Are you a HESP undergraduate looking for ways to get involved with the department? HESP undergraduates at UMD have opportunities to gain research experience in labs run by HESP faculty, develop clinical skills,  join student organizations, and volunteer for various organizations and events. See below for a list of opportunities that are currently available! 


Research Opportunities

The following labs in HESP often have openings for undergraduate researchers: 

To see additional labs that collaborate with HESP, click here.

Additionally, research programs open to HESP students include:

  • The PULSAR Undergraduate Program - PULSAR is an interdisciplinary training opportunity for undergraduate students. As members of PULSAR, students have opportunities to build their resumes, develop a relationship with a scientific mentor, and become a member of a strong, collaborative group of peers. PULSAR students must commit to the program for 4 semesters. The application and additional program requirements can be found here. Contact pulsar [at] umd.edu (subject: PULSAR%20Questions) for more information.
  • HESP Honors Program - Honors students complete a research project under the supervision of a faculty mentor. This includes hands-on experience with research, publication of research findings, and exploration of academic career options. The program is a three semester sequence, typically spanning from the Fall of Junior year to until the Fall of Senior year. Students must apply to be considered by the deadline posted for each year (typically June 1 preceding the Fall of Junior year). Meet with the Undergraduate Advisor or Directors of the Honors program (yfshah [at] umd.edu (subject: HESP%20Undergraduate%20Honors%20Program) (Dr. Yasmeen Faroqi-Shah) for Speech, goupell [at] umd.edu (subject: HESP%20Undergraduate%20Honors%20Program) (Dr. Matt Goupell) for Hearing) for more information. 
  • Language Sciences Summer Scholarships - The program will offer $3000 stipends to approximately 10 students to fund their participation in language science research in faculty laboratories across campus. CASL Language Science Summer Scholarships are available to undergraduates who wish to pursue language science research under close faculty supervision. A minimum commitment of eight weeks is typically expected. 
  • Maryland Summer Scholars Program - These research scholarships are offered through the Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research. Students who will have earned a minimum of 30 credits by the end of spring semester 2015 (typically those who will be sophomores, juniors, or seniors during the 2014-2015 academic year), and who have a GPA of at least 3.4, are eligible to apply. Maryland Summer Scholars may conduct their summer research on the College Park campus or elsewhere in the U.S. or abroad.Students in this program are required to devote 8-10 weeks to research on their project during their summer, complete a concise research report, and present a poster describing their work at Undergraduate Research Day in the spring.  
  • Summer Research Initiative Program - The Summer Research Initiative (SRI) was created in 1999 by the Office of the Dean in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS) and is supported by the Office of the Provost, the Graduate School, the Office of the Vice President for Research and the College. The program is designed to encourage and enhance the diversity of scholars who pursue graduate degrees in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences.

Clinical Opportunities

Opportunities within HESP: 

  • University of Maryland Hearing & Speech Clinic:
    • HESP 386: Experiential Learning (1-3 credits, Reg or P/F grading) is a course where students will have the opportunity to observe and/or participate in therapy activities provided by a speech-language pathologist or audiologist in this experiential learning course.
    • HESP 418 (HESP 418A for Speech and HESP 418B for Audiology) is an elective course that HESP students with senior standing may apply to take during the Spring semester of their senior year. This course allows students to participate in the clinic under close clinical supervision. Students must apply the semester prior to their anticipated registration. Learn more here
  • LEAP Classroom Internship - Prerequisite: HESP 202. This course allows students to learn behavior management techniques and gain experience in curriculum planning and implementation, facilitation of play among children, data collection, and teaching strategies. Learn more here
  • LEAP Book Club - This is a parent/child emergent literacy preventative and intervention program. HESP graduate and undergraduate students gain experience in using research-based, best practices to teach parents how to use specific language stimulation skills and enhance their own children's early literacy development. Students must be seniors at the time of participation (they can be rising seniors at the time they apply). Additionally, students must be willing to accommodate scheduled therapy times, and must be able to register for HESP 389 or HESP 499. Contact Kathy Dow-Burger for more information: kdowburg [at] umd.edu (subject: Undergraduate%20Opportunities%20in%20Leap%20Book%20Club) .
  • Social Interaction Group Network for UMD Students with Autism (SIGNA) - SIGNA is a HESP clinic treatment program designed specifically for University of Maryland students diagnosed with autism. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to be "Peer Coaches" for this program, under the supervision of Kathy Dow-Burger. Pragmatic language, advocacy, Theory of Mind, and executive functioning skills are targeted based on each client's individual needs using aspects of the evidence-based PEERS® social skills program. Peer Coaches implement carry-over and generalization activities for students enrolled in the program, and "check-in" with these students to help with dorm life, coursework deadlines, and professor/TA/classmate interactions. Students must be seniors at the time of participation (they can be rising seniors at the time they apply). Additionally, students must be willing to accommodate scheduled therapy times, and must be able to register for HESP 389 or HESP 499. Contact Kathy Dow-Burger for more information:kdowburg [at] umd.edu (subject: Undergraduate%20Opportunities%20in%20SIGNA) ( ).
  • The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) - This is a 16-session, evidence-based, social skills program for teens. HESP graduate and undergraduate students provide systematic training to teens and parents in separate group settings. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to act as "Communication Coaches" that will help students in the program work on the following: conversational skills, strategies for handling peer pressure, appropriate use of humor, electronic communication, handling teasing and bullying, good sportsmanship, handling disagreements, and having appropriate get-togethers with friends. Students must be seniors at the time of participation (they can be rising seniors at the time they apply). Additionally, students must be willing to accommodate scheduled therapy times, and must be able to register for HESP 389 or HESP 499. Contact Kathy Dow-Burger for more information: kdowburg [at] umd.edu (subject: Undergraduate%20Opportunities%20in%20PEERS)

Additional opportunities at UMD:  

  • Children's Development Clinic - This course, KNES 389E, meets on Saturday mornings in the School of Public Health. Students have the opportunity to work one-on-one with a child in the areas of motor development, reading, language, and social skills.
  • Children's Developmental Clinic at Prince George's Community College - The Children's Developmental Clinic provides services for children in the areas of motor, language, reading, and social skills. Students may volunteer at this clinic on Saturdays. More information can be found here

Student Organizations

  • The National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) - The purpose of NSSLHA is to give college students the opportunity to further explore their interests in the fields of audiology, speech-language pathology, and speech, language, and hearing sciences. NSSLHA has meetings and events that provide students with different opportunities that educate them beyond the classroom settings. To learn more about how to join NSSLHA, visit their website.
  • The National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing (NBASLH) - The goals of the NBASLH are to explore issues with multiculturalism in clinical settings through sharing and discussing current articles, hearing from speakers/presenters, and keeping up with current trends in the field. For more information, contact Eusebia Victoria Mont at emont [at] umd.edu.
  • The Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) - The mission of the University of Maryland Chapter of SAA is to serve as a collective voice for students within the chapter area and to advance the rights, interests, and welfare of students pursuing careers in audiology. The UMD chapter engages students in lifelong professional activities that promote and advance the profession of audiology, and provide services, information, education, representation and advocacy for the profession and the public. Individuals who are interested in joining the Maryland SAA should contact Kelly Hanscom at khanscom [at] umd.edu (subject: SAA%20Membership)  for more information.

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Maryland Day - Maryland Day is the University of Maryland's one-day open house featuring family-friendly and interactive events. Every year, the HESP department has informational booths and activities run by volunteers. If you are interested in this one-day volunteer opportunity,  contact Paula Schauer at pschauer [at] umd.edu (subject: Maryland%20Day%20Volunteer%20Opportunity)
  • Maryland Mentor Corps (formerly known as America Reads*America Counts*Partners in Print) - The mission of the Maryland Mentor Corps, a partnership between the University of Maryland and Prince George's County Public Schools, is to provide high quality mentoring in local schools that enriches learning opportunities for both college and elementary school students. Mentors can volunteer or receive academic credit (1 credit). Applications can be found here.
  • The Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) program - The PAL program is a peer-to-peer academic coaching program. PAL coaches are UMD students who have been academically successful and are eager to help other students achieve their short and long-term academic goals. For more information, contact the program coordinator Julia Wong at jwong626 [at] umd.edu (subject: PAL%20program) .
  • TerpService - The TerpService consists of 3 different programs, TerpService Days, Terps for Change, and Services 24/7, that connect the University of Maryland to the surrounding community through continuing partnerships with local nonprofit organizations.  The programs strive to promote positive social change through transformative learning and community engagement by focusing on three elements of service-learning: education, service, and reflection.
  • Alternative Breaks - The University of Maryland Alternative Breaks program engages individuals in short-term service-learning experiences that challenge social, political and economic structures of our global community. Through reflection, education and service, Alternative Breaks develops mutually beneficial community partnerships, critical thinking and leadership skills to create a socially just world.

Resources

Last modified
09/04/2022 - 12:58 pm