The PhD program is designed to prepare future scholars who will provide leadership and contribute to the knowledge base in speech, language, and hearing sciences. The program offers direct training in research, teaching, technology, and service delivery.<br>The primary goals are to recruit, educate, and graduate individuals who will: Engage in programmatic basic or clinical research, Facilitate interdisciplinary efforts in research, personnel preparation, and service delivery, Develop effective procedures for translating research to clinical practice, Create and share innovations in the use of technology and teleclinical applications, Offer state-of-the-art learning and mentoring experiences for future generations of students and practicing professionals.<br>This program emphasizes programs of study appropriate to each student's particular interests and to the high standards for dissertation research expected by the Graduate School.<br>Each student is required to complete a minimum of 48 semester hours in the PhD program. Anticipated time of completion of the program is four years for students with a master's degree in speech and hearing sciences (five or more years for students who have a master's degree in an area other than speech and hearing sciences or for students who do not have a master's degree). Students with a degree in speech and hearing sciences typically complete coursework within the first four academic year semesters. In addition, students complete a predissertation project by the spring of their second year. Doctoral written and oral exams are usually taken during the summer of the second year or fall of the third year. Once the exams are completed, the student begins the dissertation process. The length of an individual's program depends on his/her specific background, needs, abilities, life events, and interests.