Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
What can I do with a degree in hearing and speech sciences?
The field of Speech-Language Pathology deals with the diagnosis and remediation of speech, language, voice, fluency, and swallowing problems in children and adults. The field of Audiology deals with the measurement of hearing and the rehabilitation of those with hearing impairments. Opportunities are available to work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, as well as private practice and educational settings with populations that range from infants through older adults. Research in these fields is also a viable option for those with a degree in hearing and speech sciences. For more information on the professions, please see the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website.
The Bachelor's Degree (B.A.) in Hearing & Speech Sciences provides the necessary background for graduate training in Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing, and Language or Speech Sciences. Because a graduate degree is required in most American jurisdictions for the practice of speech-language pathology and/or audiology, the B.A. degree does not qualify an individual to work professionally in these disciplines following graduation. However, an undergraduate degree in Hearing & Speech Sciences can also lead to other related careers which may or may not require further academic study.
A Master's Degree (M.A.) is required as the minimum educational background for certification and licensure for practice in Speech and Language Pathology.
A Doctoral degree (Au.D./Ph.D.) is required for practice in Audiology as the minimum educational background for certification and licensure. Research in the field is conducted by individuals with a Ph.D.
Why would I choose Maryland for my degree?
The Hearing & Speech Sciences program combines the best of many worlds: a small, intimate department in a large, Carnegie Research-I University. Our students enjoy working with well-known faculty and staff in a close-knit environment, while simultaneously enjoying the benefits of an exciting and large public university setting. The University of Maryland campus is located in the Washington, DC suburbs. Our location in the Baltimore/Washington DC Metro area provides access to a wide range of clinical practicum and cultural opportunities. The Hearing and Speech Sciences Program at the University of Maryland is ranked in the top 10% of American Graduate programs in both Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology by U.S. News and World Report surveys.
We have a full-service clinic, an in-house preschool, and a wide range of clinical outside placements. Find out more information here.
What is the best way to decide if Maryland is right for me?
How large is the program?
The undergraduate major has 130-150 students. The graduate programs consist of approximately 50 speech-language pathology students as well as 35 audiology students. We have 18 full-time faculty members and a number of adjunct professors.
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Application and Admission
How many students apply and are accepted each year to the graduate programs?
Around 200 students apply for the program each year. The M.A. program enrolls approximately 25-35 students per year. The Au.D. program enrolls approximately 6-10 students per year.
What are the average Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores and grade point averages for admitted students?
Successful applicants typically demonstrate an undergraduate GPA of approximately 3.5, along with strong GRE scores, well-written letters of intent, and strong letters of recommendation.
What institution code do I use to have my GRE scores sent to the University of Maryland?
The institution code for the University of Maryland, College Park is R5814.
Whom should I ask to write letters of recommendation?
The majority of your recommendations should come from someone who knows your academic skills and scholastic potential (i.e. professors).
Ask the people who will give you the best recommendations.
What is the deadline for applications?
For information on application materials and deadlines,
click here.
Where should I send my application materials?
Some materials should be sent directly to the department, and others should be sent to the
Enrollment Services Office-Graduate Admissions. For information on application materials and deadlines, click here.
What kinds of funding are available from the Hearing & Speech Department for grad students?
There are a limited number of fellowships available which provide tuition remission plus a stipend. Half-assistantships (10 hours/week) which provide 5 credits of tuition remission per semester plus a stipend are also available. Students awarded an assistantship who are determined to be out-of-state will be charged in-state tuition rates. Students who are offered fellowships and assistantships will be notified in writing by the department.
Do I need an undergraduate degree in hearing and speech in order to be admitted to the graduate programs? Do I need to take prerequisites?
No, a degree in hearing and speech is not required for admission to the graduate programs. The graduate program in Hearing and Speech Sciences at the University of Maryland accepts graduate students who come from non-Hearing and Speech backgrounds, and provides these students with appropriate preparatory coursework. Interested students should click
here for further information or
contact the department.
How many students enter the program without a background in Hearing and Speech?
Each year 20-25% of graduate students enter the program provisionally, and complete background courses during an extended program of study.
Can I take classes in speech and hearing before I apply to the graduate school to see if I enjoy and can successfully complete some initial courses?
Students may apply as non-degree seeking students or advanced special students in order to take courses prior to application to this or another graduate program. Advanced special students are subject to all standard graduate student fees, and they are not eligible for graduate fellowships or assistantships. For more information, click
here.
Is it possible to apply to the Ph.D. program without a Master's degree?
Yes, however students who do not have background coursework in hearing and speech sciences will be required to take HESP undergraduate preparatory courses and additional graduate coursework as determined by the student's Program Planning Committee (approximately 25 additional hours of basic science coursework for the Ph.D.). In addition, employment options may be more limited in American settings if the candidate does not hold clinical certification in addition to the Ph.D. degree. It is possible to pursue clinical certification and the Ph.D. at the same time, with an extended program of study.
When will I find out if I am admitted to the graduate program?
Offers of admission are made on a rolling basis throughout the spring semester and into early summer.
May I defer enrollment to a graduate program?
It is possible to defer enrollment under certain circumstances. This is decided on a case by case basis.
Degree Requirements
Is it possible to begin my graduate studies in a semester other than the Fall?
Students may begin in the Fall or Summer semester. Students without a Hearing & Speech undergraduate background may decide to fulfill their statistics requirement the Summer before they begin the program if they have not already done so. It should be noted that availability of certain classes is more limited during the Summer sessions.
If I am accepted into one of the graduate programs, can I attend part-time?
The M.A. Program in Speech-Language Pathology and the Doctoral Program in Clinical Audiology (post B.A.) are full-time programs; part-time students are not accepted. Graduate education in these disciplines requires timely and concurrent registration in both academic and clinical experiences.
Students admitted to the Doctoral Program in Clinical Audiology who already have an M.A./M.S. in Audiology may attend part time.
Is it possible to work while pursuing the graduate degrees?
Many graduate students work 10-20 hours per week during their graduate program. However, it should be noted that enrollment in clinical practicum places significant time demands on students during the work week. Clinicians registered for clinical practica should be prepared to devote approximately 20-30 hours per week to the preparation, implementation, and analysis of clinical experiences in addition to fulfilling their academic obligations for additional coursework.
How many classes do students typically take per semester?
Undergraduates take anywhere from four to six classes per semester, some of which are general education classes or electives.
Graduate students typically take ten to twelve credits per semester, which usually consist of three classes and clinical practicum.
Can I specialize in a particular area of study?
On the undergraduate level, an effort is made to give students full exposure to a wide range of areas in speech-language pathology and audiology.
On the graduate level, once basic requirements are completed, it is possible to pursue elective areas or to concentrate in a particular area of study.
Are Master's students in Speech-Language Pathology required to write a thesis?
No, students pursuing the M.A. degree may choose either the thesis or the non-thesis option. If students do not write a thesis, they must complete the comprehensive exams and a candidacy paper.
Are students in the Doctoral Program in Clinical Audiology required to do a dissertation?
Yes, all students in the Au.D. and Clinical Ph.D. programs complete a dissertation.
Can students participate in research/Do students have to participate in research?
Students in our Undergraduate Program are not required to participate in research; however, opportunities are available to interested students. Interested students can participate as volunteers, as part of independent studies, or as part of a special program called Maryland Student Researchers(MSR).
Students in the M.A. Program in Speech-Language Pathology are not required to participate in independent research. M.A. students may opt to complete an independent research project by choosing the thesis option. Interested students can also participate in research as volunteers or as part of an independent study.
Students in the Doctoral Program in Clinical Audiology are required to complete an independent research project for the dissertation. Interested students can also participate in research by volunteering or pursuing an independent study.
If I earned observation hours during my undergraduate studies, can these be used towards certification requirements?
Properly documented observation hours are accepted toward certification requirements.
Can I transfer credit for graduate classes taken elsewhere?
The University automatically allows transfer of up to six credits (e.g., two courses) of eligible graduate coursework taken before matriculation, or at another institution, into a graduate program. A new Graduate School policy enables departments to exercise discretion in raising this number to twelve (four courses). Students wishing to transfer up to twelve credits must petition the HESP faculty for consideration of these additional credits.
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Clinical Practicum Information
Does the faculty have experience as clinicians?
Our faculty have many years of experience with a background in the delivery of therapy services to differing populations.
How many hours are students involved in clinical practicum?
The number of hours of clinical practicum is highly variable, and the following descriptions are approximations since every student and every semester are slightly different.
During the first year of clinical training, students in the M.A. Program in Speech-Language Pathology take responsibility for a caseload of approximately 3-4 therapy clients. This generally translates to 6-8 hours of direct client contact per week as well as another 5-8 hours of preparation time. In addition, students are assigned to diagnostic teams which meet approximately 3-4 hours per week and require varying levels of preparation time.
During the second year of training, Speech-Language Pathology students are assigned to one outside clinical placement each semester. Input from the students regarding their intellectual interests and clinical training needs is vital in determining the specific assignment. These placements vary from 2½ to 4 days per week depending on the facility's requirements and the student's schedule. In total, ASHA requires 375 hours of clinical practicum. All students receive at least that many hours.
For students in the Doctoral Program in Clinical Audiology, approximately 1.5-2 days per week are devoted to clinical practicum in the in-house hearing clinic during the first year and a half. During the advanced outside placements in the 2nd and 3rd year, students may be involved in clinical responsibilities anywhere from three to five days per week.
What kind of clinical experiences can I expect?
For
Undergraduate students, clinical experiences can include, but are not limited to, participation in
LEAP, an entire class on clinical experiences (optional) and actual hands on work with a client in the clinic.
Graduate students in the
M.A. Program in Speech-Language Pathology engage in a variety of clinical experiences, which include group, individual, and diagnostic experience with adults and children with a variety of disabilities.
Graduate students in the
Doctoral Program in Clinical Audiology engage in a variety of clinical experiences, including both diagnostic and rehabilitative audiology with various age groups.
Do students receive training with both adults and children?
Do students get a choice in their outside placements?
Assignments to outside placements are arranged by the department following consultation with the clinical directors in speech-language pathology and audiology. Input from students regarding their interests and clinical training needs is considered during determination of specific assignments.
Master's Program in Speech-Language Pathology: The expected time frame for completion of the M.A. program in Speech-Language Pathology is four academic semesters, plus one intervening summer term. For students who enter the M.A. program without a background in the hearing or speech sciences, the expected time frame for completion of the M.A. degree is an additional two to three semesters of full-time enrollment.
Doctoral Program in Clinical Audiology: The expected time frame for completion of the full-time, post-B.A. Doctoral Program in Clinical Audiology is 4 years (including summers) for the Au.D. track. For students who enter the doctoral program without a background in the hearing or speech sciences, the expected time frame for completion of the doctoral degree is an additional one to two semesters of full-time enrollment.
Professional audiologists (post-M.A.) who enter the Doctoral Program in Clinical Audiology will be evaluated on an individual basis to determine the minimum requirements to complete the course of study for an Au.D. or Ph.D. degree.
Ph.D. Program: The expectation is that students who already hold a graduate clinical degree in Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology will complete all requirements for the HESP Ph.D. degree within 4-5 years of full-time study. Students without background coursework in the discipline, or those engaged in part-time study, will generally take longer to complete the degree but must still demonstrate timely progress.
Career Information/Other
What are the job prospects for speech pathologists and audiologists?
The future is extremely bright for speech pathologists and audiologists. Read career information from the U.S. Department of Labor on speech-language pathology and audiology which provides details on numerous aspects of the career including training, advancements, job outlook, and earnings.
Does the department assist students in placement for the Clinical Fellowship Year (M.A. Program) or 4th year Clinical Externships (Au.D. Program) and in finding employment after graduation?
As much as possible, the department tries to offer assistance to students in their pursuit of employment opportunities.
Whom do I contact with other questions not covered on this page?
Visit our
contact page to determine who will be best suited to answer your more specific questions, depending on the program in which you are interested. Or come ask questions in person and meet the department at one of our
open houses.
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