Speech and Hearing Science
901 South Sixth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 333-2230
E-mail: shs@illinois.edu
Major: Audiology
Degrees Offered: Au.D.
Major: Speech and Hearing Science
Degrees Offered: M.A., Ph.D.
Medical Scholars Program: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Speech and Hearing Science and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) through the Medical Scholars Program
Graduate Degree Programs
The department offers programs leading to the Master of Arts, Doctor of Audiology, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees, with specialization in various aspects of audiology and speech-language pathology.
Admission
In addition to the Graduate College requirements, the general (aptitude) portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for all curricula. For international students, a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (213 on the computer-based test) is required. International students seeking clinical training must also take the Test of Spoken English (TSE). A score of 60 on the TSE is required for international students whose program will include a clinical practicum. International students who score 50 to 55 on the TSE must pass an exam of oral proficiency in English given in our department before being allowed in a clinical practicum. International students who score below 50 on the TSE will not be accepted for programs that involve clinical practica.
Although a B.S. in the field is not required for admission, recommended background includes undergraduate credit in the following areas or their equivalents: phonetics, anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanism, hearing science, speech science, speech pathology, audiology, and aural rehabilitation. The Master of Arts program begins in the summer semester. All other programs begin in the fall only.
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the department's graduate programs and the Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Arts
| Required Courses: | Required Hours - Non-clinical Program | Required Hours - Clinical Program Option |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical program only: SHS 410, 411, 470, 513, 514, 530, 531, 533, 534, 570, 571, and 579. In some cases, upper level undergraduate courses may suffice. | 0 | 44-52 |
| SHS 592 Proseminar | 0 | 0 |
| Required Clinical Practica | 8-12 | |
| Elective hours | 40 | 0-8 |
| Thesis Hours – SHS 599 (Optional) (min/max applied toward degree): | A thesis is optional, but if completed 0-8 hrs. may be applied | A thesis is optional, but if completed 0-8 hrs. may be applied |
| Total Hours | 40 | 60 |
Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: |
20 | |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
20 | 12 min |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
In the Master of Arts degree program, students learn about speech-language pathology in medical and educational settings, as well as speech, language and hearing science. This degree may be taken as either a terminal degree or as preparation for further graduate study, including a doctoral degree.
For students seeking a terminal degree, the Master of Arts program may be designed with or without clinical practicum experience. The clinical program ensures clinical competence in speech-language pathology necessary for employment in a healthcare and educational settings, private practice, or industry. Successful completion of this program ensures that the student has met the academic and clinical requirements for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certification and can choose to pursue the Illinois state certification required for speech-language pathology in the public schools. The program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. The clinical MA program requires a minimum of 60 graduate hours. All students in the clinical program are required to take the following courses: SHS 410, 411, 470, 513, 514, 530, 531, 533, 534, 592, 579, and either or both 532 and 511/512.
The non-clinical MA program may prepare the student for employment in industry or for a doctoral program. This program requires 40 graduate hours. SHS 592 is required and the student must build a logical and coherent series of approved courses.
For a student seeking a non-terminal degree, the Master of Arts program enables the student to undertake fundamental coursework that will be an integral part of an overall doctoral program.
The student's program for the Master of Arts degree will be determined on an individual basis, taking into consideration the Graduate College and departmental requirements. A master's thesis should be part of the pre-doctoral student's plan of study, but students seeking the Master of Arts as a terminal degree are encouraged to write a thesis as educational enrichment.
Doctor of Philosophy
| Required Courses: | Required Hours - Entering with approved M.A. degree | Required Hours - Entering with B.A. degree* |
|---|---|---|
| 3 courses in statistics-related areas | 12 | 12 |
| Elective hours | 28 | 52 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 8 | |
| Thesis Hours Required – SHS 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 24 | 24 |
| Total Hours | 64 | 96 |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| Missing fundamental courses may be required, but may not count toward the degree. | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Qualifying Exam Required | No | No |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes | Yes |
Admission to the doctoral program requires completion of a bachelor's degree. The program may be planned with specialization in many areas of audiology, speech-language pathology, and speech, language or hearing science. The minimum academic course requirements for this degree are 40 graduate hours beyond those required for a master's degree or equivalent, plus a dissertation. If there are fundamental experiences missing in the student's background, additional courses will be required; courses taken for this purpose usually are not counted toward the minimum requirement. In addition, a doctoral candidate who did not write a thesis as part of a master's program will be required to complete the equivalent of a master's thesis; a maximum of 8 graduate hours of master's thesis credit may be counted toward the minimum academic requirement of 40 graduate hours beyond those required for a master's degree. Individual programs of study will be tailored to the student's special needs and are planned by the student and the adviser.
The first two years of the doctoral program are typically devoted to coursework in the area of concentration selected by the student. Subsequent time is devoted to research on a special topic, and culminates with writing a dissertation and passing an oral examination in its defense.
Doctor of Audiology
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Electives/specialty emphasis | 12-16 |
| Clinical practica | 30-36 |
| Doctoral Project, SHS 577 or Thesis Hours. SHS 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 10-16 |
| Total Hours | 112 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to AuD? | No |
| Qualifying Exam Required | Yes |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | No |
The Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) is a four-year post-baccalaureate degree that emphasizes the application of basic science and technology and provides advanced professional training for the diagnosis and habilitation/rehabilitation of hearing disorders and related communication and educational disorders, as well as the scholarly study of professional practice-centered problems. The first two years of the program have more didactic courses than clinical practicum. The Comprehensive Examination (a written qualifying exam) is typically taken after one and a half years of the program, with the Preliminary Examination (defense of the prospectus for the Doctoral Research Project) taken at the beginning of the third year. The third year typically involves didactic coursework and clinical practicum, as well as completion of the Doctoral Research Project. The fourth year usually involves full-time clinical practicum. The Final Examination (defense of the Doctoral Research Project) should be completed by the end of the fourth year. The program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
Medical Scholars Program
The Medical Scholars Program permits highly qualified students to integrate the study of medicine with study for a graduate degree in a second discipline, including Speech and Hearing Science. Students may apply to the Medical Scholars Program prior to beginning graduate school or while in the graduate program. Applicants to the Medical Scholars Program must meet the admissions standards for and be accepted into both the doctoral graduate program and the College of Medicine. Students in the dual degree program must meet the specific requirements for both the medical and graduate degrees. On average, students take eight years to complete both degrees. Further information on this program is available by contacting the Medical Scholars Program, 125 Medical Sciences Building, (217) 333-8146 or at www.med.illinois.edu/msp.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program.