To apply for Lamar University’s graduate programs in speech and hearing tciences—Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) or Master of Science (M.S.) in speech-language pathology—all applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders or related field from a regionally accredited institution. Students are expected to have obtained a broad general education as a background to graduate study.

Our academic and clinical programs are designed to prepare audiologists and speech-language pathologists for the full breadth of scope of practice. As such, a background in the field of communication science prior to graduate studies is required.

Therefore, for those students with an undergraduate degree in other disciplines, completion of foundational undergraduate courses (“leveling” courses) before application for graduate admission to the Lamar University audiology or speech-language pathology graduate programs is required.

Typically, the leveling sequence requires a minimum of a fall, spring and summer semester sequence, but may vary with the undergraduate background of the student or the semester of needed course offering.

For more information on how to apply for leveling courses, contact Graduate Admissions at gradmissions@lamar.edu or Speech and Hearing Sciences Department Chair, Dr. Johanna Boult, at slp@lamar.edu.

Apply Texas Steps for Leveling Program

1. Go to applytexas.org and create an account.
2. Select "Start a new blank application" and then "Create a new graduate school admissions application." Although you will not be able to submit a graduate application until leveling is completed, this section will guide you to the appropriate subsections for leveling application.
3. Select "Lamar University" as the "Target university."
4. Under application type, select "Graduate, U.S."
5. If correct, check "Please confirm that you already have or will have a bachelor's degree or the equivalent prior to the start of the graduate term for which you are applying."
6. Select semester of entry. If applying between Aug. 1 (year prior to admission) to Feb. 1 (year of admission), you may select Fall of the year of admission. However, if you have missed the application window, you must select Fall of the next year. If this occurs and you would like to begin your leveling courses sooner, contact graduate admissions at gradmissions@lamar.edu and Dr. Johanna Boult at slp@lamar.edu for assistance.
7. Select your major. For those applying for leveling in audiology, you will select, "Doctor of Audiology." For those applying for leveling in speech-language pathology, you will select, "Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology."
8. Complete biographical information, educational background, and residency information sections. On the first page of "Educational background," please respond to question 4, "Enter any specific area of interest or specialty within your proposed major (if applicable):" with "Leveling – Program (Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology)."
9. In the section "Custom questions for this institution," you will find an "Applicant intent" question. It will state, "I am seeking:" and give five possible answers. Select "To take classes to prepare for a degree program" and "Save, acknowledge question."
10. Complete all certifications and acknowledgments on the submission page, pay the application fee, and submit your application for review.

Leveling does not guarantee entry into the graduate programs. Rather, leveling makes a student eligible to apply for graduate studies in the fields of audiology and speech-language pathology at Lamar University and many others. For more information on the requirements of application, see "Prerequisites and Entry Requirements" for audiology and speech-language pathology.

Leveling for the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) program and Master of Science (M.S.) program for speech-language pathology have differing requirements. See the listings below for each program.

Required Course and Description

(Symbol Legend: ⁺ both degrees, ^* Au.D. only, ^{^} M.S. only)

⁺Statistics: Stand-alone course required. Statistics is "the science of learning from data, and of measuring, controlling, and communicating uncertainty; and provides the navigation essential for controlling the course of scientific and societal advances."

Coursework in research methodology in the absence of basic statistics cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.

⁺Social or Behavioral Science: Acceptable courses in social/behavioral sciences should include psychology, sociology, anthropology, or public health.

⁺Biological Science: Acceptable courses in biological sciences should emphasize a content area related to human or animal sciences (e.g., biology, human anatomy and physiology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, human genetics, veterinary science).

⁺Physical Science: Acceptable courses in physical sciences should include physics or chemistry.

⁺Speech and Hearing Science: Basic physics of sound, instrumentation and performance related to principles in speech and hearing sciences.

⁺Language Acquisition: The study of normal language development and its changes with maturation.

⁺Phonetics: Knowledge of American English sound system and syllable structure including proficiency in using the International Phonetic Alphabet for phonetic transcription.

⁺Audiologic/Aural Rehabilitation: Explores the area of assistive listening devices, hearing aids, and other treatment and intervention methods and modalities.

⁺Introduction to Audiology: An overview of the professional field of audiology, the professional terminology, testing techniques, and procedures of the evaluation of a patient; interpretation of evaluation data, and application of information to the (re)habilitation program of the patient.

^*Hearing Anatomy and Physiology: The anatomy and physiology of the peripheral auditory mechanism. Also included are pathologies that affect the various anatomic structures.

^*Manual Communication: ASL/SEE/or another approved manual communications course. This course is frequently taken concurrently in the first year.

^{^}Speech Anatomy and Physiology: The anatomy and physiology of the speech mechanism. Includes scientific variables of speech and voice and the perceptual phenomena that result.

^{^}Neurology: The human nervous system with particular emphasis on neuronal structures and pathways related to communication and its disorders.