Degree Requirements

Students seeking professional certification in speech/language pathology or audiology must meet coursework and clinical requirements specific to the specialization or area of study. Information about certification requirements is available from the graduate adviser.

To be counted toward the degree, all coursework in the major must be at the graduate level. Individual study programs must be arranged in consultation with the graduate adviser.

Master of Arts

The Master of Arts is offered with a thesis or no-thesis option. All students must complete at least twenty semester hours in core courses, six hours of electives (including courses taken either within the department or outside the department), and either a thesis (six hours) or complete another six hours of electives (for the no-thesis option) for a total of thirty-two hours of academic coursework.  Students enrolled in the M.A./Ph.D. would be required to select the thesis option, as their thesis work will serve as the qualifying project to continue into the Ph.D. program. In addition, students must enroll in clinical practicum training in order to be eligible for clinical certification through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Additional information regarding degree requirements is available on the department website.

The Master of Arts provides graduate training in the following specializations.

SPEECH/LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY. Students in speech/language pathology complete a set of core courses and clinical practicum experiences. Students may also choose from a set of electives based upon their specific interests.

The Master of Arts with thesis: Students selecting this option must complete at least twenty semester hours in core courses, six hours of electives (including courses taken either within the department or outside the department), and thesis (six hours) for a total of thirty-two hours of academic coursework. In addition, students must enroll in clinical practicum training for ten to twenty semester hours in order to be eligible for certification through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Additional hours may be required by the program in order to meet ASHA guidelines.  Students can select this option as part of their M.A./Ph.D. program.  

 The Master of Arts without thesis: Students selecting this option must complete at least twenty semester hours in core courses, twelve hours of electives (including courses taken either within the department or outside the department for a total of thirty-two hours of academic coursework. In addition, students must enroll in clinical practicum training for ten to twenty semester hours in order to be eligible for certification through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Additional hours may be required by the program in order to meet ASHA guidelines. 

AUDIOLOGY. All students in audiology complete the same set of core courses and basic clinical practicum. Students may choose from a set of electives based upon their specific interests. The program of study is not designed to lead to professional certification. Students who are interested in professional certification in audiology should consider the Doctor of Audiology degree described below.

The Master of Arts with thesis: Students selecting this option must complete at least 20 semester hours in core courses, six hours of electives (including courses taken either within the department or outside the department), and thesis (six hours) for a total of thirty hours of academic coursework. Students may choose from a set of electives based upon their specific interests. Students can select this option as part of their M.A./Ph.D. program.  The program of study is not designed to lead to professional certification. Students who are interested in professional certification in audiology should consider the Doctor of Audiology degree described below.

DEAFNESS STUDIES/EDUCATION OF THE DEAF. The specialization in deafness studies/education of the deaf is inactive. Current information about its status is available from the graduate adviser.

SPEECH AND HEARING SCIENCE. Students in speech and hearing science follow a broad, research-oriented program of study that is not designed to lead to professional certification.

The Master of Arts with thesis: Students selecting this option must complete at least 20 semester hours in core courses, six hours of electives (including courses taken either within the department or outside the department), and thesis (six hours) for a total of thirty hours of academic coursework. Students may choose from a set of electives based upon their specific interests. Students can select this option as part of their M.A./Ph.D. program.  The program of study is not designed to lead to professional certification. 

Doctor of Audiology

The Doctor of Audiology (AuD) provides academic and clinical education for those who plan to enter the profession of audiology. The degree program involves preparation for the diagnosis and non-medical treatment of hearing and balance disorders; it is designed to prepare audiologists to meet the standards for Texas state licensure in audiology.

The program requires a minimum of eighty-two semester hours of coursework and is designed to be completed in four years. All preprofessional students in audiology complete the same set of core courses and basic clinical practicum. Students may choose from a set of electives based upon their specific interests. Research experiences are part of the curriculum, but a dissertation is not required.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy is a research degree; students can expect opportunities to work closely with the faculty on research and to participate in the publication of research findings. All students in this program are expected to achieve mastery of research design principles and methods appropriate to their program of study.