Speech and Hearing Sciences

210 Eagleson

Speech and hearing sciences concern the processes and disorders of human communication. This includes the study of normal hearing, speech, and language development, speech acoustics, speech physiology and perception, hearing, the nature of language, speech 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.

Undergraduate Program

The Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences offers the following program of study:

• The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in speech and hearing sciences

Bachelor of Science

Department Admission Requirements

Students who meet admission requirements are eligible for one of two options: Option 1, General Academic, is intended to provide broad perspectives of the discipline, but not to prepare students specifically for careers in clinical speech pathology and audiology. It is appropriate for students with interests in education, health care, and communication. Option 2, Speech and Hearing Sciences and Disorders, is intended for students interested in graduate study in speech and hearing sciences and clinical speech-language pathology and audiology. (Note that graduate study is required for the professions of speech language pathologist and audiologist.)

Major Requirements

Core Requirements for Both Options: 33 credits in the following courses: SPHSC 250, SPHSC 261, SPHSC 302, SPHSC 303, SPHSC 304, SPHSC 320, SPHSC 371, SPHSC 461. A cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required in core courses for students following Option 2.

Option 1, General Academic: 72-74 credits as follows:

1. Core requirements listed above (33 credits)
2. 22 credits from the following: SPHSC 305, SPHSC 308, SPHSC 405, SPHSC 406, SPHSC 425, SPHSC 445, SPHSC 462, SPHSC 499 (6 credits maximum)
3. BIOL 118 (5 credits)
4. A 3-5 credit college-level mathematics course (excluding MATH 098, MATH 100, MATH 102, MATH 103, MATH 104, MATH 170, MATH 198, or other remedial, historical, or methodology math course) or statistics course (excluding STAT 111).  MATH 120 or MATH 144 recommended.
5. Minimum 9 credits at the 200 level or above in psychology, educational psychology, or special education, or 300 level or above in linguistics.

Option 2, Speech and Hearing Sciences and Disorders: 82-84 credits as follows:

1. Core requirements listed above (33 credits)
2. SPHSC 305, SPHSC 308, SPHSC 405, SPHSC 406, SPHSC 425, SPHSC 445, SPHSC 471, SPHSC 481 (32  credits)
3. BIOL 118 (5 credits)
4. A 3-5 credit college-level mathematics course (excluding MATH 098, MATH 100, MATH 102, MATH 103, MATH 104, MATH 170, MATH 198,or other remedial, historical, or methodology math course) or statistics course (excluding STAT 111).  MATH 120 or MATH 144 recommended.  
5. Minimum 9 credits at the 200 level or above in psychology, educational psychology, or special education, or 300 level or above in linguistics.

Student Outcomes and Opportunities

• Learning Objectives and Expected Outcomes: The graduate will (1) have knowledge of the following: mechanisms involved in speech, language, and hearing; societal implications of language differences and of disorders of speech, language, and hearing; opportunities in, and requirements for, careers available to those in the speech and hearing sciences.  (2)  understand the following: normal acquisition of speech and language; the etiology and nature of communication disorders across the lifespan; principles and procedures for diagnosis and treatment of speech, language, and hearing disorders; the manner in which context (specifically, situation, social/interpersonal, and culture context) influences communication and disorders; social-cultural aspects of communication development and disorders.  (3) have the following abilities:  to analyze language in terms of its auditory, phonetic, phonological, morphological, and syntactic properties; to utilize strategies for solving scientific problems; to read and understand relevant literature; (4) have experience with a research project
• Instructional and Research Facilities: Research labs, computer lab, and clinic located in the department.
• Honors Options Available: With College Honors; With Distinction (Departmental Honors). See adviser for requirements.
• Research, Internships, and Service Learning: None offered
• Department Scholarships: None offered
• Student Organizations/Associations: The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) UW chapter, 153 Eagleson.

Graduate Program

Graduate Program Coordinator
205 Eagleson, Box 354875
206-685-7402
sphscadv@u.washington.edu

The Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences offers the Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology, Doctor of Audiology, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The program consists of a wide range of coursework and seminars providing opportunities for the 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. At the Doctor of Audiology (Aud) and speech-language pathology master's (SLP MS) level, the specific focus is on the clinical procedures involved in the identification, prevention, and remediation of communication disorders. To complement departmental curricula in various specialization areas, close interdisciplinary relationships are maintained with other University departments and off-campus centers. Advanced degrees in the speech and hearing sciences equip the student to do research, to teach at the college and university level, and to provide clinical services to the communicatively impaired.

Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Admission Requirements

• GRE scores
• A minimum GPA of 3.00 during the last 90 quarter credit hours of study (60 semester)
• Bachelor's degree with a major in Speech-Language Pathology (Speech and Hearing Science, Communication Disorders, or a similarly named major) or other major with postbaccalaureate certification in Speech-language Pathology.
• Personal statement
• Completed application. Deadline February 1.

Degree Requirements

• Principles of biological sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and the social/behavioral sciences
• Basic human communication and swallowing processes
• Nature of speech, language, hearing, and communication disorders and differences, and swallowing disorders
• Principles and methods of prevention, assessment, and intervention for people with communication and swallowing disorders
• Standards of ethical conduct
• Processes of research and the integration of research principles into evidence-based clinical practices
• Contemporary professional issues
• Knowledge about certification, specialty recognition, licensure, and other relevant professional credentials
• Specialized oral, written and other forms of communication for use in professional practice.
• Additional program requirements: Minimum 36 credits of non-practicum graduate work at the 400 level or above. Minimum 18 of the 36 quarter credits in courses numbered 500 and above. No more than 9 credits of courses 500 level and above can be thesis credits. Satisfactory completion of all didactic and practicum requirements detailed above. Satisfactory completion of written thesis and oral defense of the thesis. Minimum 9 quarter credits of thesis (SPHSC 700) for students taking thesis option. Students completing the thesis must take a course in statistics at the 400 level or above.
• Students also satisfactorily complete requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association by registering for the required coursework and practica, pre-internship and internship credits.

Doctor of Audiology

Admission Requirements

• Graduate School application
• Departmental application
• Transcripts for all colleges and universities attended
• Personal statement
• Three recommendation forms

Degree Requirements

• Year 1 (62 credits): SPHSC 509 (3), SPHSC 521 (4), SPHSC 523 (4), SPHSC 570 (4), SPHSC 571 (4), 572 (3), 574 (4), SPHSC 575 (3) or SPHSC 503 (3), SPHSC 577 (3), SPHSC 582 (4), SPHSC 583 (4), SPHSC 588 (3), SPHSC 591 (4) each quarter, 592 (3)

• Year 2 (56 credits): SPHSC 462 (3) or SPHSC 580 (3), SPHSC 490 (3), SPHSC 504 (3), SPHSC 542 (3), SPHSC 575 (3) or SPHSC 503 (3), SPHSC 576 (2), SPHSC 578 (2), SPHSC 581 (2), SPHSC 585 (2), SPHSC 588 (1, 1, 1) for three quarters, SPHSC 591 (4, 4, 4, 4) for four quarters, SPHSC 593 (3), SPHSC 594 (2), SPHSC 595 (2), SPHSC 600 (3), electives (4).

• Year 3 (55 credits): SPHSC 462 (3) or SPHSC 580 (3), 522 (2), SPHSC 579 (2), SPHSC 584 (3), SPHSC 587 (2), SPHSC 588 (1, 1, 1) for three quarters, 590 (1), SPHSC 591 (4, 4, 4, for three quarters, plus 10 credits for summer quarter), SPHSC 600 (3, 3, 3) for three quarters, electives (8).

• Year 4 (30 credits): Full-time clinic (SPHSC 591) for three quarters.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirement

Degree Requirements

Financial Aid

A number of teaching and research assistantships are available for qualified graduate students. In addition, the department has traineeships/fellowships supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Research Facilities

The department's research laboratories, as well as those of the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center, 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.