The department offers graduate programs leading to the MS and PhD in communication sciences and disorders. An additional program in the department leads to the AuD in audiology. The graduate program provides the opportunity for study in the areas of audiology, speech–language pathology, hearing science, language science, and speech science. The purpose of the graduate program is to prepare clinicians, researchers, and teachers who possess a solid foundation in both the theoretical and applied aspects of the discipline of communication sciences and disorders.
The PhD program provides relevant classroom and laboratory experiences for the scholar–researcher interested in communication processes and communicative disorders. A student's academic program will consist of course work within the department and in related areas such as psychology, biology, linguistics, statistics, computer science, and education. Students completing the program will be prepared for careers as university professors, laboratory researchers, and senior clinicians.
Individual programs can be designed for students who wish to pursue professional training/clinical certification (in either speech–language pathology or audiology) and the PhD degree. Such students follow a modified sequence of course work, clinical training, and research experience in order to satisfy all academic and certification requirements in five to six years.
Admissions
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
| Fall Deadline | January 1 |
| Spring Deadline | The program does not admit in the spring. |
| Summer Deadline | The program does not admit in the summer. |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required. |
| English Proficiency Test | Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241. |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
Entering students who do not have undergraduate majors in communicative disorders will typically be required to take prerequisite course work, which may lengthen the time require to earn a graduate degree.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet the Graduate School’s admission requirements, as well as department-specific requirements.
A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (4.0=A); however, the students we accept into the program typically have much higher GPAs
Letters of Recommendation
These letters should address applicant's potential for academic success in graduate school. At least two should come from instructors who have knowledge of applicant's academic performance. The third may come from a clinical supervisor, employer, or other individual who has knowledge of applicant's academic potential and likelihood for success in graduate school. Please submit no more than three letters of recommendation.
Reasons for Graduate Study
This is an opportunity for you to highlight experiences, related skills, and personal attributes which make you an exceptional candidate. 1-3 pages, single-spaced.
CV or Resume
Include honors and awards
Transcripts
Upload a copy of unofficial transcripts. These show grades earned at every college or university attended, including study abroad. If recommended for admission, the Graduate School will request official transcripts.
Supplemental Application
Fill out the supplemental application that is found in the online graduate school application.
English Proficiency Requirement
International degree-seeking applicants must prove English proficiency using the Graduate School's requirements.
Notable Advice
- Submit all materials one week prior to deadline. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered.
- File the application early. Do not wait to gather all materials. It is better to file early and send additional items as they become available. Contact program for instructions on how to send additional items once application is submitted.
- Track the application status. After submission of the application, the applicant will receive a link to the application status page where the applicant can track the status. We update this page as we receive materials, usually within two weeks of receipt.
- For more information, review the UW–Madison Graduate School “Steps to Apply” and “Admissions FAQ”.
Funding
Graduate School Resources
The Bursar’s Office provides information about tuition and fees associated with being a graduate student. Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Program Resources
Financial assistance, sometimes available to graduate students in communication sciences and disorders, consists of scholarships, fellowships, traineeships, and project and research assistant positions. Financial assistance is very limited and varies from year to year. Students who are considering applying for financial aid should contact the department for further information.
PhD students typically receive funding in the form of research assistantships and work in their advisor's research lab.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum degree requirements and policies, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Major Requirements
Mode of Instruction
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | No | No | No |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.
Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.
Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.
Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.
Curricular Requirements
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 54 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 54 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 27 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | n/a |
| Assessments and Examinations | A First Project (a master's-thesis-level research paper; consult program for details) is required. Doctoral students are required to take a comprehensive preliminary/oral examination after they have cleared their record of all Incomplete and Progress grades (other than research and thesis). Deposit of the doctoral dissertation in the Graduate School is required. |
| Language Requirements | None. |
| Graduate School Breadth Requirement | All doctoral students are required to complete a doctoral minor or graduate/professional certificate. Refer to the Graduate School: Breadth Requirement in Doctoral Training policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1200. |
Required Courses
The plan of study must encompass an area of specialization chosen from speech pathology, audiology, language disorders, and normal aspects of speech, hearing and language. Although there are no specific course requirements for the major, the study plan should be comprehensive in scope and should be tailored according to the student's research and academic needs. Students must also satisfy a core requirement by taking the following seminar/courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Writing | ||
| Students will prepare a grant application, focused on NIH grant application requirements and guidance by completing the following course for 3 credits: | ||
| CS&D 900 | Seminar-Speech Science (Grant Writing) | 3 |
| Statistical Methods 1 | ||
| All doctoral students are expected to become proficient in statistical methods. Students are required to complete at least 9 credits of statistical methods. A course on research methods or experimental design may satisfy part of the Statistical Methods requirement, in addition to satisfying the Research Methodology requirement (described below). Many students satisfy the Statistical Methods requirement by taking courses in the Educational Psychology (ED PSYCH) or the Statistics (STAT) department. Example courses include, but are not limited to: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Biostatistics | ||
| Statistical Methods for Bioscience I | ||
| Statistical Methods Applied to Education I | ||
| Research Methodology | ||
| Students must complete 3 credits of research methodology. This may include an independent study/directed readings course or a course from outside of the department focused broadly on something related to research methods, depending on the particular student interest. Example courses include, but are not limited to: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Clinical Trials I | ||
| Design and Analysis of Psychological Experiments I | ||
| Introduction to the Design of Educational Experiments | ||
| Professional Seminar | ||
| Students must complete 2 credits of the following course for 4 semesters. Students are expected to attend the weekly prosem lectures and attend any doctoral student discussion groups associated with the weekly lectures. | 8 | |
| Seminar-Speech Science (Prosem) | ||
| Teaching Methods | ||
| The form of the teaching credit should be discussed with the major advisor and must have the advisor's approval. Examples include: | 1 | |
Seminar taught within or outside the department | ||
Independent study with advisor that involves lecturing or developing course materials or student projects | ||
Independent study with major advisor involving reading and discussing scholarly writings that concern teaching | ||
| Electives | ||
| To satisfy the minimum credit requirement, students complete electives. Electives can be any course numbered 300 or above offered at UW-Madison that fits within the course plan that the student and advisor create. | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 54 | |
- 1
Statistical Methods: For instance, a rigorous and worthwhile statistics sequence could be STAT/F&W ECOL 571 Statistical Methods for Bioscience I and STAT/F&W ECOL 572 Statistical Methods for Bioscience II plus an experimental design class, such as ED PSYCH 762 Introduction to the Design of Educational Experiments.
Core Requirement: Seminars
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PhD Core Course Offerings | ||
| CS&D 900 | Seminar-Speech Science (4 semesters, 2 cr. each semester) | 2 |
| CS&D 900 | Seminar-Speech Science (Grant Writing) | 3 |
| CS&D 999 | Independent Studies (Teaching Methods) | 1 or audit |
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures serve as the official document of record for Graduate School academic and administrative policies and procedures and are updated continuously. Note some policies redirect to entries in the official UW-Madison Policy Library. Programs may set more stringent policies than the Graduate School. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Major-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions
No credits are allowed to transfer.
Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison
No credits are allowed to transfer.
Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)
No credits are allowed to transfer.
Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison
No credits are allowed to transfer.
Probation
Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.
Advisor / Committee
When you are admitted as a doctoral student, you will choose an academic advisor who will serve as your sponsor and mentor for the duration of the program. You may change advisors at any time in the course of your program, provided you and your advisor agree on this.
Your academic advisor may be a regular faculty member in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, or may be affiliate or joint faculty. If an affiliate faculty member is serving as your academic advisor, a regular faculty member must be assigned as your departmental contact to regularly review your progress and adherence to departmental requirements.
To ensure that students are making satisfactory progress toward a degree, the Graduate School expects them to meet with their advisor on a regular basis.
Students are required to submit an annual assessment of their progress to their advisor, which is then reviewed by the PhD Committee.
Credits Per Term Allowed
15 credit maximum. Refer to the Graduate School: Maximum Credit Loads and Overload Requests policy.
Time Limits
Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.
Grievances and Appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
L&S Policy for Graduate Student Academic Appeals
Graduate students have the right to appeal an academic decision related to an L&S graduate program if the student believes that the decision is inconsistent with published policy.
Academic decisions that may be appealed include:
- Dismissal from the graduate program
- Failure to pass a qualifying or preliminary examination
- Failure to achieve satisfactory academic progress
- Academic disciplinary action related to failure to meet professional conduct standards
Issues such as the following cannot be appealed using this process:
- A faculty member declining to serve as a graduate student’s advisor.
- Decisions regarding the student’s disciplinary knowledge, evaluation of the quality of work, or similar judgements. These are the domain of the department faculty.
- Course grades. These can be appealed instead using the L&S Policy for Grade Appeal.
- Incidents of bias or hate, hostile and intimidating behavior, or discrimination (Title IX, Office of Compliance). Direct these to the linked campus offices appropriate for the incident(s).
Appeal Process for Graduate Students
A graduate student wishing to appeal an academic decision must follow the process in the order listed below. Note time limits within each step.
- The student should first seek informal resolution, if possible, by discussing the concern with their academic advisor, the department’s Director of Graduate Studies, and/or the department chair.
- If the program has an appeal policy listed in their graduate program handbook, the student should follow the policy as written, including adhering to any indicated deadlines. In the absence of a specific departmental process, the chair or designee will be the reviewer and decision maker, and the student should submit a written appeal to the chair within 15 business days of the academic decision. The chair or designee will notify the student in writing of their decision.
- If the departmental process upholds the original decision, the graduate student may next initiate an appeal to L&S. To do so, the student must submit a written appeal to the L&S Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Academic Affairs within 15 business days of notification of the department’s decision.
- To the fullest extent possible, the written appeal should include, in a single document: a clear and concise statement of the academic decision being appealed, any relevant background on what led to the decision, the specific policies involved, the relief sought, any relevant documentation related to the departmental appeal, and the names and titles of any individuals contributing to or involved in the decision.
- The Assistant Dean will work with the Academic Associate Dean of the appropriate division to consider the appeal. They may seek additional information and/or meetings related to the case.
- The Assistant Dean and Academic Associate Dean will provide a written decision within 20 business days.
- If L&S upholds the original decision, the graduate student may appeal to the Graduate School. More information can be found on their website: Grievances and Appeals (see: Graduate School Appeal Process).
Other
n/a
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Learning Outcomes
- (Foundations of Research) Possess foundational knowledge about the particular subject area of the chosen area, and be fully conversant with the classic and contemporary literature.
- (Foundations of Research) Master data collection techniques specific to their chosen area of research.
- (Foundations of Research) Fully conversant with the theoretical issues and tensions within their chosen area of research.
- (Foundations of Research) Gain high-level knowledge and expertise in the statistical analysis of research data and graphical approaches to exploration of data sets.
- (Foundations of Research) Communicate complex ideas in a clear and understandable manner.
- (Dissertation) Design and execute an original experiment (or experiments) that clearly fills a gap in the existing literature and is worthy of publication(s) in peer-reviewed journals.
- (Dissertation) Skill, experience, and knowledge base to defend the dissertation work to a committee of five faculty members.
- (Professional Conduct) Design and conduct experiments.
- (Professional Conduct) Formulate research questions that are based on sound analyses of existing literature, and that show evidence of logical argument.
- (Professional Conduct) Understand how to examine data for patterns that are meaningful and patterns that reflect likely data collection errors.
- (Professional Conduct) Write research proposals and learn to develop carefully argued proposals and explanations.
- (Professional Conduct) Make presentations of their research at national and international conferences.
- (Professional Conduct) Pass a summary exam (6 hours written, 2 hours oral) that admits them to candidacy for the PhD degree.