About the Program
Bachelor's Program
A Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts program are offered. Study at the undergraduate level provides pre-professional foundations for the master's degree curriculum. Courses are offered in normal and disordered speech, language and hearing abilities. Practicum experiences are only offered at the graduate level although observation hours are required prior to the practicum experience. For more detailed information about the undergraduate curriculum click here or for contact information click here.
Post-Bachelor's Program
The post-bachelor’s program is designed for individuals who have completed a Bachelor’s degree in a major other than Communication Disorders or Speech Pathology and Audiology. Although it is not a degree program, the courses in the post-bachelor’s curriculum will provide students with the background knowledge required before beginning the master’s program in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Master's Degree
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (COMD) offers a Master of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and is accredited by the Council of Academic Programs of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Graduates of the master’s degree program meet the academic standards for speech-language pathology as determined by ASHA.
Admission is limited to 30-40 new students each fall. Students learn in a supportive and challenging environment with easy access to faculty and supervisors and experience a well-balanced educational and training program. The faculty consists of 9 full time academic and clinical professors and five adjunct professors with specialized interest in voice disorders, motor speech disorders, right hemisphere cognitive-communication disorders, adult language disorders, swallowing, child language, literacy and fluency.
All of the graduates from our program pass the national examination and 100% of those seeking employment are employed at the time of graduation. The overall graduation rate is 91%. Students who graduate within the expected time period for the program is 84%.
Academic coursework
Academic courses cover etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of child and adult communication disorders (including speech, language, cognition, hearing, and swallowing).
Students must complete 30 academic credits for the master’s degree.
Full-time students typically complete the program in two full years (6 semesters). Part-time student take a reduced course load and clinic load during their first two years. Full-time attendance is required their second summer and final two semesters. Part-time students typically complete their program in three years (eight semesters).
Clinical practica
Six clinical practica are required. These are completed both at the University of Houston Speech, Language & Hearing Clinic: A United Way Facility and at a wide variety of clinics, schools, and hospitals in the Houston area.
Evidence Based Practice Reports
All graduate students complete at least three formative Evidence Based Practice case studies as part of their clinical training. A COMD Alumni scholarship is awarded to one student who demonstrates outstanding performance on the EBP reports.
Comprehensive Exams
All graduate students who do not complete a Master’s Thesis must take a comprehensive exam in their 5th semester which serves as a summative assessment.
Master’s Thesis
Graduate students have the option of completing a Master’s Thesis under the direction of one member of the faculty drawing upon a wide range of research interests.
Complaint Procedure
Graduate students who have complaints should follow the University of Houston guidelines and those of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.For additional options, consult the Graduate Student Handboook.
