Program in Speech Science

The program in speech science includes three specializations: speech acoustics, speech perception, and speech production. While the specialization is an individual choice and will determine the plan of study, all students are expected to master a broad base of knowledge encompassing all three. Since the Department recognizes that an understanding of the relationships between normal and abnormal systems leads to a better understanding of each, the student is also required to achieve a broad background in the various pathologies of speech-language-hearing.

A. All students in the speech science program must accumulate no fewer than 15 credit hours in the following theoretical group:

1. anatomy and physiology of the speech mechanism;
2. phonetic and phonological systems of American English;
3. speech acoustics and perception.

Information in the theoretical group can be obtained through formal course work or independent study with the guidance of the advisory committee. Suggested courses in the theoretical group include CDIS 354, 361, 362, LING 310, 311, 312, PSYC 359, 368.

B. All students in the speech science program must accumulate no less than 15 credit hours in the following applied group:

1. Three to six hours in Computer Sciences. Develops the ability to program in both assembly and compiler languages, understanding of routine software (e.g. A/D and D/A techniques).
2. Three to six hours in the acquisition, processing and analysis of speech physiological data (e.g., EMG, transillumination, lateral X-ray pellet tracking).
3. Three to six hours in speech acoustic theory, and in the analysis of waveform and spectral acoustic data.
4. Three to six hours in the various speech synthesis procedures (e.g., synthesis-by-art, synthesis-by-rule, articulatory synthesis), and the generation of synthetic speech stimuli and creation of test sequences.
5. Six to nine hours in statistical theory and design. Suggested courses include CDIS 302, 306, 325.

Some of the credit hours in the applied group can be obtained through formal course work or independent study with the guidance of the advisory committee. Laboratory training will be conducted at the UConn Speech Science Laboratory and Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, Connecticut.

C. All students in the speech science program must accumulate no less than six credit hours in the following related group:

1. Mathematics and Physics. Suggested courses include MATH 327-328 (topics in applied analysis) and PHYS 317-318 (Theoretical Mechanics I and II).
2. Linguistics. Suggested courses include CDIS 370 (Seminar in Psycholinguistics), LING 321-322 (Syntax), LING 371 (Psychological Models for Syntax and Semantics).
3. Psychology. Suggested courses include PSYC 350 (Cerebral Mechanisms in Perception), 355 (Physiological Psychology), 369 (Sensation and Perception).
4. Human Anatomy and Physiology. Courses include Oral Biology 434 (Functional Oral Anatomy), 436 (Oral Physiology), and HESC 301 (Dissection of the Human Body).

D. In addition to the above requirements, all students in the Speech Science Program are required to have a broad base of knowledge in the areas of Speech-Language Pathology and/or Audiology (clinical standard not included). Guidelines for courses in disorders are given in a previous section of this booklet.

E. Minimum Credit Hour Requirement. Each student must accumulate a minimum of thirty-six credit hours after he/she has officially been accepted into the Ph.D. program. Assessment of the theoretical, applied and related groups will be accomplished as part of the General Examination.

F. Research Requirement. Each student must be involved in research activity every semester. This must be accomplished by formal registration (CDIS 319) and will be renewed each semester by the advisory committee.

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