Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology (S.L.P.D.)

Program Coordinator: Dr. Mary Gorham-Rowan, email: mmgorhamrowan@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-219-1321

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

The Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology (SLPD) program has been deactivated as of Summer 2024. As a result, Fall 2023 was the last semester the program was permitted to accept students. Unfortunately, applicants for Fall 2024 could not be accepted into the program.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

1. A candidate must successfully complete, defend and submit a dissertation.
2. A candidate must successfully complete a written comprehensive examination before admission to candidacy.
3. A candidate must have a GPA of 3.25 or above on all doctoral coursework.
4. A candidate must complete an application for graduation one semester prior to their expected graduation date.

Graduation Requirements Page - SLPD in Communication Sciences and Disorders

RETENTION, DISMISSAL, & READMISSION POLICIES

1. The academic residency requirements are satisfied upon completion of two consecutive semesters of six semester hours or more of coursework. 
2. No more than 6 semester hours of post-master's academic work may be transferred from another institution into a Dewar College of Education doctoral program.  Transfer credit will be evaluated after admission, by the academic department.  To be eligible, credit must be no more than seven years old at the time of admission unless otherwise approved by the program.
3. Earning grades below "B" in graduate courses will result in the following consequences: Students admitted Fall 2011 and thereafter will be dismissed from the Graduate School if they accumulate three or more academic deficiency points unless otherwise indicated by individual program policy.  A grade of "C" (although it may be counted toward a degree) equals one deficiency point.  A grade of "D," "WF," or "F," or "U" (none of which will be credited toward a degree) equals two deficiency points.  Candidates admitted BEFORE Fall 2011 and receiving two grades below "C" ("D," "F," "WF," "U") will be dismissed from the program.  One grade below a "C" results in a warning.
4. If dismissed from the program a student will not be considered for readmission.
5. Candidates failing to maintain a 3.25 GPA on all doctoral coursework may face academic sanctions as determined by the Doctoral Coordinating Committee.
6. A comprehensive exam must be successfully completed prior to entering candidacy.  Candidates are permitted two attempts to complete the comprehensive exams.  Candidates who fail to successfully complete the comprehensive exam after two attempts will be dismissed from the program.
7. Doctoral candidates may take up to five years from the term in which comprehensive exams are taken and passed to complete their dissertation work. A one year emergency stop-out may be requested by the student through the Emergency Stop-Out Form. During the stop-out the student must register for a minimum of 1 hour of dissertation credit per term. If the dissertation proposal has been approved before the stop-out year then an updated and reapproved proposal is required by the end of the first semester following the stop-out. An additional extension of two years beyond the 5+1 year limit would require successful completion of a second comprehensive exam that is scheduled, taken, and graded within one term of the expiration of the 5+1 year limit. The two years will begin in the term after the second comprehensive exam is passed. The dissertation proposal must be updated to reflect current literature. The updated proposal must be approved by the dissertation committee during the first term of the two year extension. Failure to pass the second comprehensive exam will terminate the dissertation process.