Child Language Doctoral Program

The doctoral program in Child Language offers a specialized degree in this interesting area of study. The program crosses traditional academic boundaries to give students the theoretical, empirical, and methodological competence necessary to study basic and applied issues in language acquisition. This multidisciplinary program is a cooperative endeavor of faculty members from the Departments of Applied Behavioral Science, Clinical Child Psychology, Linguistics, Molecular Biosciences, Psychology, and Speech-Language-Hearing: Sciences and Disorders. In addition, the Child Language Doctoral Program has faculty specializing in genetics of language and speech, and in quantitative methods.

Students study 4 areas:

1. Core theoretical and experimental work on language acquisition,
2. Relevant methods and theories in linguistics and psycholinguistics,
3. Theoretical perspectives on developmental psychology, and
4. The nature of disordered language development and methods and techniques for language intervention.

In addition, new areas of study are offered in genetics of language acquisition and impairments, as well as quantitative methods.

Each student is advised by a support committee of 3 faculty members. Enrollment in a proseminar in language acquisition is required of all students in addition to participation in research activities. Opportunities for individual research projects include the projects of participating faculty members and the research teams of the Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, and the clinical/research facilities of KU Medical Center.

Graduates are candidates for teaching and research positions, clinical positions providing service to communicatively disabled persons, and research work in business and governmental sectors.

Faculty

We are a cross-disciplinary program and our faculty is involved in research spanning many diverse fields of study. Our portfolios are dynamic and growing, so you will be directed to our most recent information.

An internationally recognized scholar leads program activities: Mabel L. Rice.

Admission to Graduate Studies

Admission Requirements

• All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy. 

• Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.  

• English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required. 

Please see the PhD section of the catalog for admission information.

Applicants to our program should complete the KU Application for Graduate Study. Please be aware that the following items will need to be prepared in advance and uploaded 
with the online application:
•  A current C.V. (Curriculum Vitae) or resume
•  A personal statement describing the applicant’s interest in studying child language and professional goals
•  A list of all courses taken in relevant areas such as child development, linguistics, psychology, special education, speech and hearing sciences, genetics, statistics
•  Official score report from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Although the online application will ask you to self-report your scores, official scores must also be sent directly from GRE. KU’s University code is 6871. (Note: GRE scores are used by Research and Graduate Studies in awarding of Graduate Fellowships).
•  3 letters of recommendation

M.A. Degree Requirements 

Doctoral students entering the Ph.D. in Child Language without the master’s degree must fulfill the following requirements to earn the M.A. along the way to the Ph.D.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Courses in Language Acquisition		8
LING 709	First Language Acquisition I
LING 739	First Language Acquisition II
LING/PSYC 782	Research Methods in Child Language
LING 822	Seminar in First Language Acquisition
Supplemental courses in linguistics, psycholinguistics, developmental psychology, language intervention, or genetics of language and speech		10
LING 705	Phonetics I
SPLH 820	Developmental Phonological Disorders
SPLH 846	Language Disorders of Adults
SPLH 848	Language Disorders of Special Populations
SPLH 850	Cognitive-Linguistic Disorders of Adults
SPLH 854	Reading Disorders
SPLH 860	Evaluation of Speech and Language
CLDP 880	Seminar in Child Language: Research Methods
LING 707	Phonetics II
LING 712	Phonology I
LING 714	Phonology II
LING 715	Second Language Acquisition I
LING 716	Second Language Acquisition II
LING 725	Syntax I
LING 726	Syntax II
LING 731	Semantics
LING/PSYC 735	Psycholinguistics I
LING/PSYC 737	Psycholinguistics II
LING 738	Neurolinguistics I
LING 742	Neurolinguistics II
PSYC 725	Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC 800	Experimental Psychology: _____
PSYC 825	Social Development
PSYC 870	Cognitive Development
Statistics: *other statistics courses may be approved at the discretion of the Program Director
PSYC 790	Statistical Methods in Psychology I	3
CLDP 948	Latent Trait Measurement and Structural Equation Models	3
Thesis:
CLDP 899	Master's Thesis	6
Total Hours		30

Students normally complete the master’s requirements within 3 years.  

Continuous Research & Proseminar Enrollment

All students are expected to be engaged continuously in research on child language. Research involvement is documented with appropriate enrollment in research, thesis, and dissertation credit hours. Students are also required to enroll continuously in one of the following proseminars every semester in the program, selected in consultation with their faculty advisor:

• CLDP 799 Proseminar in Child Language
• SPLH 900 Proseminar in Communicative Disorders 

Thesis Requirement:

Students are required to complete an empirical master's thesis. Students will complete this thesis with guidance from their Advisor and will orally defend the thesis in front of a committee. The thesis is typically between 20-40 pages in length.

At the completion of this program, students will be able to: 

• Apply a broad base of knowledge to promote inquiry, discover solutions, and generate new ideas and creative works.
• Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in a range of contexts using a variety of means and modalities.
• Access, evaluate, and use qualitative and/or quantitative information to identify patterns, and formulate and support interpretations.
• Establish, grow, and sustain productive relationships to effectively address key issues facing local, national, or global communities and solve problems that advance society.