduate school, they can be added to the postbaccalaureate program.
All students must make satisfactory academic progress in the major. Failure to do so results in probation, which can lead to dismissal from the major. For the complete continuation policy, contact the department adviser or refer to the department website.
Research, Internships, and Service Learning: Faculty welcome undergraduate students into their research labs, offering independent study research opportunities (SPHSC 499), in addition to mentored, year-long honors research projects (SPHSC 498). No formal internship programs offered. See adviser for community-based service learning and internship opportunities.
Student Organizations/Associations: The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) UW chapter, 153 Eagleson Hall.
The department offers four graduate degree programs that equip students to do research, teach at the college and university level, and provide clinical services to the communicatively impaired.
At the MS and AuD level, specific focus is on evidence-based clinical procedures involved in the identification, prevention, and remediation of communication disorders. Students meet all requirements of the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) granted by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the professional, scientific, and credentialing organization for speech-language pathology and audiology professionals.
At the PhD level, the program provides opportunities for development of scholarly and professional competence in various areas of specialization: speech and language acquisition, phonetics, speech production, hearing, hearing development, psychoacoustics, physiological acoustics, speech perception, and assessment and treatment of human communication disorders related to language, speech, and hearing.
Entrance is for autumn quarter only. The department does not accept transfer students, Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) applicants, or applicants interested in a non-clinical master’s degree.
Prerequisite undergraduate coursework as required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (ASHA) accreditation standards and guidelines.
Minimum 25 documented, clinical observation hours within the scope of practice of speech-language pathology, under direction of an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist.
Minimum 43 credits from SPHSC 591, SPHSC 551, SPHSC 552, SPHSC 555, either SPHSC 601 or SPHSC 602. Includes completion of a pre-internship and a full-time internship in a community-based clinical facility.
Minimum 375 clock hours of supervised clinical experience in the practice of speech-language pathology.
Additional Requirements: 36 credits of non-clinical practicum work at the 400 level or above. Minimum 18 of these 36 credits in courses numbered 500 and above. Maximum 9 thesis credits at 500 level or above. Completion of requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Entrance is for autumn quarter only. The department does not accept transfer students, Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) applicants, or applicants interested in a non-clinical MS degree.
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a major in speech and hearing sciences (communication disorders, communication sciences and disorders, or a similarly named major) or in another major with sufficient undergraduate coursework in speech and hearing sciences (communication disorders, communication sciences and disorders, or a similarly named program).
Completed prerequisite undergraduate coursework as required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (ASHA) accreditation standards and guidelines.
Minimum 25 documented, clinical observation hours within the scope of practice of speech-language pathology, under direction of an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist.
42 credits of SPHSC 553 and SPHSC 554. Includes a full-time internship in a community-based clinical facility.
Minimum 375 clock hours of supervised clinical experience in the practice of speech-language pathology. Includes completion of a pre-internship and a full-time internship in a community-based clinical facility.
Additional Requirement: 36 credits of non-clinical graduate work at the 400 level or above. Minimum 18 of these 36 quarter credits in courses numbered 500 and above. Maximum 9 thesis credits at the 500 level and above. Satisfactory completion of all didactic and practicum requirements detailed above. Completion of requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Entrance is for autumn quarter only. The department does not accept transfer students, Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) applicants, or applicants interested in a non-clinical AuD degree.
Undergraduate Coursework: Foundational coursework is required for the graduate degree and clinical certification in audiology. The department encourages, but does not require, students to complete foundational coursework prior to starting graduate study.
Basic science and mathematics: Minimum one undergraduate course in each of the following areas to be eligible for ASHA certification: biological science; social or behavioral science; physical science; statistics. See adviser for list of acceptable courses.
Speech and hearing sciences coursework. Undergraduate coursework in normal development of speech and language; and in language and speech disorders across the life span, to be eligible for ASHA certification.
If undergraduate coursework is not completed prior to graduate study, students take one or more of the following speech and language courses during their graduate program: SPHSC 250, SPHSC 304, SPHSC 305, SPHSC 425.
Entrance is for summer or autumn quarter only. The department does not accept Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) applicants.
An identified faculty mentor from within the department who officially agrees to support the application.
Includes 36 credits of graduate work at the 400 level or above and a minimum 18 of the 36 quarter credits in courses numbered 500 and above.
Research Coursework: (minimum 43 credits). Pre-dissertation (16 credits) and dissertation (27 credits). All students conduct supervised research by the end of their first year.
PhD students are guaranteed financial support as teaching or research assistants as long as they make adequate progress in the program.. In addition, the department has traineeships/fellowships supported by the National Institutes of Health on a competitive basis. Students are strongly encouraged to apply to the National Institutes of Health or other funding agencies for individual fellowships to support dissertation work. Summer support, although not guaranteed, can also generally be arranged.
The department's research laboratories, as well as those of the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center, the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, contain sophisticated equipment for the collection and analysis of data related to the study of human communication and its disorders. The University Speech and Hearing Clinic and the Center on Human Development and Disability also provide laboratories to support basic and applied research in speech, language and hearing development and disorders, across the life span.