College Schools, Departments & Programs

Speech and Hearing Sciences

Course Descriptions
  • SPHS-A 100 American Sign Language I (4 cr.) Introductory sign language for students with no previous experience. Builds a good basic vocabulary of signs, teaches finger spelling, introduces basic aspects of the grammar and the proper use of facial expression in sign language conversation. Students are also exposed to Deaf culture. This course does not fulfill SPHS credit hour requirements for the Speech and Hearing Sciences major.
  • SPHS-A 150 American Sign Language II (4 cr.) P: A100 or consent of instructor. Continuation of 100. Continues building receptive and expressive abilities. Puts emphasis on the use of signing space, facial grammar, body postures, fluent finger spelling, and continued vocabulary development. More complex grammatical structures are introduced. Deaf culture component included. This course does not fulfill SPHS credit hour requirements for the Speech and Hearing Sciences major.
  • SPHS-A 200 American Sign Language III (3 cr.) P: A150 or consent of instructor. Emphasizes the development of conversational ability. Examines more complex grammatical structures, with emphasis on ability to use these structures in conversation. Readings, videos, and discussion cover characteristics of the Deaf population and their cultural values. This course does not fulfill SPHS credit hour requirements for the Speech and Hearing Sciences major.
  • SPHS-A 250 American Sign Language IV (3 cr.) P: A200 or consent of instructor. Continues to develop knowledge of American Sign Language and of Deaf culture. Students will experience the language outside the classroom through interaction with the Deaf community. This course does not fulfill SPHS credit hour requirements for the Speech and Hearing Sciences major. Credit given for only one of A250 or A300.
  • SPHS-S 106 Hearing Science: An Overview (3 cr.) Introduction to hearing science and how it is applied toward the evaluation and treatment of clinical problems. Credit given for only one of S106-S108 or S110.
  • SPHS-S 108 Speech and Language Sciences: An Overview (3 cr.) Introduction to the development and use of speech and language across the lifespan and to the scientific foundations of typical spoken communication. Surveys the application of speech and language sciences to the understanding of some common disorders of speech and language. Credit given for only one of S106-S108 or S110.
  • SPHS-S 110 Survey of Communication Disorders (3 cr.) Introduction to behavioral and social aspects of communication disorders. Includes a broad overview of human communication, with emphasis on development, adult functions, and cultural differences, in addition to disorders. Also examines general approaches to rehabilitation of the communicatively handicapped and current controversies.
  • SPHS-S 111 Introduction to Phonetics for Speech and Hearing Sciences (3 cr.) Scientific study of speech production, based on the International Phonetic Alphabet. Exercises in transcription.
  • SPHS-S 201 Speech Anatomy and Physiology (3 cr.) Introduction to the anatomy and physiology of the speech mechanism, including respiration, phonation, articulation/resonance, nervous system, and audition.
  • SPHS-S 215 Honors Seminar (3 cr.) An undergraduate seminar for Hutton Honors College students. Focuses on the sciences of speech, language, and hearing within the context of human communication. May include such topics as evolution, bioacoustics, history, disorders, and more.
  • SPHS-S 302 Acoustics for Speech and Hearing Sciences (3 cr.) P: MATH A118, M118, S118, M119, M120, or any 200-level mathematics course. Basic acoustics with the emphasis being on topics applicable to the speech and hearing sciences. Acoustics of the speech and hearing mechanisms. Instrumentation for sound production and recording.
  • SPHS-S 307 Cognitive and Communicative Aspects of Aging (3 cr.) P: SPHS S201 or ANAT A215 or equivalent. Review of cognitive and communicative changes associated with normal aging as well as with diseases and conditions that are prevalent in the aging population. Includes discussion of methodological issues in research on aging as well as principles for maximizing communication with the elderly population.
  • SPHS-S 311 Introduction to Research in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (3 cr.) P or C: PSY-K 300 or STAT-S 303. Introduction to research methodology in speech and hearing science, both basic and applied. Focuses on basic designs, analyses, and how research informs clinical practice. Course includes discussion of ethics, evaluation of research, and scientific writing.
  • SPHS-S 333 Childhood Language (3 cr.) P: LING L103 or L303. Develops student knowledge of how language is acquired by young children. Examines data on what young infants and young children know about language at different ages, and considers the kinds of theories that may explain this data.
  • SPHS-S 350 Speech Science (3 cr.) P: Junior or senior standing; S201 and S302. R: S302. Provides an overview of speech production, including acoustics and physiology, as well as speech perception. The focus is on non-disordered speech in adults with some coverage of development as warranted.
  • SPHS-S 370 Clinical Issues in Audiology (1 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Introduction to clinical practice in audiology. Emphasis on familiarization with clinic equipment and protocol as well as clinical application of concepts learned in other audiology courses. A limited number of students may also qualify for supervised experiences in the clinic. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • SPHS-S 375 Hearing Science (3 cr.) Provides an in-depth study of hearing in the normal auditory system. Topics include anatomy and physiology of the ear, anatomy and physiology of the auditory brain, and auditory perception and psychophysics.
  • SPHS-S 399 Reading and Research for Honors (1 cr.) P: Junior standing and approval of departmental honors committee.
  • SPHS-S 415 Seminar in Speech and Hearing Sciences (1-6 cr.) P: Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.000. Readings, experiments, and reports in area of student’s special interest. May be S/F graded. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • SPHS-S 425 Topical Seminar in Speech Science (3 cr.) P: Junior or senior standing; S350. R: S302. Addresses in-depth topics related to speech science. Topics vary. Some topics can be used to satisfy the same requirements as S444 and S445; students should check with the SPHS advisor about this possibility. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 9 credit hours.
  • SPHS-S 427 Topical Seminar in Language Sciences (3 cr.) P: Junior or senior standing; S333 and S111. R: LING-L 103 or 203. Addresses in-depth topics related to language sciences. Topics vary. Some topics can be used to satisfy the same requirements as S420, S436, and S473; students should check with the SPHS advisor about this possibility. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 9 credit hours.
  • SPHS-S 429 Topical Seminar in Hearing Science (3 cr.) P: Junior or senior standing; S375. R: S302. Addresses in-depth topics related to hearing science. Topics vary. Some topics can be used to satisfy the same requirements as S475 and S478; students should check with the SPHS advisor about this possibility. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 9 credit hours.
  • SPHS-X 471 Undergraduate Teaching Internship in Speech and Hearing Sciences (1-2 cr.) P: Open to seniors with priority given to SPHS majors; overall GPA of 3.500 and permission of instructor required. Students assist in an undergraduate course under the guidance of a faculty member and are required to attend a weekly seminar to discuss theory and practice of teaching. S/F grading. May be repeated for a maximum of 4 credit hours in X471 and S418.
  • SPHS-X 476 Seminar/Practicum (1-3 cr.) Beginning practicum experience in speech and language pathology, with seminar. May be repeated once for credit for a maximum of 6 credit hours in X476 and S462.
  • SPHS-X 490 Readings in Speech and Hearing Sciences (1-3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Individual study under guidance of faculty member. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours in X490 and S480.
  • SPHS-X 498 Research in Speech and Hearing Sciences (1-3 cr.) P: Consent of supervising instructor and chair. Supervised research in an area of Speech and Hearing Sciences. A formal research paper or project is required. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours in X498, X490, and S480.
  • SPHS-S 499 Reading and Research for Honors (1 cr.) P: Senior standing and approval of departmental honors committee. Course must be taken during the fall and spring of the academic year.