The Ph.D. program in the speech, language, and hearing sciences at the University of Colorado offers an exciting interdisciplinary research and learning environment that focuses on understanding the basic processes of and mechanisms underlying human speech, language and hearing. The Ph.D. program in SLHS prepares students for research or clinical work in a broad range of areas, including both theoretical and clinical perspectives. These areas are based on faculty members' research programs. Interested students are encouraged to explore the focus areas of our reserach faculty.
Our program may be a good choice for you if there is a faculty member who shares your area of interest and expertise. Your program of study is designed by you, your advisor, and your doctoral committee. Because the science of human communication is interdisciplinary by nature, students from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines related to human communication pursue their doctoral degree at CU Boulder. Students take coursework in other departments as well, such as neuroscience, linguistics, cognitive psychology, and education.The first step in applying to the Ph.D. program is to talk with a faculty member who could be a potential advisor. Contact the Director of Graduate Studies if you are uncertain who to talk with or you want to discuss your area of interest. We encourage you to contact potential advisors to explore possible areas of research for your doctoral program. While by no means comprehensive, the descriptions of faculty advisors and their areas of interest provide a good place to start this exploration.
The traditional Doctoral Program is designed with flexibility to accommodate your research and clinical interests. Each student works with his or her faculty advisor to develop a blueprint of the doctoral program, or a plan of study. You may choose courses from within SLHS as well as other departments on campus. Doctoral students will be expected to participate in research each semester they are enrolled. In the beginning, this may involve a project suggested by the advisor. By the time you are developing a dissertation topic, you are also working more independently.
Please see the drop downs for an overview of the process of doctoral study. Further information is provided in the SLHS Graduate Program Handbook.