Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Program
The Ph.D. degree program provides a rigorous course of study along with mentored research and teaching experiences to enable students to become high-quality researchers and serve effectively as leaders in the discipline of communication sciences and disorders. Graduates of the program are prepared to assume careers as researchers and scholars at colleges, universities, hospitals, industrial settings, and research facilities. The program is not designed to provide an advanced clinical degree. Rather, the Ph.D. degree will be conferred in recognition of the attainment of the highest academic excellence and productive scholarship. As doctoral programs are an integral step on a life-long journey of learning and scholarship, the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology has established the Ph.D. program in Communication Sciences and Disorders to support students in developing knowledge, judgment, skills, and attitudes to facilitate their growth and learning throughout their careers as researchers, scholars, and teachers.
Program Objectives
The primary objective of the Ph.D. degree program is to assist students to develop in-depth mastery of subject matter in a narrow and specific area within the broad discipline of communication sciences and disorders and, simultaneously, to broaden one’s knowledge base in other fields related to the special area of interest, such as health, linguistics, education, and the physical, biological, and socio-behavioral sciences. With the intent to prepare high-quality researchers to serve as leaders in the discipline of communication sciences and disorders, graduates of the program will be prepared to assume independent careers as researchers and scholars at colleges, universities, and hospitals, as well to become key personnel at leading private and public research institutes. Specifically, the objectives of the Ph.D. program include:
1. The development of independent research skills through sequential experiences that involve the planning and conduct (or implementation) of research projects, the writing of grants, and the dissemination of research findings through the presentation of papers at scientific and other professional conferences and publication in peer-reviewed journals in the discipline;
2. The preparation of academicians equipped to teach the university students of tomorrow through guided coursework in educational methods and evaluation, instructional technologies including online course delivery, international and intercultural experiences, and classroom practice; and
3. The acquisition of advanced knowledge and understanding of a specialized area with the ability to apply this understanding to research, teaching, and scholarship.
A Highly Individualized Experience
The Ph.D. program in Communication Sciences and Disorders is a highly individualized experience that includes prescribed and selected coursework designed to meet the objectives of the program, ongoing participation in research and other scholarly activities, and the independent completion of a dissertation under the mentorship of a research advisor. As such, the time needed to complete the program will vary to ensure sufficient time for the building of adequate teaching and research skills and a creditable curriculum vitae. Some diligent and highly motivated students may be able to complete their work in less time, whereas others may require more time to achieve independence as a scholar and researcher.
Because the discipline of communication sciences and disorders supports two professions, audiology and speech-language pathology, students in the Ph.D. degree program may pursue one of the following areas of emphasis:
1) Speech and Language Sciences and Disorders or
2) Hearing Science and Disorders
It is expected that—through study, scholarship, and mentorship—Ph.D. candidates will develop deep expertise in a specific topic within an area of emphasis.
Admission and Performance Standards
A Ph.D. Advisory Committee composed of one member from each of the major areas of study will screen the applications and make admissions decisions based on the following criteria, in consultation with the faculty in their area of emphasis. In particular, applicants must have:
1. An entry-level clinical degree for the profession of speech-language pathology (i.e., M.A. or M.S.) or audiology (i.e., M.A., M.S., or AuD1);
2. A cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher (A=4.0) upon completion of a graduate degree;
3. A score at or above the 50th percentile on the Verbal and Quantitative sections and a score of at least 4.0 on the Analytical Writing section on an official copy of the Graduate Record Examination2;
4. A TOEFL score of at least 100 (internet version), 250 (computer-based), or 600 (paper-based), if English is not the applicant’s native language;
5. An interview with the Ph.D. Advisory Committee that will include the writing of an essay on an assigned topic to be evaluated by program faculty;
6. Three letters of recommendation, two of which must come from previous instructors or professors who can comment meaningfully on the applicant’s potential for Ph.D. study; and
7. A personal statement that addresses the applicant’s professional goals within speech and language sciences and disorders or within hearing science and disorders.
1 Please submit transcripts directly to:
West Virginia University
Office of Admissions
P.O. Box 6009
Morgantown, WV 26506-6009
2 The WVU Institution Code for the GRE is R5904. Applicants may have their official scores submitted from the newly revised GRE or from the older version, if taken within the past 5 years.
An Application for Graduate Admission is available from the WVU Office of Admissions. Please note that the major code for the Ph.D. program in Communication Sciences and Disorders is 4512.
It is also possible to apply for graduate study online. When doing so, you may upload your personal statement and provide your reference information for online letter submission. For those wishing to apply by mail, please send your personal statement and letters of recommendation to:
Graduate Studies
Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology
West Virginia University
805 Allen Hall
P.O. Box 6122
Morgantown, WV 26506-6122
For more information, please contact the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology by mail at the above address, by phone at (304) 293-6817, or by e-mail: Julie.Yerkovich@mail.wvu.edu.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are complete and on time. No incomplete applications will be reviewed.
Program Requirements
Residency Commitment
The Ph.D. degree program in Communication Sciences and Disorders requires a full-time commitment. Each student who is accepted into the program works with faculty on a daily basis that will help to hone skills and to sharpen the research focus. Furthermore, each student will be expected to conduct research and pursue scholarship activities that will inform classroom teaching and lead to meaningful presentations and publications. Consequently, applicants are required to sign a statement confirming their commitment to full-time status before they may be admitted to the program.
Curriculum
Upon admission to the Ph.D. program, students enroll in a series of required courses in the doctoral core, in the research core, and in the area of specialization. Ph.D. students are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 each semester. Upon completion of coursework, students must successfully complete written and oral comprehensive examinations to be eligible for candidacy.
Ph.D. students enroll in a minimum of six (6) credits of independent study, extending over at least three semesters, under the supervision of their mentor. Typically, the focus of the independent study will be on the development of independent research skills through involvement with ongoing or forthcoming projects in the mentor’s research program. Each student will be expected to present at one or more scientific meetings and submit at least two manuscripts for publication in relevant peer-reviewed journals before graduating. Details regarding the
Ph.D. program curriculum
are available here.
Assistantships and Fellowships
Several Graduate Teaching Assistantships and Graduate Research Assistantships are available through the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology to support students in the Ph.D. program. In addition, the WVU Office of Graduate Education and Life website describes the many types of
fellowships available
to Ph.D. students.