Degree Title: Doctor of Philosophy

Program Name and Number: Hearing Science - PH5325

Department/Unit: School of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences

Delivery Mode: Athens Campus

Terms of Entry: Fall Only

Program Mission: The Division of Communication Sciences and Disorders is dedicated to excellence in research and teaching undergraduate and graduate students who will be successful in future academic study and employment.

Program Learning Objectives:

1. Students will demonstrate advanced knowledge in one major area of scholarly focus within the field of communication sciences and disorders.
2. Students will demonstrate advanced breadth and depth of knowledge in two minor areas of scholarship, one within the field of communication sciences and disorders and the other in a related area.
3. Students will synthesize scientific knowledge and writing skills with independence in processes of literature review, experimental design, implementation of empirical research studies, quantitative and qualitative analysis of data, and writing of research reports.
4. Students will demonstrate competence in writing of successful research manuscripts for publication and grant proposals.
5. Students will demonstrate competence in teaching and academic mentoring.

Program Overview:  Communication Sciences and Disorders offer a world-class Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in hearing science.  We are a diverse, energetic, dedicated, and productive faculty who work closely with students in a positive and encouraging environment.  We offer students the opportunity to develop an individualized academic plan of study, access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, an exciting range of mentored research experiences, and a variety of mentored teaching opportunities. 

We provide a distinctive, productive and nationally prominent Ph.D. program to prepare excellent scholars, educators, and leaders in communication sciences and disorders with special attention to thematic areas of strength.

Doctor of Philosophy degree applicants who are interested in a clinical doctorate of audiology may request consideration for admission to the Au.D. program to seek joint degrees of PhD and AuD. These joint degrees are for students who are certain they wish to pursue a Ph.D. and receive the Au.D. degree along the way. Upon completion of the program, the student will have completed the clinical doctorate of audiology and a Ph.D. in hearing science. This allows for maximum efficiency overall and permits the student to pursue research and clinical training simultaneously, rather than sequentially. The purpose of the joint degrees is to nurture and guide students with excellent potential while integrating clinical doctorate and doctoral coursework, research and clinical experiences.

Opportunities for Graduates: For the past several decades, our Ph.D. graduates have a 100% success rate with employment upon graduation. They serve as educators, researchers, and leaders of companies, hospitals, research laboratories, and state and national organizations. Ohio University alumni author many of the top textbooks and research articles in our field.

Link to Program: http://www.ohio.edu/chsp/rcs/csd/academics/phd-hs-sls.cfm

Link to Program Handbook: Graduate Handbook

Graduation Requirements:

1. Effective fall 2018: A minimum of 90 semester hours of graduate work is necessary to complete the Ph.D. degree.
   [Prior to fall 2018: A minimum of 100 semester hours of graduate work is necessary to complete the Ph.D. degree.]
2. A grade of C (2.0) or better for any course is necessary for the course to count toward degree requirements.
3. Consistent with University policies, all doctoral students must maintain a B (3.0) or better grade point average on a continuing basis.
4. Passing of the preliminary examination, pre-dissertation project requirements, comprehensive examinations, annual evaluations, and all courses in the approved program of study, and successful proposal, defense and submission of the dissertation are required for the doctoral degree.

Culminating Experience: Successful defense of the dissertation is the culminating experience for the Ph.D. The dissertation will be an original work for which the student:

1. develops feasible and testable research questions,
2. develops appropriate methods to answer the questions, 
3. conducts appropriate statistical analyses,
4. appropriately interprets the results in relation to the research questions, and
5. appropriately contextualizes the results within the existing literature.

Admission Requirements:  Applicants will have a strong interest in becoming increasingly independent scholars, and excellent written and interpersonal communication skills in America English.  For the Ph.D. program in hearing science, applicants must have a minimum of an undergraduate degree in an academically related area (e.g., communication sciences and disorders, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, biomedical engineering, etc.).

Applicants must submit the following:

• An Ohio University application form
• 3.0 minimum overall grade point average
• All past academic transcripts
• Three letters of recommendation (including at least one from the student’s master’s degree program, if applicable)
• Official Score Report from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
  • Recommended  scores:   Verbal 45^th percentile or above; Quantitative 40^th percentile or above; Writing 50^th percentile or above
• A two- or three-page narrative detailing previous experience and long- and short-term career objectives
• International applicants must additionally submit an English proficiency score (TOEFL or IELTS) and a sample of spoken English

Individual interviews with the Associate Director, the Coordinator of Ph.D. Studies and/or a potential faculty mentor in the student’s intended area of study are required. In-person interviews and campus visitations are highly recommended and in some cases may be required. In extenuating cases upon approval by the Associate Director and Coordinator of Ph.D. Studies when a campus interview is not possible, a phone interview may be permitted in lieu of the on-campus interview.