Chair: Susan N. Nittrouer
Associate Chair: Kenneth J. Logan
Graduate Coordinators: Kenneth J. Logan and Susan N. Nittrouer

Graduate programs in the Department lead to Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders and to the Doctor of Audiology degree. Requirements for these degrees are given in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

The Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Doctor of Audiology degrees are accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) Program offers comprehensive academic and clinical training for students who are interested in a career in speech-language pathology. The five-semester program culminates in the completion of either a clinical externship or a Master’s thesis, and it provides graduates with a solid foundation for obtaining employment in a variety of work settings. Students have the opportunity to complete clinical practica at sites within the University of Florida’s Health Science Center and at other medical, rehabilitative, and educational facilities on or near the campus. These sites allow students to gain experience with providing clinical services to a range of patient populations.

Applicants to the Master’s program must demonstrate successful completion of pre-requisite coursework in both normal bases of communication and introductory concepts in communication disorders. Additional information about these pre-requisites is available on the Department website. Graduates of the program are eligible for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as well as state licensure in speech-language pathology. For more information, contact Kenneth J. Logan, Ph.D. (klogan@ufl.edu).

The Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) Program in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences is a four-year graduate degree. Graduate students take course work in theoretical and applied audiologic sciences and research. There are no specific undergraduate courses required for admission to the Au.D. degree program, although applicants with a strong science background are encouraged to apply. Graduates of this program are eligible for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) administered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Board Certification in Audiology administered by the American Academy of Audiology, and for state licensure in audiology. For more information, contact Susan N. Nittrouer, Ph.D. (snittrouer@phhp.ufl.edu). 

The Ph.D. Program in Rehabilitation Sciences: Communication Sciences and Swallowing Disorders provides state-of-the-art education in research practices in speech-language pathology, audiology, and bulbar science in the context of Rehabilitation Science. The Ph.D. program has a strong interdisciplinary focus and is designed to prepare the next generation of researchers who are specialized in basic and/or applied science related to a range of speech, language, hearing, and swallowing functions. The program’s goal is to develop researchers who are skilled at independently designing and conducting original research that adds to the body of knowledge in the field. Students are individually mentored and pursue individually designed programs of study that are tailored to their interests and needs. Programs of study often incorporate training in appropriate adjunct fields such as engineering, dentistry, gerontology, linguistics, psychology, medicine, kinesiology, and special education. For more information, see the concentration in Communication Sciences and Swallowing Disorders description under the Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Sciences. This concentration focuses on research across a range of specialties in speech-language pathology, audiology and bulbar science, including: language acquisition and its disorders, articulation, fluency, voice, adult language disorders, cognitive disorders, hearing science, balance disorders, cochlear implants, swallowing, and other functions of the upper aerodigestive tract. For information about this Ph.D. track, contact Dr. Lori Altmann (laltmann@ufl.edu). For general information about the Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Sciences program, including application deadlines, contact Laura Quintana (lauraq@phhp.ufl.edu).

The Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences is committed to providing its students with a high-quality educational experience that will prepare them for rewarding employment in the areas of speech-language pathology audiology, and bulbar science, as well as an eagerness for life-long learning and professional development. The department strives to enroll a diverse group of students who possess both high ethical standards and strong academic skills. The application deadline for fall semester admission to the M.A. and Au.D., and Ph.D. programs is January 15.

For more information on the M.A. and Au.D. degree programs and associated application procedures, please see the program webpages on the department website: M.A. (http://slhs.phhp.ufl.edu/academics/masters/); Au.D. (http://audiology.ufl.edu). Additional information about these degree programs also can be found in the Program pages of the Graduate Catalog (see links below). For more information about the Ph.D. degree program, see the website for the Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Sciences:  https://phhp.ufl.edu/academics/doctoral-programs/.