Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Communication Sciences and Disorders
The Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders, housed in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, is designed for students who want to become researchers, scholars and faculty members advancing the science of human communication and communication disorders. This doctoral program is a strong fit for students who are curious about how people communicate, how communication disorders develop and how research can improve diagnosis, treatment and outcomes across the lifespan.
Students may enter the program after completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree, depending on their professional goals and interest in clinical certification. The program welcomes applicants from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including audiology, speech-language pathology, psychology, linguistics, engineering, physics, physiology and related fields.
Curriculum
The Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders offers an individualized course of study that reflects each student’s prior training, research experience and area of specialization. Students typically complete two years of advanced academic coursework and research beyond the master’s degree, followed by a third year focused on dissertation research.
All doctoral students complete coursework in statistics and research preparation, speech and hearing science, communication sciences and disorders, and related areas. Students who have not completed a data-based master’s thesis are required to complete a research project before beginning the dissertation year.
View the Academic Bulletin for the full curriculum.
Admissions Requirements
Learn about the complete admission requirements and prerequisites for the MS degree program.
Where Our Grads Work
- University of South Alabama
- University of South Carolina
- SC State University
- MedThink SciCom
- Midland Regional Rehabilitation Hospital
- UNC Health Care
Graduate Assistantships
A graduate assistantship is a part-time position that allows graduate students to work in a variety of roles, depending on the source of funding.
Graduate assistants may be hired by a faculty member to support research on a grant-funded project or by a department to assist with clerical, administrative or other program-related duties.
Graduate assistants must be enrolled as full-time students. Assistantships are typically classified as quarter-time, which is 10 hours per week, or half-time, which is 20 hours per week.
The amount paid through an assistantship may vary slightly depending on the funding source. However, graduate assistantships allow students to pay lower in-state tuition rates, regardless of residency status.
Students may identify assistantship opportunities by contacting faculty members with active research funding or departments across campus directly. Information may also be available from the Graduate Admissions Counselor, Teresa Boyett, tboyett@sc.edu
Tuition
Tuition and fees are subject to change and vary based on enrollment status. Students are encouraged to explore financial aid options, scholarships, and assistantships to help support their education. Learn more from the Office of Graduate Student Services. (change link to reflect Admissions url transition) and the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Prospective Ph.D. students should contact the department to discuss their proposed concentration area (i.e., the area in which they intend to conduct research). A personal interview is required. Prior to admission, the applicant must obtain a commitment from a COMD faculty member agreeing to serve as the applicant’s research mentor and direct his/her dissertation. View members of our faculty.
There is no application deadline for the Ph.D. Program. However, applicants should consult the University’s academic calendars and apply well in advance of the semester in which they wish to take coursework.
Request Information
Request to learn more information about the PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Contact Us
If you have questions about the PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders, please contact Heather Bonilha,Graduate Director of Doctoral Programs,
803-777-5055 or hbonilha@mailbox.sc.edu