Speech and Hearing Sciences

Master's and Doctoral Programs

Graduate opportunities

Pursuing a graduate degree in speech-language pathology and audiology at the University of North Texas prepares you to work effectively with people who have communication disorders. It also advances the discipline through professional, clinical and research activities.

We offer course work leading to a Master of Arts or Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology and a Doctor of Audiology degree. In addition, completing required course work, laboratory training and clinical practicum experiences qualifies you for national certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and state licensure.

You can gain valuable research experience by working with our faculty members on various projects. You'll have access to laboratories for research, clinical treatment rooms, a clinic library, a student workroom and a computer lab. Faculty research includes studying:

• Aphasia
• Speech perception
• Articulation
• Swallowing disorders
• Auditory evoked potentials
• Traumatic brain injury
• Correlates of tinnitus
• Vocal pathologies

Other collaborative research projects are conducted with the College of Music and the biological sciences, electrical engineering and physics departments.

Our programs were among the first accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (2200 Research Blvd.; Rockville, Md. 20850-3289; telephone 301-296-5700).

Excellent hands-on opportunities Along with the on-campus practicum at the UNT Speech and Hearing Center, practicum opportunities are available at more than 100 regional sites. Sites include hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers and public schools administering hearing screenings and raising hearing loss awareness. All practicum requirements are closely monitored by a clinical supervisor.

Our students are prepared academically and clinically throughout their programs. Clinical competencies are reviewed each semester with the clinical supervisor.

Academic knowledge and clinical competency are also studied through formative and summative assessments at different stages of the programs.

Students enjoy a 100 percent employment rate within six months of graduation and have a 100 percent pass rate on the ASHA Praxis exam.

Attending UNT

Admission requirements

You'll need to meet the admission requirements for the Toulouse Graduate School® and the following program requirements:

• Completed program application
• GRE scores
• Official transcripts from all schools attended
• Three letters of recommendation
• A personal statement of future professional goals

Completed application forms should be submitted by Feb. 1 for admission the following fall semester. The graduate school's admission requirements are outlined at the grad school website or the UNT degree catalog.

Degree requirements

M.A. and M.S. degrees

There are two options for earning either master's degree:

• 45 credit hours of course work and a clinical practicum
• 39 credit hours of course work, 6 credit hours of thesis and a clinical practicum

Each option requires an additional 6 credit hours in audiology. If you write a thesis, you must pass an oral exam administered by the thesis committee on your topic. A written comprehensive exam is required if you don't write a thesis. The comprehensive exam focuses on the various content areas of speech-language pathology, including normal aspects of speech, language, swallowing and hearing.

Au.D. in Audiology

This is a four-year, post-baccalaureate degree that requires:

• 70 to 78 credit hours of course work
• 44 credit hours of clinical practicum (with a minimum of 1,850 clock hours)
• A faculty-directed research project
• Pass comprehensive, formative and summative exams

During the fourth year of the program, you must complete a clinical residency at an external practicum site, which may involve relocation or travel.

Financial assistance

Semester-long graduate assistantships and scholarships are available. Faculty members may also have research money available for partial support of a research assistant. All assistantships and scholarships are competitive. More information about financial assistance programs is available at the financial aid website or the grad school site.