Admission requirements
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the College of Health Solutions.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's degree in a related field and do not wish to earn a clinical master's degree, or if they have earned a master's degree or equivalent in speech and hearing science, psychology, linguistics, or a related discipline from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate study
- application cover letter and personal statement
- three letters of recommendation
- resume or curriculum vitae
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency. International applicants are welcome to apply for the program, which has a strong record of training international students. For all applicants of graduate programs at ASU, English proficiency is a requirement. There are several different avenues to demonstrate English proficiency, including through previous academic experiences in English, standardized tests, or through online courses. Students should refer to ASU's Graduate College English proficiency requirements for more details about English proficiency requirements.
Professional letters of recommendation should be from three individuals who can speak to one or more of the following: academic performance, clinical performance, or potential to succeed in a research-intensive doctoral program. The letter writers are typically faculty, clinical or research supervisors. If the applicant has spent some time away from research or academia, it is still recommended to have some letters from those experiences, in addition to a more recent clinical or research supervisor.
In addition to uploading a letter of recommendation, letter writers are asked to rate the applicant on the following:
- academic performance
- analytical skills
- creativity and originality
- emotional maturity
- honesty and integrity
- intellectual potential
- mathematical and statistical skills
- motivation to complete a PhD
- oral communication skills
- promise as a researcher in the discipline
- working with others
- written communication skills.
Letter writers also are asked to respond to the following short answer questions or prompts:
- What is the context in which you have known the applicant?
- Describe instances where you have seen this person go above and beyond?
- Do you have any reservations about this applicant? If yes, what are they?
- Describe an instance where you have seen the applicant demonstrate technical, analytical or problem-solving skills.
- Would you admit this applicant to our PhD program? Why or why not?
- Please provide any additional comments regarding the applicant's potential.
The personal statement, typically one or two double-spaced pages, should address the student's motivation to pursue a PhD with a specific faculty mentor in the program and include evidence of potential to succeed in a research-intensive doctoral program and goals for the future. Examples of evidence of potential to succeed include technical skills, clinical experiences, and research achievements and interests.
Degree requirements
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core (2 credit hours)
SHS 701 Scientific Writing and Presentation in Communication Sciences and Disorders I (1)
SHS 702 Scientific Writing and Presentation in Communication Sciences and Disorders II (1)
Culminating Experience (12 credit hours)
SHS 799 Dissertation (12)
Additional Curriculum Information
When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, 28 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree are allowed to be used for the degree.
Students complete content area coursework within speech and hearing science and other disciplines that can be tailored to the student's research interests. A student completes their plan of study under the guidance of their faculty mentor and program committee. A formal research experience during the first three semesters of the program provides students with a jumpstart into research, preparing the student for their subsequent dissertation research.