Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Harrisonburg, USA
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
Request tuition fees
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
There are many unanswered questions in the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Our graduates seek to answer them. If you’re looking for a stimulating intellectual environment where the ability to conduct research is considered an essential skill, this program may be for you.
A nationwide shortage of individuals with Ph.D.s in the communication sciences and disorders means that graduates are in high demand for employment in leadership positions in health facilities, universities, and research centers. In addition to advanced coursework related to communication disorders, students complete requirements in statistics, research design, hearing or speech sciences, a teaching/supervising internship, and a dissertation.
The Ph.D. program is individualized to the specific interests of the student while assuring a rigorous educational experience appropriate to the research training and advanced knowledge characteristics of the degree. Students may be admitted to the Ph.D. program at various stages, including post-master's, post-baccalaureate, and post-Au.D., depending upon the individual's career goals.
Some students may wish to pursue clinical qualifications in either audiology or speech-language pathology while concurrently undertaking their Ph.D. studies. All admitted students will undertake an individually-designed program emphasizing research tools, research activities, and in-depth exposure to a major area of interest supported by a study in a minor area.
Gallery
Curriculum
The Ph.D. program affords a time for students to acquire the depth of knowledge, skills, and experiences to empower them to create new knowledge in the field and to become expert researchers, leaders, teachers, and/or supervisors. Each student's course of study is individually tailored to meet the student's interests and represents an agreement between the student and the student's advising committee.
All students must pursue an advanced course of study that will include the following components.
Core course work (8 credits)
- Speech and hearing science: CSD 867. Experimental Phonetics (3 credits)
- Methods of measurement in CSD: CSD 805. Methods of Measurement in CSD (3 credits)
- Professional issues and development: CSD 806. Ph.D. Professional Development Seminar I (1 credit)
- Professional issues and development: CSD 807. Ph. D. Professional Development Seminar II (1 credit)
- Course work within the student's major area of emphasis (minimum: 14 credit hours)1
- Course work outside, but related to, the student's major area of emphasis (minimum: 6 credit hours)1
- Course work in statistical methods and research design (minimum: 12 credit hours)1
- Directed research experience (minimum: 6 credit hours)1
- Teaching and/or supervision experience (minimum: 2 credit hours)1
- The dissertation credit (minimum: 9 credit hours)1
1These requirements may be partially met for students holding a doctoral degree or concurrently completing another JMU doctoral program.
Sample curriculum for Post-Masters
- Core course work
- Major concentration coursework
- Outside, related coursework
- Research tools
- Directed research
- Teaching/Supervision
- Dissertation (minimum of 9 credits)
Sample curriculum for Post-Bachelors
- Post-Bachelors course work (individually determined)
- Core course work
- Major concentration course work
- Outside, related course work
- Research tools
- Directed research
- Teaching/Supervision
- Dissertation (minimum of 9 credits)
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Most students enrolled in this program receive Doctoral Assistantships.
Students enrolled in this program are eligible for Doctoral Assistantships that signficantly reduce the cost of tuition and provide a stipend that is sufficient to cover the cost of housing, meals and other expenses. See our website for more information about assistantships.
Facilities
English Language Requirements
Certify your English proficiency with PTE. The faster, fairer, simpler English test, accepted by thousands of universities around the world. PTE, Do it worry-free!