The doctoral program in communication sciences and disorders prepares students to become the next generation of leading researchers and scholars in speech language pathology and communication disorders. The program is the only one of its kind in the Houston area, offering students high-quality instruction and hands-on research experiences, including access to research opportunities in the Texas Medical Center – the largest medical center in the world.

The program is mentor-based and individualized, with the student and mentor designing a program of study that meets the student’s goals. Before applying to the program, students must first identify the professor(s) with whom they share common scientific interests and obtain a tentative agreement from the professor(s) to serve as their mentor(s).

For more information on the application process, please visit the Ph.D. Admission page. The deadline to apply for Fall 2025 is December 15, 2024. Applications are accepted for fall admission only.

Our nationally and internationally recognized faculty have a broad range of research interests, including:

• Aphasia and right-hemisphere disorders
• Augmentative and alternative communication
• Bilingualism
• Motor speech
• Language and phonological development
• Neural bases of speech and language
• Voice disorders

Learn more about our research faculty.

Please explore the Ph.D. program webpages for more information about admission requirements, curriculum and financial assistance.

Attend our upcoming Information Session! 

Contact Us

Fatima Moran
Program Coordinator
fmoran@central.uh.edu 

Ashwini Joshi, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Ph.D. Program Director
ajoshi5@central.uh.edu