The PhD Program in Communicative Sciences and Disorders provides students with training to become 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. Faculty members in this training environment 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 and executed under their close supervision and mentoring. Students may also pursue research experiences with other members of the faculty of the department and university as appropriate to their 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:
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 and determined in consultation with their mentor. The PhD program requires 36-48 credits of course work. The 48-Credit curriculum is designed for students who do not have a master's degree in a related field prior to matriculation. Based on transcript review, students entering the PhD program with a students with a master's degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders or a field-appropriate master's degree may receive advanced standing for up to 3 credits in Graduate Methods Courses, and up to 9 credits in Specialization and Cognate courses, enabling completion of the program in 36 credits.
Students enroll in CSCD-GE 3400 Doct Sem Communicative Sciences & Disorders and CSCD-GE 2420 Research Colloquium in Communicative Sciences and Disorders for multiple semesters. After completion of the 3 required credits for CSCD-GE 3400 Doct Sem Communicative Sciences & Disorders students are expected to attend weekly meetings until the completion of the proposal. Students work with their advisor to determine appropriate credit enrollment in each course per term.
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, and it is strongly encouraged that the two papers incorporate different methodological approaches to address questions of interest to the field. It is expected that both papers will be completed within the first three years of the program.
Lab Rotation
To fulfill the lab rotation requirement, doctoral students must spend a minimum of one semester in a lab other than that of their primary mentor. During this semester, students will work toward a goal (e.g., learning a new methodology, supporting a project in process) identified jointly by the student and the lab rotation mentor.
Teaching
Students must teach a minimum of one full course as instructor of record. Courses must be taught at a Masters or Undergraduate level that is appropriate to the student’s experience.
Dissertation
In the final years of the degree, students will develop, write, and defend a dissertation proposal and ultimately a dissertation. The dissertation is supervised by a faculty mentor, but reflects the student’s novel ideas and empirical contribution to the field. There are two possible formats for the dissertation: the three-paper format and the traditional ‘monograph’ format. Students are expected to work closely with their advisor and thesis committee to determine which option is the most appropriate. The thesis proposal and dissertation will be reviewed by a committee and readers, both in written format and in an oral defense.
Research Colloquium in Communicative Sciences and Disorders
1
Specialization and Cognate Course
3
Specialization and Cognate Course
3
Credits
8
Total Credits
48
Note: Students enroll in CSCD-GE 3400 Doct Sem Communicative Sciences & Disorders and CSCD-GE 2420 Research Colloquium in Communicative Sciences and Disorders for multiple semesters. Students 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:
Make a significant and original contribution to the field by submitting original research reports to professional conferences and scholarly journals.
Critically analyze, apply, and discuss theories, concepts, and critical issues in the field.
Effectively teach in the discipline of communication sciences and disorders in a classroom environment.
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.
Engage in effective communication of original and existing scientific inquiry and results, both orally and in writing.