Bachelor of Arts Program in Hearing & Speech Sciences

Below you will find links to helpful information and forms as you progress toward your degree.

Information on the B.A. Program, HESP Minor and Program Requirements:

• B.A. Program Handbook
• HESP Honors
• HESP Minor
• HESP Benchmarks
• HESP Undergraduate Advisor:   CLICK HERE to make an appointment.

University Information and Services for Undergraduate Students:

• Undergraduate Studies Webpage
• Undergraduate Catalog
• BSOS Undergraduate Advising Page
• Learning Assistance Service (LAS)
• UM Resource Directory (pdf)
  

Important Reminder for Undergraduates: Is your email address current? This is essential if you want to receive information from the Undergraduate Advisor.

• Click here to update your email with the University

Information/Forms for Graduation & Seniors:

• Seniors Website
• BSOS Graduation Checklist
• Application for Graduation (complete during the semester prior to graduation)
• University Commencement Website
  • HESP Commencement

Preparing for Life After Graduation:

• The Career Center: help with job applications and applying to graduate school.
  • Create a Credentials Account
  • Helpful Tips for choosing and applying to graduate school.
• Graduate Programs in Hearing & Speech (ASHA Website)
• Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD) listing of programs in Hearing and Speech.
• Information on GRE signup

GET INVOLVED Outside the Classroom/Special Programs:

• Join the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association ( NSSLHA)
  
• Take Experiential Learning (HESP 386): talk to the Undergraduate Advisor for more information

• HESP undergraduates can in some cases receive credit toward the major for study abroad in Australia, the UK, Israel, or Canada. Interested students should contact Dr. Nan Ratner or the Undergraduate Advisor for more information.

• Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Program (UTA) is an exciting teaching-learning experience. This program is a cooperative effort of the Office of Undergraduate Studies and the College of Education. This program allows the student to develop a close working relationship with both professors and fellow students. As part of this experience, the student participates in a concurrent seminar which complements the UTA experience (EDUC 388: Guided Experiences in College Teaching I and EDCI 498: Special Problems in Teaching Education). Students earn a total of 4 credits.

• Students who will be juniors or seniors in the Fall of 2008 are eligible to apply to the Summer Research Initiaitve (SRI) program to be held in Summer 2008. The program is designed to encourage undergraduate students to conduct research under faculty member's supervison. The eight-week program will be held on the University of Maryland, College Park campus from June 2 through July 25, 2008. More information regarding the program and applications can be found on the SRI website.

Undergraduate Research

Students may become involved in research through many of the labs in the department. BSOS lists a wide variety of these research opportunities for students; more information is available here. There are a number of benefits to being involved in HESP research: you have the opportunity to learn about another aspect of our field, and you develop a close working relationship with a faculty member who is then in a better position to write you a strong letter of recommendation for graduate school or future employment.

There are four primary mechanisms for being involved in HESP research:

• Volunteering to participate in research is an opportunuity in many labs. Faculty have different requirements and expectations for this type of research opportunity, and space may be limited in some research groups.
  
• Maryland Student Researchers (MCUR) provides students with an opportunity to work with faculty members on a one-to-one basis as a research assistant. The student is expected to work 4-6 hours per week, for one semester. Maryland Student Researchers does not count for academic credit. MCUR also offers a summer research internship for rising juniors and seniors - the program provided scholarships of $3,000 to students who participate in summer research.
  
• In some cases, students can receive academic credit in the department in exchange for participating in research. This credit typically falls under the course number HESP499, and is offered as pass/fail.
  
• Finally, students can apply to join the Honors program, in which students work closely with faculty to develop and conduct their own research project.