Communication Sciences and Disorders

Overview

Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination, the candidate may begin formal preparation of the Doctoral Dissertation Prospectus. Following approval from his/her committee chair, the candidate requests a meeting of the entire supervisory committee for evaluation of the prospectus. 

The prospectus must be submitted to each committee member at least 2 weeks prior to the meeting. All committee members must vote to approve the prospectus and a copy of the signed approval will be placed in the student’s file.

Qualifying Examination

Because the PhD degree is defined in terms of competency in areas of emphasis rather than completion of a specified number of courses, members of the supervisory committee examine each student on the basis of those competencies and not specifically on the Program of Study. 

The Program of Study is a plan of action for preparing the student to acquire a thorough knowledge in his/her field of study. The scope of the examination by the supervisory committee is, therefore, in no way restricted to only those courses listed in the Program of Study.

The Communication Sciences and Disorders program at University of Utah student preparing for the qualifying examination typically reads widely beyond regular course work. Although each member of the supervisory committee is typically charged with the task of examining the student in a specific area of emphasis, s/he is not restricted to that specific area in the examination, which may range over any and all areas in the student’s field(s) of interest.

Permission to take the qualifying examination should be approved by the chair of the supervisory committee and a call for questions/projects should be sent to each committee member at least 30 days prior to the date of the examination (to be coordinated by committee chair). 

Students may contact members of the supervisory committee to request direction in preparing for the examination. However, supervisory committee members may or may not choose to provide such direction. The qualifying examination may consist of different formats, which will be decided on by the student, his/her advisor, and the other committee members.