Communicative Sciences and Disorders (PhD)

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Program Description

The PhD Program in Communicative Sciences and Disorders provides students with training as academic researchers and scholars. This five-year full-time program includes several academic research milestones and comes with a competitive funding package. The program’s goal is the development of outstanding scholars, trained as strong independent researchers and as effective teachers. As such, this program is designed for students seeking advanced knowledge and research skills in speech and language for both typical and clinical populations. The training environment is a place where faculty members are actively pursuing both theoretical questions about the nature of communicative sciences and the application of these questions to clinically diverse populations.

The Department encourages a range of interests and backgrounds in applicants to the program, and we will help to develop programs of study that are most appropriate for each individual student. Thus, each student’s program is designed in consultation with the student’s primary advisor. Further, each doctoral student will go through a rigorous mentoring process involving the primary advisor. In addition, research experiences with members of the faculty of the department and university will be available as appropriate to the student’s program of study. It is expected that students will engage in scholarly, publishable research endeavors throughout their course of study at New York University.

Career Opportunities

A PhD in Communicative Sciences and Disorders prepares individuals for a career in an academic setting, typically as a professor conducting research and teaching. Recent alumni from our doctoral program have become professors and post-doctoral researchers at universities in the region and across the country. The field of Communicative Sciences and Disorders faces a shortage of qualified doctoral-level scholars, leading to many opportunities for program graduates.

Admissions

Admission to graduate programs in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development requires the following minimum components:

• Résumé/CV
• Statement of Purpose
• Letters of Recommendation
• Transcripts
• Proficiency in English

See NYU Steinhardt's Graduate Admissions website for additional information on school-wide admission. Some programs may require additional components for admissions.

See How to Apply for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.

Program Requirements 

Course work for the PhD program is informed by student interests and background, in consultation with their mentor. The PhD program requires 48 credits of course work; students with a master's degree in a related area of study may be eligible for up to 12 credits of advanced standing, enabling them to complete their studies for 36 credits.

Additional Program Information

The program is structured around the completion of the following milestones:

Qualifying Papers (QPs)

Students complete two QPs of the quality expected in peer-reviewed research journals. Each QP investigates a different area of CSD research, and is conducted, written, and orally defended by the student under faculty mentor guidance. We expect that this work will form the basis of conference presentations and journal submissions.

Lab Rotation

Doctoral students must spend a minimum of one semester in a second lab to fulfill the lab rotation requirement. During this semester, you will become involved in one of the projects in the lab, playing a role in the research process and completing a term paper on the subject.

Dissertation

In the final years of the degree, you will develop, write, and defend your dissertation proposal and ultimately your dissertation. The dissertation is supervised by a faculty mentor, but reflects your novel ideas and empirical contribution to the field. A final component of the degree also involves gaining teaching experience to position you to successfully pursue academic positions in the future.

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid

1st Semester/Term		Credits
Methods Course		3
CSCD-GE 3400	Doct Sem Communicative Sciences & Disorders 1	1
CSCD-GE 2420	Research Colloquium in Communicative Sciences and Disorders	1
Specialization and Cognate Course		3
Specialization and Cognate Course		3
	Credits	11
2nd Semester/Term
CSCD-GE 3001	Sem Readings in Comm Sciences & Disorders	3
Methods Course		3
CSCD-GE 3400	Doct Sem Communicative Sciences & Disorders	1
CSCD-GE 2420	Research Colloquium in Communicative Sciences and Disorders	1
	Credits	8
3rd Semester/Term
Methods Course		3
CSCD-GE 3400	Doct Sem Communicative Sciences & Disorders	1
CSCD-GE 2420	Research Colloquium in Communicative Sciences and Disorders	1
Specialization and Cognate Course		3
	Credits	8
4th Semester/Term
CSCD-GE 3400	Doct Sem Communicative Sciences & Disorders
CSCD-GE 2420	Research Colloquium in Communicative Sciences and Disorders
Specialization and Cognate Course		3
Specialization and Cognate Course		3
Methods Course		3
	Credits	9
5th Semester/Term
CSCD-GE 2420	Research Colloquium in Communicative Sciences and Disorders
CSCD-GE 3400	Doct Sem Communicative Sciences & Disorders
Specialization and Cognate Course		3
Methods Course		3
	Credits	6
6th Semester/Term
CSCD-GE 3400	Doct Sem Communicative Sciences & Disorders
CSCD-GE 2420	Research Colloquium in Communicative Sciences and Disorders
Specialization and Cognate Course		3
Specialization and Cognate Course		3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	48

Note: CSCD-GE 3400 Doct Sem Communicative Sciences & Disorders and CSCD-GE 2420 Research Colloquium in Communicative Sciences and Disorders are offered for variable credit. Students can work with their advisor to determine appropriate credit enrollment per term. 

Following completion of the required coursework for the PhD, students are expected to maintain active status at New York University by enrolling in a research/writing course or a Maintain Matriculation (MAINT-GE 4747) course.  All non-course requirements must be fulfilled prior to degree conferral, although the specific timing of completion may vary from student-to-student.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:

1. Make a significant and original contribution to the field by submitting original research reports to professional conferences and scholarly journals.
2. Critically analyze, apply, and discuss theories, concepts, and critical issues in the field.
3. Effectively teach in the discipline of communication sciences and disorders in a classroom environment.
4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of quantitative and qualitative approaches to problems in the communications disorders field, and an ability to conceive, plan, execute and/or interpret the applications of these approaches to research questions.

Policies

NYU Policies

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.

Steinhardt Academic Policies

Additional academic policies can be found the Steinhardt academic policies page.