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PhD in Applied Language & Speech Sciences

Our PhD in Applied Language and Speech Sciences program is widely regarded as one of the best and largest communicative disorder doctoral programs in the country.

The goal of the PhD in the applied language and speech sciences program is to mentor students into published research. Our aim is to advance knowledge and further your understanding of the nature of communicative disorders, and of the various contexts of language learning, such as literacy or first and second language acquisition.  Our active, person-centered research seeks to better understand how human communication works, how it sometimes breaks down, and how breakdowns can be remediated and/or managed.

PhD students enjoy closely-mentored relationships with knowledgable faculty in our program. Students will enjoy time in research labs/projects, collaborative workspaces, and opportunities to participate in ongoing research as part of our department. 

Prospective PhD students can email the Graduate Coordinator for additional information.

Theoretical Foundations & Applications

The theoretical foundations of the PhD in the applied language and speech sciences program are based in the fields of study that are concerned with human communication. Fields of study include theoretical study of sign systems, linguistics, phonetics and phonology, and interaction studies such as ethnography, discourse and conversaton analysis, human narrative, qualitative research, and implementation science.

These fields of inquiry have in the recent past been successfully applied to furthering our understanding of the nature of communicative disorders, and of the various contexts of language learning, such as literacy or first and second language acquisition.

Research Interests

To facilitate the discovery of new knowledge, our PhD in applied language and speech sciences students are led into active research agendas through graduate seminars, the on-going Research Colloquium, and your own development of a personal research and publication agenda within active areas of faculty expertise. In its commitment to rigorous quantitative and qualitative research the PhD in applied language and speech sciences program relies on both internal and external resources.

At the head of the list is the UL Lafayette Speech Language and Hearing Center (also known simply as "the Clinic"). The Clinic functions as both an active site of education for undergraduate and master's level students AND an active research lab for our faculty. Faculty and supervisors work together to design and implement research projects that benefit the advancement of our field and the welfare of our clients. Additional settings for research opportunities include local and regional partnerships in hospitals, skilled nursing homes, public and private schools, and external clinics.

The academic faculty list provides an overview of areas of research interest.