Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences
The Department of Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences has offered graduate courses since 1957. The department's M.S. degree program in speech-language pathology was established in 1987. A clinical doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.) was initiated in 1998 to replace a long-standing M.S. program in audiology. Both programs are accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-language pathology. The programs prepare highly trained audiologists and speech-language pathologists for a variety of educational, clinical, and rehabilitative settings.
In 2003, a Ph.D. program was added to provide a post-Au.D. terminal degree in audiology. It was revised in 2011 to be a Ph.D. program in Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences, designed to prepare candidates for faculty and research positions in universities and other research facilities.
Each graduate program offers unique opportunities for instruction and independent study within a framework designed to meet the goals and needs of the individual student. Close interaction among students, clinical educators, and faculty is provided in a setting that offers a wide array of academic and clinical experiences.
The clinical practicum varies from student to student. On-campus sites include the University's Hearing and Speech Center, the Child Development Center, Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, and the Model Secondary School for the Deaf. Housed in the Hearing and Speech Center are the audiology, speech-language pathology, and aural rehabilitation clinics. The center's professional staff provides the highest quality supervision for students in audiology and speech-language pathology, while also providing services to the Gallaudet and metropolitan D.C. communities. In addition to the variety of on-campus sites, off-campus affiliations offer the student an opportunity to gain experience through exceptional clinical internships. Among those facilities available are Children's National Medical Center, the National Institute of Health, Walter Reed Military Medical Center, the Listening Center at Johns Hopkins University, Kennedy-Krieger Institute, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington Medical Center, Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Montgomery County Society for Crippled Children and Adults, Easter Seal Treatment Center, Maryland School for the Deaf, the River School, Arlington-Fairfax Hearing and Speech Center, Fairfax County Health Department, hospitals in Mount Vernon, Fairfax County, and Prince George's County, and several additional hospital, private practice and public school sites.
Students in the HSLS Ph.D. program have excellent research opportunities within the department and the clinic as well as other Gallaudet departments and Clerc Center. Research internships are also available through the affiliated programs in other universities and research sites (National Institutes of Health, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center).
Graduate Programs offered: