Skip to main content
Department of Health Sciences

Give Now

Apply

Admissions Process

Admission is a multi-step process. Applicants should complete the following process.

  • Applicants are encouraged to contact potential faculty mentors who share their interests with respect to target populations and/or research methods. The goals including discussing individual aspects of the program, current research activities, and opportunities. You can learn more about faculty by exploring their bios.
  • Applications are submitted through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School. APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY DECEMBER 3, 2024.
  • Applications will be reviewed by the faculty after December 3, 2024. A select group of applications will then be invited to participate in virtual interviews. Interviews generally take place on a Friday in early January. Invitations for interviews will be sent to applicants by December 20, 2024.

Please note, the GRE is not required as part of the application/admissions process.

Applicant Guidelines and Considerations

The PhD program in Speech and Hearing Sciences seeks applications from individuals who have already acquired a master’s degree in speech-language pathology or audiology. Consideration will also be given to individuals with a master’s degree (or equivalent) or a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Individuals seeking admission to the program will be required to meet the admission requirements described below.

Applicants with a master’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in a field other than speech and/or hearing sciences will need to complete the prerequisite undergraduate courses focused on normal processes required for a master’s degree (see below), and in addition to the doctoral curriculum, an additional 12-18 graduate credit hours within speech and/or hearing focused on disability areas.

Applicants with a master’s degree (or equivalent) or a bachelor’s degree in a related field will have an opportunity to discuss coursework requirements during the interview process. Applicants are encouraged to begin taking recommended coursework before entering the doctoral program. Once admitted, the final decision for the number and type of graduate courses will be determined by the admitted student’s faculty mentor and program of studies committee. This decision will be based on the applicant’s previous coursework and experiences, as well as their future research and career plans. All coursework including the undergraduate prerequisites, additional graduate coursework, and courses required for the doctoral degree must be completed before a student will be eligible to complete comprehensive exams.

For applicants with a master’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in a field other than speech and/or hearing sciences, the prerequisite courses are as follows. Admitted students are encouraged to complete these courses before entering the doctoral program.

  • Introduction to Audiology
  • Phonetics
  • Speech Science
  • Language Development
  • Anatomy and Physiology.

Applicant Selection Criteria

  • Availability of faculty to provide mentorship and the match between the applicant’s research interests and the ongoing research programs of faculty in the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences
  • Availability of funds to support all or some portion of the applicant’s doctoral program
  • The applicant’s academic record (i.e., institution, grades, recommendation letters)
  • The applicant’s future career plans
  • The applicant’s leadership potential

In general, applicants with GPAs below 3.0 are less likely to be invited for an interview.

Individuals who intend to complete a Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY), must do so either before or after finishing their doctoral program. Individuals who attempt to complete a CFY during their doctoral studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill not only take longer to finish the PhD program, but also have a difficult time balancing responsibilities (e.g., clinical, research, coursework, teaching). In addition, and perhaps more importantly, the Licensing Board of North Carolina requires that CFY fellowships be completed with no less than 20 hours/week devoted to clinical activities. As a result, it is not possible to engage in full-time work as a PhD student in our program while also completing a CFY.

Residency Requirements

Doctoral students are required to complete a minimum residence of four full semesters, either by full-time registration, or by part-time registration over a greater number of semesters. At least two of the required four semesters of residence must be earned in contiguous registration of no fewer than six credit hours on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. Because UNC-Chapel Hill is a state-supported institution, tuition rates for students who are residents of North Carolina are lower than those for out-of-state students. Every applicant who claims eligibility for in-state tuition rates must submit a complete and submit a residency form.

Questions

For specific questions not addressed on this website, email us: tamara_mesko@med.unc.edu or give us a call at (919) 966-1007.

In addition, questions can be directed to: Dr. Karen Erickson, interim coordinator of PhD studies.