Speech Pathology, Ph.D

I. Contact Information

Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology
Redfield Bldg/0152 (775) 784-4887

Dr. Debra C. Vigil, Graduate Program Director
(775) 682-7019
dvigil@medicine.nevada.edu

II. Brief Introduction

The Ph.D. program is designed to produce a highly qualified professional who may be employed in a university, clinic, hospital, research laboratory, or school system. The program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is offered by a Carnegie Class I research institution. The candidate will have a mentor who will provide ready access to professional advice, aid in developing new skills, and enhance the candidate’s professional opportunities.  Faculty in the department offer diverse fields of study, collaborates with professors in departments across the university, and has grant-funded research opportunities.

III. Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

The general mission of the Department is to provide high quality educational programming, research productivity in the area of communication science and disorders, and clinical services to the communicatively-impaired population of the region and state. Program objectives are as follows:

• As there is a critical shortage of speech-language pathologists, the department will sustain enrollment in all degree programs.
• Faculty will conduct collaborative research and secure extramural funding involving graduate students.
• Faculty commits to developing specialized clinical programs that reflect current needs and future trends utilizing current technology and expanding innovations.
• Doctoral candidates will develop skills and experience in teaching, clinical supervision, and research and develop expertise to lay the foundation for an experimental dissertation that will contribute original knowledge to the field.

IV. Admission Requirements

Doctoral students must meet all requirements for admission to the Graduate School .

Candidates must have their Master’s Degree in Communication Science and Disorders from an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) accredited institution and have or be eligible for their Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA.

Steps for application to the program may be found on the Graduate School website. On-site interviews or meetings with faculty will not be scheduled until the completed application has been received by the University of Nevada Graduate School. A tour of departmental facilities may be scheduled in advance by contacting the department at (775) 784-4887.

V. Program Requirements

The doctoral student must declare two areas of concentrated study in speech pathology selected from the areas of:

• language disorders,
• phonology,
• voice disorders,
• alaryngeal speech,
• stuttering,
• cleft palate, and
• neurogenic disorders.

Students must complete the degree requirements of the Graduate School and the University. The program of study leading to the Ph.D. must be approved by the student’s Advisory-Examining Committee and will include experience in teaching, clinical supervision and research.

Prior to admission to candidacy, there is a comprehensive, written examination followed by an oral examination. Upon completion of the dissertation, there is a defense of the dissertation. There is no foreign language requirement.

VI. Total Units

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in speech pathology are a minimum of 72 graduate units which include the following: 12 units of statistic courses, 12 units of seminar courses (SPA 790 ), 6 units of related support area courses, 17 units of electives, 24 units must be dissertation (SPA 799 ) and 1 unit must be comprehensive examination (SPA 795 ). The 1 unit of comprehensive exam is used as an elective but cannot be used to fulfill the required 30 units of 700-level required course work.

VII. Notes

An approved program in speech pathology and audiology (meeting national certification requirements) is developed by the graduate advisor, Advisory-Examining committee and the student.

VIII. Undergraduate Prerequisites

The doctoral candidate must meet all criteria for the undergraduate and master’s level programs as stipulated by ASHA.