The Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at the University of Maryland offers graduate programs for students interested in clinical practice, research, or a combination of both. Whether you want to become a speech-language pathologist or audiologist, pursue research in hearing and speech sciences, or combine clinical training with doctoral study, HESP offers several paths to help you reach your goals. Program options include master’s, clinical doctoral, research doctoral, and combined-degree opportunities.
Clinical Training Programs
M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology
The M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology is a full-time, clinically oriented program that prepares students to become professional speech-language pathologists. The program includes graduate coursework, on-site and off-campus clinical placements, and a capstone paper or thesis. Students receive experience working with a wide range of communication disorders across the lifespan, with an emphasis on evidence-based practice and integrating theory with hands-on clinical learning. The program is designed to be completed in two years, including summer study.
At a Glance:
- Full-time clinical master’s program
- 2 years to complete, including summer
- Coursework plus in-house clinic and externship experiences
- Typical cohort size: 20 to 25 students
Doctor of Clinical Audiology (Au.D./CAUD)
The Doctoral Program in Clinical Audiology is a full-time clinical doctoral program that prepares students to meet the hearing health care needs of individuals across the lifespan. The program combines coursework, on-site and off-site clinical training, a clinically oriented capstone research project, and a fourth-year clinical internship residency. Areas of emphasis include cochlear implants, assistive hearing technology, auditory electrophysiology, and evidence-based practice.
At a Glance:
- Full-time clinical doctoral program in audiology
- 4 years to complete
- Includes clinic placements and a 12-month internship residency
- Typical cohort size: about 7 students
Clinical Placements
Both clinical programs involve clinical placements. University of Maryland is located in the Baltimore Washington area which offers unparalleled off-site clinical placement opportunities.
You can learn more about clinical placement opportunities on our Graduate Student Clinical Outplacements page.
Combined Clinical and Research Pathways
Combined M.A./Ph.D. in Speech-Language Pathology
This combined program is for students who want to pursue both clinical training in speech-language pathology and doctoral-level research preparation. It is intended for students with well-defined research interests and prior research experience who want to build expertise in both clinical practice and clinically oriented research. Students complete coursework, clinical training, research seminars, a candidacy project, and a dissertation in an integrated program rather than completing the two degrees separately.
At a Glance:
- Combined clinical and research pathway in speech-language pathology
- Designed for students with clear research interests
- 6 years of full-time study, plus a paid clinical fellowship year
- Strong fit for students interested in research careers connected to clinical practice
Sequential Au.D./Ph.D. in Audiology
The Sequential Au.D./Ph.D. pathway is designed for students who want both advanced clinical training in audiology and intensive research preparation. Students first complete the clinical and practicum components of audiology training and then move into more extensive research training, with overlap built into the program so the two parts work together efficiently. The program emphasizes both clinical excellence and preparation for independent research careers.
At a Glance:
- Combined clinical and research pathway in audiology
- Integrates professional audiology training with Ph.D.-level research
- Typically 7 to 9 years to complete
- Strong choice for students interested in research, publications, and grant preparation
Research-Focused Doctoral Program
Ph.D. in Hearing and Speech Sciences
The Ph.D. in Hearing and Speech Sciences is a research-focused doctoral program for students interested in advancing knowledge in hearing, speech, and language. The program emphasizes scholarly achievement, intellectual independence, faculty mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students complete coursework, research seminars, a candidacy project, and a dissertation while developing a focused research agenda.
At a Glance:
- Research-intensive doctoral program
- 5 years of full-time study
- Strong mentoring and interdisciplinary collaboration
- Typical entering cohort size: 2 to 3 students
