SPEECH AND HEARING SCIENCE

Interim Head of the Department: Ron D. Chambers

Correspondence and Admission Information: Head, Department of Speech and Hearing Science, 901 South Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820; (217) 333-2230; E-mail: shs@uiuc.edu

URL: www.shs.uiuc.edu

GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

The department offers programs leading to the master of arts 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 stude nts, 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 not required for admission, recommended background includes undergraduate credit in the following areas or their equivalents: speech pathology, audiology, phonetics, anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanisms, hearing science, speech science, and language science. Spring entry is possible for students who will not do a clinical practicum. Students whose program will involve a clinical practicum may enter only in the fall.

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.

MASTER OF ARTS

In pursuing a master of arts degree, students may concentrate in one of five areas: audiology, speech-language pathology in medical settings, speech-language pathology in school settings, speech-language pathology with infant-toddler emphasis, and speech or 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. Programs with clinical experience ensure clinical competence in audiology or speech-language pathology necessary for employment in a private practice, clinic, hospital, resi dential center, school system, 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 clinical program is accredited by the Educational Standards Board (ESB) of ASHA. Pro
grams without clinical experience may prepare the student for employment in industry or for a doctoral program.

For a student seeking a nonterminal 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. Programs involving clinical practica will be composed of at least 15 units from the five speciali zed areas and related areas. Programs not involving clinical practica will require ten units. All master of arts candidates are required to take a departmental core consisting of research methodology (SPSHS 399), multicultural issues (SPSHS 471 or 477), and research seminar (SPSHS 496). In addition, all students in the clinical program are required to take a core in their respective content area: audiology (SPSHS 440) or speech-language pathology (SPSHS 400 or 401, 420, and 472). A master's thesis should be part of the predoctoral student's plan of study. Students seeking the master of arts as a terminal degree are encouraged to write a thesis as educational enrichment.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

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 or hearing science. The minimum academic course requirements for this degree are ten units beyond those required fo r 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 two units of master's thesis credit may be counted toward the minimum academic requirement of ten units 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, and terminates when the comprehensive examination is passed. Subsequent time is devoted to research on a special topic, and culminates with writing a dissertation and passing an oral exa mination in its defense.