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Special Education and Communication Disorders

Graduate Program Summary

Graduate Degrees Offered

M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
M.A., M.Ed.*, and Ed.S. in Special Education and Communication Disorders
Ed.D. and Ph.D. in Educational Studies with a specialization in Special Education
Ph.D. in Human Sciences with a specialization in Communication Disorders
Au.D.** in Audiology
Special Education Areas of Study
Autism; Behavior Disorders; Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education; Early Childhood Special Education; Emotional and Behavioral Disorders; Learning Disabilities; Mild/Moderate Disabilities; Severe Disabilities; Visual Impairments and Transition
Communication Disorders Areas of Study
Motor Speech Disorders; Language and Phonological Disorders; Aphasia and Acquired Cognitive Disorders; Fluency Disorders; Augmentative/Alternative Communication; Audiology; Hearing Science; Speech Science

*Also available online
**Because the Au.D. is a professional degree, Graduate Studies is not involved in its admissions. Au.D. applicants should disregard the application information on this Graduate Studies page and instead follow departmental instructions only.

Application Checklist

Required by Office of Graduate Studies
Required by Special Education and Communication Disorders
  • Entrance exam(s): GRE (not required for Au.D.)
  • Minimum TOEFL:  
    Ph.D. in Human Sciences with a specialization in Communication Disorders:   Paper-550  Computer-213  Internet-61
    Otherwise:   Paper-550  Computer-213  Internet-79
  • Departmental application
  • Three recommendation letters using a program-specific recommendation form
  • Optional: Supplementary information that would show the scholarly potential of the student
Application Deadline
M.S. and Au.D. Applicants
     Fall: January 15
Otherwise
   Rolling admissions

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Special Education

Central to the programs in the department is learning to assist those with special education needs or those with communication disorders of speech, language, balance, or hearing.

Description of Program

The Barkley Center provides a stimulating environment for educational, clinical, and research activities in the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders. Programs of study are offered leading to the Master of Education and Master of Arts degrees in special education, the Master of Science in speech-language pathology and audiology (thesis and nonthesis options), the Doctor of Audiology in audiology and the Educational Specialist Degree in special education.

The interdepartmental Ph.D. programs in educational studies or human sciences allow for specializations in special education or communication disorders, consistent with the student's interests and employment goals. The professional doctoral degree, the Au.D. typically does not require a research project or dissertation of the magnitude necessary for the Ph.D. Au.D. applicants submit application materials directly to the department and do not submit the Online Application for Graduate Admission. Download the departmental application packet.

Students can take classes in special education and communication disorders online. They can also earn an educational specialist degree endorsement online focusing on any of the following: visual impairment, severe disabilities, deaf/hard of hearing, emotional and behavioral disorders, early childhood special education, special education administration

Contact

Graduate Chair
T. Newell Decker
Graduate Secretary
Jill England
jengland2@unl.edu
402-472-2141
Department Address
318 Barkley Center
Lincoln NE 68583-0738
Department Website
http://www.unl.edu/barkl...

Faculty and Research

John Bernthal Phonological Disorders
David Beukelman Augmentative and Alternative Communication; Dysarthria; Oral Cancer
Stephen Boney Aural Rehabilitation; Pediatric Audiology
Tom Carrell Speech Perception
Cynthia Cress Infant Vocal Development
Alicia Davis Language and Literacy Relationships; Adolescent and Adult Language and Learning Disabilities
T. Newell Decker Evoked Potentials; Otoacoustic Emissions
Malinda Eccarius Visual Literacy
Michael Epstein Identification of Emotionally Disturbed Children; Strength-Based Assessment; Home and School Collaboration
Joan Erickson Technology in Reading and Writing Development; Middle-Level Literacy Instruction
Diane Farrand Language and Literacy; Craniofacial Disorders; Aural Rehabilitation
Jordan Green Speech Producation Disorders; Oromotor Skill Development; Quantification of Speech Motor Performance
E. Charles Healey Stuttering and Fluency Disorders
Karen Hux Traumatic Brian Injury; Language and Communication Challenges
Sue Kemp School Management; Alternative Teaching Methods
John Maag Functional Assessment; Depression; Attention Deficit Disorders
Christine Marvin Communication Development of Children; Early Literacy Intervention Programs
Gary Meers Transition Models for Adjudicated Youth with Disabilities
Kevin Menefee Developmental, Cognitive, and Academic Assessment
Toni Morehouse Phonological and Motor Speech Disorders; Autism Spectrum Disorders
Ron Nelson Students with Disabilities; Academically At-Risk Students
Reece Peterson School Violence and Discipline; Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
Carrie Prentice Augmentative and Alternative Communication; Adaptive Computer Technology
Stacie Ray Audiology; Pediatric Amplification
Robert Reid Strategy Instruction; Attention Deficit Disorder; Functional Assessment
Dyann Rupp Developmental Apraxia of Speech
Dixie Sanger Communication Skills of Female Juvenile Delinquents
Marilyn Scheffler Education Policy and Systems Change; Role of State Education Agencies
Neil Shepard Assessment and Rehabilitation of Balance Disorder
Ellin Siegel Augmentative and Alternative Communication; Classroom Interventions
Jody Spalding Amplification; Auditory Evoked Potentials; Otoacoustic Emissions; Pediatrics
Deanne Splattstoesser Language Literacy; Educational Technology
Stanley Vasa Transition from School to Post-Secondary Settings; Paraeducator Training
Kelly Wacker Amplification; Pediatric Audiology
Kristy Weissling Acquired Neurogenic Communication Disorders; Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Amy Willman American Sign Language; Deaf Culture
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln does not discriminate based on gender, age, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, veteran's status, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation.