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Dear Campus Community, Once again, we find ourselves entering the holiday season. For me, Thanksgiving serves as a time to enjoy with family. This year, I will be celebrating the day with my granddaughter Lila, her first Thanksgiving. While it serves as a time to reconnect, Thanksgiving also allows me time to reflect on the past year and look towards the future. Please know that I am grateful for our students and their continued pursuit of higher education. I truly, believe in the transformative power of what we provide and how we help shape their futures. I am grateful for the faculty and ...

Communication Sciences and Disorders - Ph.D.

The Ph.D. degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders provides the student with a strong theoretical background and competency in research skills applicable to communication (audiology, speech, language, cognition and/or swallowing) processes and/or disorders. The program ideal for those interested in academic and research careers in communication sciences or disorders. The curriculum and plan of study are individualized and collectively planned between the student and the doctoral committee.

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Program Information for Communication Sciences and Disorders - Ph.D.

Program Description

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Admissions for Communication Sciences and Disorders - Ph.D.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Master's degree from an accredited college or university (not necessarily in areas of speech-language pathology and audiology)
  • Bachelor's degree (not necessarily in areas of speech-language pathology and audiology)
  • Minimum 3.000 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale (minimum 3.500 GPA is recommended)
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Goal statement
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
    • Minimum 65 PTE score
    • Minimum 120 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Funding deadline: January 15
      Applications must be submitted by this deadline to be considered for an assistantship or any other funded position.
    • Rolling admissions
  • Spring Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Summer Term
    • Rolling admissions

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Develop, implement and evaluate a line of individual and collaborative research.
  2. Teach within a clinical and/or didactic context.

Coursework

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Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
Area of Study 124
Electives 212
Statistics and Research Design Coursework 39
Culminating Requirement
SPA 84199DISSERTATION I 430
Minimum Total Credit Hours:75
1

Concentration Area of Study: This collection of coursework relates to the students' main areas of interest. It must consist of a combination of lecture classes or seminars, courses in grant or manuscript writing and independent studies and/or research. These courses are meant to build upon the students’ interests in a selected major area of study, and courses may be taken in other program areas (such as psychology, English, business, biology, counseling, special education, computer science, etc.); within speech-language pathology and audiology; or from an affiliated medical school. With the exception of allowed transfer credits, all courses must be taken at the doctoral 7/80000 level. Additional prerequisite coursework may be required at a lower level; this coursework would not count towards the 24 credit hours.

2

Electives: Included within the 12 credit hours may be courses or independent studies related to student interests, including additional (non-concentration) academic or clinical areas of interest, interprofessional or cross-disciplinary topics and/or additional training in research methods, statistics or writing.

3

Statistics and Research Methods: Each doctoral candidate must register and complete no less than two graduate-level statistics courses and no less than one advanced research methods course. Required statistics courses should include a focus on inferential statistics, including regression. Advanced research methods should include an advanced research methods course that covers both quantitative and/or qualitative approaches.

4

Upon admission to candidacy, each doctoral candidate must register for SPA 84199. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I each semester (fall, spring) for a total of 30 credit hours, and thereafter will register for SPA 84299, each semester (fall, spring) until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • Students may graduate with the Ph.D. degree with fewer than 75 total credit hours but no fewer than 60 total credit hours. Students may receive permission by graduate faculty to waive coursework if supported by the appropriate and recent coursework.
Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Communication Sciences and Disorders - Ph.D.

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

20.5%

much faster than the average

254,000

number of jobs

$99,090

potential earnings

Medical scientists, except epidemiologists

6.1%

faster than the average

138,300

number of jobs

$91,510

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
ADVISORY: Kent State University Board of Trustees Meeting, Dec. 6

The Kent State University Board of Trustees will hold its next regular business meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6, in the Aeronautics and Engineering Building, Room 225, on the Kent Campus to consider the recommendations of the standing committees, proposed personnel actions and new business. Trustees will retire into executive session at 8:15 a.m. to consider specific topics as provided under Ohio’s “Sunshine Law.” The roll call vote for this session will occur in public in Room 225. On Dec. 6, the meeting of the full Board of Trustees will be held in person. A limited number of seat...

Recent Platinum Award Recipients

Faculty are listed in Alphabetical Order by last name.  Their names are followed by the title of their project.  

2024-2025 Recipients

  • Elena Novak: The positive influence of creative computing on preservice elementary teachers’ beliefs about teaching computing in elementary schools
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Master of Arts Program Information

The Master of Arts degree in Chemistry is for students interested in gaining additional knowledge of chemistry and biochemistry beyond the bachelor’s degree. This non-thesis degree program is flexible and can be taken on a full-tine or part-time basis. Several course sequences have been designed for students interested in career advancement. The biochemistry interest area is recommended for students seeking to further develop their academic background in biochemistry and chemistry prior to applying to medical school or dental school.

Master of Science Program Information

The Master of Science degree in Chemistry provides opportunity in research in the areas of analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, as well as biochemistry. Many of the research topics are built around interdisciplinary themes in biomedical research (bioanalytical, bioinorganic and biophysical chemistry) and materials science (nanomaterials, liquid crystals, photonic materials, spectroscopy, surface science).

Master of Science Program Information

Doctoral Program Information

The Ph.D. degree in Chemistry provides students with opportunities for research in the areas of analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, as well as biochemistry. Many of the research topics are built around interdisciplinary themes in biomedical research (bioanalytical, bioinorganic and biophysical chemistry) and materials science (nanomaterials, liquid crystals, photonic materials, spectroscopy, surface science).

Doctoral Program Information and Requirements

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