Speech&Hearing

Prospective Student Information > Normal Aspects Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy Normal Aspects
	Entrance Requirements Application Program of Study Graduation Requirements General Interest Finances Course Catalog Faculty in Speech Langauge Pathology

Entrance Requirements

Students who wish to work toward the Ph.D. degree must have completed a bachelor's or master’s degree depending upon area of interest. Since the doctoral program does not lead to clinical or professional certification, students who wish to satisfy minimum standards of clinical competence in speech-language pathology or audiology typically complete the majority of this preparation before entering the doctoral program.

Application

Please complete the following steps:
1. You must have identified a mentor with whom you wish to study. The first step in the application process is to contact your proposed mentor directly. Please do not submit an application unless you have corresponded with this mentor.
2. Print and read the following two letters:
	•	Required Materials Checklist (PDF)
	•	Program Description and Requirements (PDF)
3. Submit both of the following two applications:
	•	UW Graduate School Application (online application)
	•	Graduate Program Coordinator, Program Description (PDF)
4. Print and complete at least three Recommendation Forms (PDF)
5. Print and read the Doctoral Curriculum Guide (PDF)

Program of Study

The Department's philosophy of doctoral education for the Ph.D is based upon an apprenticeship model with strong faculty mentoring. Applicants are encouraged to identify their specific academic area of interest and possible faculty mentor. The Department accommodates interests in the normal processes of speech, language, and hearing, as well as in impaired speech, language, and hearing, and in evaluative and management aspects of audiology and speech-language pathology. Faculty areas of specialization can be reviewed on this site at http://content.sphsc.washington.edu/sphintra/userinfo/contact_div.asp.

There is no specific minimum time in which the Ph.D program can be completed beyond the University's "residency requirement" which is a minimum of three academic years of resident study, two of them at the University of Washington , with at least one year continuous full-time residence. The length of time necessary to complete the program depends upon the student's scholarship, previous preparation, and academic goals. Students usually take three to five years to complete their academic work and dissertation research. Ph.D candidates are discouraged from attempting to complete dissertation research in absentia.

Graduation Requirments

Academic
	The academic programs for students in the Ph.D program are planned on an individual basis in consultation with the student's faculty committee. Concentration can occur in basic and applied research. Courses, seminars, laboratory experiences, and assistantships are selected to provide preparation for careers in research and university or college teaching. Opportunities for additional clinical work in the area of communication disorders are provided to those having such interests.
Other Requirements
	Direct research experience by the end of the second year.
	A predissertation research project, usually completed by the end of the second year.
	Successful completion of the General Examinations after which a student becomes a candidate for the Ph.D.
	Coursework in statistics, research methods, grant writing, and a three-course sequence designed to acquaint the student with current theories and issues in the areas of hearing, language and speech.
	Technical expertise in instrumentation and computing appropriate to the area of interest.
	Participation in department colloquium
	Participation in teaching seminar and actual classroom, clinical, or laboratory instruction.
	Successful completion of written portion of the General Examination, followed by successful compeletion of oral portion of General Examination, required for advacement to Ph.D. Candidacy.
	A dissertation based on independent research (including a minimum of 27 quarter hours of SPHSC 800, Doctoral Dissertation).
	Satisfactory performance on an oral defense of the dissertation.