Your first step in the application process should be an informal communication with a potential faculty advisor. 

To identify a potential advisor, review the bios of academic faculty members in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science. 

There is a search function at the top of the People page of our website, where you can filter by Academic Faculty and either AuD (Audiology) or SLP (Speech-Language Pathology.) You can also find a list of labs on the Research page of our website.

Contact one or more faculty members by email to express your interest in the PhD program, and specifically your interest in joining their research group. You should be prepared to share your CV or resume, statement of research interests, and grade point average. 

An on-campus visit is highly recommended and may be required by some potential mentors. 

If both you and the advisor agree that it would be a productive mentorship, then you should proceed with submitting an application--outlined in Step 2 below. 

Applicants who have not identified a member of the faculty who has agreed to advise them before the time of the application are rarely admitted into this program.

If you cannot identify a prospective advisor, you may contact the Chair of the PhD Committee, Dr. Stacy Harnish, to discuss your options.

The OSU Graduate and Professional Admissions application is completed online through OSU Graduate and Professional Admissions.

The following application materials are uploaded via the online application process:

• A curriculum vitae or resume
   
• A transcript from each college or university you have attended.
  • Transcripts uploaded during the application process are accepted, but considered "unofficial." If admitted, you will be required and instructed to have official transcripts submitted directly from the issuing institution to the Admissions office.
     
• An autobiographical statement addressing the following topics under separate headings:
  • What research, academic and/or personal experiences have led you to your interest in the PhD in Speech and Hearing Science?
     
  • What is your area of research interest? Which faculty member at OSU would you like to have as a mentor and why?
     
  • What are your future career plans?
     
  • Professionals (i.e., professors and researchers) in speech, language, and hearing science regularly interact with individuals with widely varying lived experiences. Please describe actions you have taken in your personal, academic, and professional lives that demonstrate:
    1. Self-reflection on your own experiences and how others’ experiences differ from yours, and...
        
    2. Your on-going curiosity and openness to learning from others who have different lived experiences than you. What did you learn in doing so? 
        
  • Describe one or two experiences in which you turned a challenging situation into a positive learning experience. What positive outcome(s) occurred as a result?
     
• If you have completed a thesis or similar document, please provide us with a copy at the end of your statement. If you have been involved in published research, please provide a reprint of each published paper, and describe the nature of your contribution.
   
• If your undergraduate GPA is lower than 3.5, please explain and indicate factors that mitigate or explain these previous performances.
   
• Three letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically by your recommenders.
  • You will be prompted for their contact information.
     
  • It is strongly recommended that reference letters be written by faculty members, research supervisors, or instructors who can speak to your academic abilities and promise as a PhD student.
     
• Test scores - the following should be sent directly from ETS to OSU:
  • Official TOEFL or IELTS scores (international applicants only)
     
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE General) scores are not required, however applicants may provide them voluntarily
     
• Application Fee
  • A nonrefundable $60 fee for U.S. students and $70 for international students is charged for each application submitted for graduate study.
     
  • Your application is not processed until you pay the application fee and the fee is authorized. American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa are accepted.
     
  • You may be able to request a fee waiver on the application if you've previously enrolled in an Ohio State graduate or professional program, have limited financial resources, or participated in select diversity programs (McNair Scholars, SROP).
     
  • Waiver requests may cause a delay in processing your application. It is recommended that you apply at least 10 days early to avoid missing your program’s deadline!