PhD Program
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders requires advanced coursework, independent research, and an in depth understanding of topics in one's area of specialization. The PhD Student Handbook has a complete overview of the PhD program, course requirements, summary of required hours & qualifying exam, dissertation, and other topics.
Application due date: Completed application is due January 15th
Admission and General Requirements
To be considered for admission to the doctoral program in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, an applicant must complete an online application. The applicant will need to submit a letter of intent with their application.
A minimum of three letters of recommendation are required. In addition to evaluating the applicant's potential to complete the program of study, these letters should attest to the academic and research capabilities of the applicant. The Permission to Release Education Record form is for current University of Utah students to submit to each faculty member for letters of reference. Please allow ample time for the faculty member to assist you with this part of the application process.
Requirements for entrance to the doctoral program are in accordance with those established by the Graduate School of the University of Utah, which includes at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA from undergraduate work.
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) must be taken; competitive scores must be obtained, which can vary from year to year depending upon the applicant pool. GRE scores should be sent to the University of Utah (institution code 4853).
Course Requirements
Plan of Study
Plans of Study may differ among students depending on their backgrounds, e.g., whether they have a Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s degree, or some type of professional degree, as well as whether they have a background in Communication Sciences and Disorders or not. All students must typically adhere to the following guidelines/requirements in the development of the Plan of Study.
- Individualized Doctoral Coursework
- Research Proseminar
- Research Tools
- Doctoral Instructional Methods
- Research Practicum
- Dissertation Research
WESTERN REGIONAL GRADUATE PROGRAM
The University of Utah Speech-Language Pathology PhD program and the Audiology Program participate in the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP), which is coordinated by the Western Interstate Commission of Higher Education (WICHE).
Residents of Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming who are admitted to either the PhD program or the Audiology program are eligible to enroll at resident tuition rates.
