The Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences is committed to understanding the fundamental mechanisms and processes involved in speech, language, hearing, swallowing, and their associated disorders. The Department faculty members play a national leadership role in research and education, carrying out investigations into all facets of human communication, including the underlying causes of communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan as well as the interventions with which to improve the quality of life for individuals affected by these disorders.
Program of Study: Major: Speech and Hearing Sciences
Program Overview
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree program in Speech and Hearing Sciences is offered through the College of Arts and Sciences. Speech and Hearing Sciences encompasses the study of human communication and its disorders, providing a research-based, academic foundation in the concepts and principles of speech, hearing, language, swallowing, and their associated disorders across the life span. The program provides a foundation in the clinical processes used to identify, prevent, and treat individuals with communication and swallowing disorders, allowing students to develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a broad understanding of the field.
This program of study leads to the following credentials:
Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Speech and Hearing Sciences
Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Speech and Hearing Sciences (Fee-based)
Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Speech and Hearing Sciences: Communication Disorders (not admitting)
Continuation Policy
All students must make satisfactory academic progress in the degree program. Failure to do so results in probation, which can lead to dismissal. For the complete continuation policy, contact the department adviser or refer to the department website.
Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Speech and Hearing Sciences
Credential Overview
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) is for students interested in the scientific and theoretical frameworks for understanding human communication and its disorders, including the roles of biology, cognition, environment and culture. The B.S. degree provides an overview of the discipline, including the neurological, behavioral, physical, and anatomic-physiological bases of speech, language, hearing, and swallowing as well as evaluation and treatment considerations for individuals with communication disorders across the lifespan. The B.S. program prepares students for paraprofessional employment, graduate study in speech, language or hearing science research, or a clinical career in speech-language pathology or audiology. Because it offers more flexibility than the Communication Disorders degree option, this program is appropriate for students with interests in other related fields such as education, linguistics, psychology, nursing, rehabilitation science, medicine, neuroscience, etc.
Recommended Preparation
Suggested First and Second-Year College Courses: Social/behavioral science: anthropology, public health, psychology, or sociology. Biological science: BIOL 118 or BIOL 180. Physics or chemistry: PHYS 107, PHYS 110, or CHEM 110, CHEM 220. Statistics: STAT 220 or EDPSY 490. Linguistics: LING 200 or LING 400.
Admission Requirements
Minimum 75 credits
Minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA
Completion of the following with a minimum 2.0 grade in each
Social/Behavioral Science: psychology, educational psychology, sociology, anthropology, or public health. See department for approved list. (3-5 credits)
Biological Science: human- or animal-based biological science, anatomy and physiology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, human genetics, or veterinary science. Laboratory component not required. See department for approved list. (3-5 credits)
Physical Science: chemistry or physics. Laboratory component not required. See department for approved list. (3-5 credits)
Statistics: non-remedial, historical, or methodological. See department for approved list.(3-5 credits)
Linguistics: linguistics that provides introductory knowledge of phonology, phonetics, morphology, syntax, and semantics. See department for approved list. (3-5 credits) (Transfer students may apply with this course in progress or planned. See adviser.)
Admission is capacity constrained, based on the following criteria. Meeting the criteria guarantees consideration but not admission.
GPA
Preparation for major in speech and hearing sciences as indicated by grades earned in courses required for admission
Personal statement reflecting an interest in and commitment to speech and hearing science
Other evidence of a commitment to becoming a speech and hearing sciences major
Copies of unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended (UW and transfer)
Admission is for autumn quarter only. Application deadline: for UW students - Monday of the third week of spring quarter; for transfer students - February 15. Transfer students may apply to the department (if they are at or near junior standing) and to the UW concurrently. Applicants are notified of the department's decision within four weeks. Applications and additional information available outside 210 Eagleson and on the department's website.
Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Speech and Hearing Sciences (Fee-based)
Credential Overview
The post-baccalaureate Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program is for students seeking to pursue a clinical master’s degree in speech-language pathology, who currently hold a bachelor's degree outside the speech, language and hearing sciences discipline. This structured and intensive program provides students from outside disciplines with the necessary academic foundation in normal hearing, speech, language, and swallowing development, speech acoustics, physiology and perception, and hearing. It also provides instruction as the nature of language, speech, hearing, and swallowing disorders in children and adults and the clinical processes involved in the identification, prevention and remediation of these disorders. The B.S. provides excellent preparation for graduate level study in a clinically oriented degree leading to professional certification in speech-language pathology.
Admission Requirements
Bachelor's degree or advanced degree outside the area of speech and hearing sciences
Minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA
Completion of the following with a minimum 2.0 grade in each
Social/Behavioral Science: psychology, educational psychology, sociology, anthropology, or public health. See department for approved list. (3-5 credits)
Biological Science: human- or animal-based biological science, anatomy and physiology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, human genetics, or veterinary science. Laboratory component not required. See department for approved list. (3-5 credits)
Physical Science: chemistry or physics. Laboratory component not required. See department for approved list. (3-5 credits)
Statistics: non-remedial, historical, or methodological. See department for approved list. (3-5 credits)
Linguistics: linguistics that provides introductory knowledge of phonology, phonetics, morphology, syntax, and semantics. See department for approved list. (3-5 credits)
Admission is capacity constrained, based on the following criteria. Meeting the criteria guarantees consideration but not admission.
Overall academic record and GPA from prior degree
Preparation for major in speech and hearing sciences as indicated by grades earned in courses required for admission
Personal statement reflecting an interest in and commitment to speech and hearing science
Other evidence of a commitment to becoming a speech and hearing sciences major
Copies of unofficial transcripts from all college attended
Three letters of recommendation sent to the department. SPHSC recommendation form available on department website. However, a letter is acceptable.
Application deadline: February 15. Incomplete applications are not processed. Admission is contingent upon admission to UW. (See program website for details on the two-part admission process.)
Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Speech and Hearing Sciences: Communication Disorders (not admitting)
Additional Information
Formerly Speech and Hearing Sciences offered two major options: (1) General Academic and (2) Communication Disorders. As of summer quarter, 2019, however, those two options have been replaced by a single major. Please refer to the UW Seattle General Catalog Archive for information about the options.
Learning Objectives and Expected Outcomes: The graduate (1) has 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) understands the following: typical 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) has 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) has experience with a research project
Instructional and Research Facilities: classrooms, research laboratories, computer laboratory, and clinic located in the department and in nearby campus buildings
Honors Options Available: With College Honors (Completion of Honors Core Curriculum and Departmental Honors); With Honors (Completion of Departmental Honors requirements in the major). See adviser for requirements.
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. Clinical learning opportunities are available (SPHSC 491). See adviser for community-based service learning and internship opportunities.
Department Scholarships: None offered
Student Organizations/Associations: The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) UW chapter, 153 Eagleson Hall.
Practice Doctorate/Capstone Research Coursework (minimum 12 credits)
Minimum 12 credits of SPHSC 801
Statistics at the 400 level or above (e.g., EDPSY 490)
Written document and oral defense of research
Additional Degree 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. No more than 12 credits of courses 500 level and above in 801 capstone research credits. Completion of requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Practice Doctorate/Capstone Research Coursework (minimum 12 credits)
Minimum 12 credits of SPHSC 801
Statistics at the 400 level or above (e.g., EDPSY 490)
Written document and oral defense of research
Additional Degree 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. No more than 12 credits of courses 500 level and above in 801 capstone research credits. Completion of requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Program of Study: Doctor Of Philosophy (Speech and Hearing Sciences)
This program of study leads to the following credential:
Doctor Of Philosophy (Speech And Hearing Sciences)
Admission Requirements
Contact department for requirements.
Doctor Of Philosophy (Speech And Hearing Sciences)
Completion Requirements
Minimum 90 credits
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.
For students without a prior undergraduate degree in or graduate degree in speech and hearing sciences, the following coursework may be recommended by their advisory committee: SPHSC 261, SPHSC 303, SPHSC 305, SPHSC 306, SPHSC 320, SPHSC 371, SPHSC 425, SPHSC 461
Academic Coursework: For students with a prior undergraduate or graduate degree in speech and hearing sciences (minimum 41 credits as follows):
SPHSC 560, SPHSC 561, and SPHSC 562 (minimum 9 credits)
SPHSC 506 or approved alternative (minimum 3 credits)
Four statistics courses (chosen in consultation with advisory committee). (minimum 14 credits)
SPHSC 568 (minimum 3 credits)
SPHSC 567; research seminar series (minimum 12 credits) Required autumn, winter, and spring quarters throughout the program
Other Coursework: Students with a degree in a field other than speech and hearing sciences complete the following: SPHSC 303; SPHSC 320; SPHSC 461; plus one of the following: SPHSC 250; SPHSC 305; SPHSC 371
Research Coursework: (minimum 43 credits). Pre-dissertation SPHSC 600 (16 credits) and dissertation SPHSC 800 (27 credits). All students conduct supervised research by the end of their first year.
Teaching Experience: (minimum 6 credits)
Instructional Development Forum (minimum 2 credits)
Teaching Practicum (minimum 1 credit) For students pursuing an academic career
Financial Aid: PhD students are provided with 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.
Research Facilities: 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 Institute 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.
Program of Study: Master Of Science (Speech-Language Pathology)
Program Overview
At the MS 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.
This program of study leads to the following credentials:
Master of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences: Educational Speech-Language Pathology) (fee based)
Master Of Science (Speech And Hearing Sciences: Medical Speech-Language Pathology) (fee-based)
Master Of Science (Speech And Hearing Sciences: Speech Language Pathology)
Master of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences: Educational Speech-Language Pathology) (fee based)
Track-Specific Didactic Coursework (varies by option): See additional requirements section for option-specific coursework
Clinical Requirements (varies by option): See additional requirements section for option-specific clinical requirements
Electives -Choose Pediatric Track or Adult Track:
Pediatric Track (9 credits): SPHSC 526, SPHSC 543, SPHSC 550 plus one out-of-department elective
Adult Track (4 credits): Choose one from department list, plus two out-of-department electives
Thesis (optional, 0-9 credits): SPHSC 700
Additional Completion Requirements
Option-specific requirements
Option-specific Didactic Coursework: None
Option-specific Clinical Requirements (43 credits): SPHSC 591 (2 credits), SPHSC 551 (8 credits), SPHSC 552 (21 credits), SPHSC 555 (2 credits), either SPHSC 601 or SPHSC 602 (10 credits). 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.