Goal
The Honors Tutorial College (HTC) Program in Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences (HSLS) aims to provide qualified students with a research-oriented undergraduate experience through individualized training in the hearing, speech and language sciences.
Philosophy
As with all other HTC programs at Ohio University, the philosophy of the HTC program in HSLS is based on the idea that education is aimed at intellectual growth rather than static transmission of knowledge. Students are seen as active participants of their education rather than passive receivers of instruction. They are also expected to cultivate scientific ways of thinking in addition to obtaining factual knowledge. Consequently, high motivation and intellectual independence are the qualities expected of HTC students. Compared to the traditional baccalaureate HSLS program, the individualized nature of the HTC program requires the students to assume more responsibility in their own education.
Curriculum
In addition to coursework, HTC students are required to complete six tutorials and a thesis. The tutorials, in which faculty members meet with students individually or in small groups, are the hallmark of all HTC programs. The tutorials and thesis allow HTC students to work closely with faculty members to obtain an enriched educational experience. To facilitate the tutorial education, academic resources are available including priority registration, special residence hall availability, enhanced library privileges, research support, eligibility to undertake graduate work, education abroad opportunities, and scholarship availability. General Education requirements are also kept to a minimum to allow students the flexibility to explore their intellectual interests. See Degree Requirements for more information.
Timeline
The HTC program in HSLS starts in the fall quarter of junior year. Prospective students apply for admission in the spring of sophomore year with recommendation from an HSLS faculty member. Admitted students undertake the required coursework, tutorials, and thesis in their junior and senior years. Students receive a Bachelor of Science in Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences upon successful completion of the requirements. This design is motivated by a number of considerations. First, completion of foundational courses in the freshman and sophomore years is essential for students to take full advantage of the tutorial education. Second, academic performance in the foundational coursework allows both the faculty and the prospective students to evaluate the aptitude and fit for the tutorial mode of learning. Finally, faculty members endorsing prospective students may serve as potential thesis advisors.
Admission
In accordance with the on-campus transfer guidelines set forth by the Honors Tutorial College, students interested in applying for the HTC program in HSLS should include the following materials in the application:
- Current DARS
- Statement of purpose describing the reasons for pursuing the HTC track, the qualifications and fit for the HTC track, and the general content area for the proposed thesis research
- Writing sample
- Completed form of endorsement from an HSLS faculty member familiar with their academic work
Applications should be submitted by May 15 to:
Dr. Chao-Yang Lee
Director of Studies
Honors Tutorial Program in Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701
Applications will be reviewed by the director of studies and the HSLS faculty, who will make admission recommendations for final approval by the dean of the Honors Tutorial College. An interview with the dean may be arranged as part of the review process. Admission decisions are made by the end of the spring quarter. Admitted students officially enroll in the HTC in the fall quarter of their junior year.
Degree requirements
The HTC requires all students to satisfy the University’s English composition requirement, complete a series of tutorials and a thesis, and maintain a minimum of 3.3 in overall grade point average (GPA). The School of HSLS requires HTC students to complete a minimum of six tutorials, a thesis, and a set of courses designed to provide an understanding of normal human communication processes and an introduction to speech-language pathology and audiology. HTC students are expected to maintain a minimum of 3.5 GPA in HSLS major courses.
Curriculum
The coursework requirements are essentially the same as those in the traditional HSLS major with a few exceptions (see Frequently Asked Questions below for a comparison chart). In brief, the HTC program has fewer General Education requirements. The flexibility in coursework requirements is intended to facilitate the tutorial mode of education rather than to achieve accelerated learning. As with the traditional HSLS majors, HTC students are expected to complete their undergraduate program of study in four years.
Required HTC courses:
(Credit hours in parentheses)
Tier I Freshman English Composition (5)
Tier I Junior Composition (4)
HSLS major courses:
Pre-professional foundation
HSLS 108 Introduction to Communication Disorders (5)
HSLS 240 Professional Orientation (3)
HSLS 341 Pre-Professional Service I (2)
HSLS 380 Basic Audiology (5)
HSLS 441 Pre-Professional Service II (4)
Basic human communication sciences
HSLS 208 Phonetics (5)
HSLS 213 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing (4)
HSLS 251 Speech and Language Science (4)
or HSLS 252 Speech Science (4)
HSLS 253 Hearing Science (4)
HSLS 310 Language Development (4)
HSLS 390 Introduction to Research in Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences (4)
HSLS related courses:
Biological and physical science
BIOL 101 Principles of Biology (5)
or BIOL 103 Human Biology
or BIOL 170 Introduction to Zoology
PHYS 201 Introduction to Physics (5)
or PSC 101L Physical World
or PSC 105L Color, Light, and Sound
Cultural civersity
ANTH 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (5)
or COMS 410 Cross-Cultural Communication (4)
or LING 275 Introduction to Language & Culture
Non-English language
HSLS 379 Basic Manual Communication (4)
or HSLS 385 Sign Language (4)
2 quarters of non-English spoken language (8)
Life span
HCCF 160 Introduction to Child Development (4)
or PSY 273 Child & Adolescent Psychology
HSLS 300 Aging and Disorders of Communication (4)
or PSY 374 Psychology of Adulthood & Aging
or SW 381 Counseling Older Adults
Linguistics
LING 351 Fundamentals of General Linguistics (5)
LING 280 Language in America (4)
or PSY 307 Psycholinguistics
or Any LING course above 351
Special needs
EDSP 271 Introduction to Education of Exceptional Children (4)
or PSY 332 Abnormal Psychology
or PSY 376 Psychological Disorders of Childhood
Other
COMS 101 Fundamentals of Human Communication (4)
COMS 103 Fundamentals/ of Public Speaking (4)
PSY 101 General Psychology (5)
PSY 221 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (5)
PHIL 101 Fundamentals of Philosophy (4)
or PHIL 120 Principles of Reasoning
or PHIL 130 Introduction to Ethics
PESS 227 First Aid (3)
or PESS 228 CPR (1)
PSY 275 Educational Psychology (4)
Tutorials
A minimum of six tutorials are required. Detailed information about the nature of the tutorials is available at the Honors Tutorial College web site. The junior tutorials include (1) participation in the HSLS Undergraduate Research Club for literature survey and faculty research exploration, (2) a tutorial in research methods, and (3) a tutorial in identifying a thesis topic and developing the thesis research plan with a faculty advisor. The three senior tutorials are used to carry out the thesis research.
HSLS 397T Junior Tutorial I (1-15)
HSLS 398T Junior Tutorial II (1-15)
HSLS 399T Junior Tutorial III (1-15)
HSLS 497T Senior Tutorial I (1-15)
HSLS 498T Senior Tutorial II (1-15)
HSLS 499T Senior Tutorial III (1-15)
Thesis prospectus
In preparation for thesis research, the HTC requires the submission of a thesis prospectus before the third week of the first quarter of the thesis work. The prospectus should include the title of the thesis, introduction, research question and approach, annotated bibliography, and a completed thesis prospectus cover sheet, available at the HTC web site.
Thesis
All HTC students are required to complete a thesis. They are expected to identify a faculty member as the thesis director by the end of their junior year. The senior tutorials are used to carry out the thesis research, which is normally completed in the spring quarter of their senior year with an oral presentation to the public. Preparation of the thesis should follow the information specified in the HTC Thesis Guidelines, available at the Honors Tutorial College web site.
Student evaluation
Tutorial evaluation
The Honors Tutorial College requires evaluation of student performance in each tutorial by faculty tutors. During the final week of a quarter, faculty tutors complete a tutorial description and evaluation form and submit the evaluation to the Director of Studies, who would forward the evaluation to the Honors Tutorial College.
Junior evaluation
At the end of their junior year, HTC students are evaluated of their progress by the HSLS faculty. The purpose of the evaluation is to assess their aptitude and fit for the thesis research. The evaluation will determine if a student should remain in the HTC program or transfer to the traditional baccalaureate program.
Thesis evaluation
Upon completion of the thesis research, students are required to give a public oral presentation. Following approval by the thesis director, the thesis will be submitted to Dean of the Honors Tutorial College for final approval.
Frequently asked questions
1. How is the HTC program different from the traditional baccalaureate program in Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences?
Students admitted to the HTC program will officially enroll in the Honors Tutorial College. Both the HTC and the traditional program are aiming to provide a solid science foundation for future careers in the hearing, speech and language sciences. The HTC program is different from the traditional program in the inclusion of tutorials, where students are expected to actively participate in one-to-one or small group interactions with faculty tutors. The HTC program provides more academic resources and flexibility in curriculum, but HTC students are expected to assume more responsibility for their own education. A thesis is also required by the HTC program.
2. How are the degree requirements of the HTC program different from those of the traditional program?
The HTC program has fewer University General Education requirements, but HTC students are required to complete a minimum of six tutorials, a thesis and maintain a minimum of 3.3 overall GPA and 3.5 GPA in HSLS major courses.
Course requirements for regular HSLS program:
- Tier I English composition
- Tier I advanced English composition
- Tier I quantitative skills
- Tier II
- Tier III
- HSLS major courses
- HSLS related courses
- 192 credit hours
Course requirements for HTC program in HSLS:
- Tier I English composition
- Tier I advanced English composition
- HSLS major courses
- HSLS related courses
- Six tutorials
- Thesis
- GPA 3.5 in HSLS major courses
- GPA 3.3 overall
3. Will I graduate earlier or later in the HTC program compared to the traditional baccalaureate program?
The HTC program is designed for the same length of study as the traditional program. The fewer requirements in General Education are intended to provide flexibility in course selection and to allow time for tutorials and thesis research. They are not intended for accelerated learning or early graduation.
4. Is the HTC program the right program for me?
Consider if the tutorial mode fits your learning style. If you are more comfortable with guided and highly structured learning, you may not benefit from the HTC program. The individualized nature of the program allows students the flexibility to pursue their intellectual aspirations, but also requires them to work more independently.