Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences Honors Program

About Our Program

Our Departmental Honors Program in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) was approved by the University Honors Council in May 2011. The mission of our honors program is to recognize high-achieving undergraduate SLHS Majors and provide an enriched, challenging environment for these students to develop academically and professionally. We encourage highly-motivated, high-achieving Comprehensive Majors in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences to apply. Approximately 4-5 students each year will be invited to join our SLHS Honors program and will work with faculty mentors to enhance their critical thinking, research, and leadership skills

Admission Criteria

• Overall GPA ≥ 3.5
• SLHS GPA ≥ 3.5
• Successful completion at time of application (not in-progress) of SLHS 235, SLHS 256, SLHS 257, and SLHS 353, with a grade of B or above.
• Students invited to join the Honors Program in SLHS will typically not have taken any pass/fail courses.

If you are a University Honors Student, the University Honors Program and our SLHS Departmental Honors Program collaborate to help students integrate the requirements for both programs. For example, students in SLHS Honors can count up to 9 credits (2 courses) of SLHS honors contract work toward your University Honors requirements. If you have questions about how to integrate the requirements for both programs, please meet with Dr. Abby Hemmerich to discuss your options.

Honors Program Requirements and Components

1. A total of TWO SLHS upper-division courses offering an Honors Contract for honors credit (see Potential SLHS upper division courses with Honors Contract credit accordion). 4-7 credits possible.
2. Scholarship Project (4 options):
   a. Leadership Role in an undergraduate research project: SLHS 495: Directed Studies (up to 6 credits).
   b. Independent Research Project: SLHS 499: Independent Study (up to 6 credits).
   c. Clinical Case Study / Single-Subject Design research project: SLHS 499: Independent Study (up to 6 credits). Note: Students selecting this option will need to be on Plan 1 so they can collect data during SLHS 470, fall senior year.
   d. Leadership Role in a SLHS or Campus Project: e.g., Aphasia Camp, Camp Campus, SLHS Writing Fellow; lead the SLHS Ambassadors team.
3. Presentation of your leadership project or research results at a SLHS ProSem and/or UWEC's CERCA (Student Research Day), and/or the Provost’s Honor’s Symposium, and/or WSHA, ASHA, SRCLD, UW System Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Posters in the Rotunda, etc.
4. Student must have earned a GPA of 3.5 in all work attempted (cumulative GPA) and a GPA of 3.5 in SLHS at the time of graduation in order to have your degree conferred with Honors in SLHS. Participation in a Departmental Honors Program will be documented on your transcript, and you will be recognized at graduation.

SLHS Departmental Honors students may also propose a program of study that crosses departmental and college lines for your scholarship project and/or Honors Contract upper division courses. 

Application Process

APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 15

During October of their junior year, interested eligible students should submit a formal application and supplemental materials by October 15.

Application Components include:

1. A completed eForm application.
2. A current UWEC Degree audit.
3. Two Honors contract proposals with tentative plans for enrolling in SLHS courses for Honors Contract credit.
4. An Honors Program Project proposal.

To access the eForm application:

• Navigate to eform1.uwec.edu.
• Click on the Start new Form tab.
• Navigate to Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
• Select the Departmental Honors Application

Complete and submit the Application Section and attach a UWEC Degree Audit by October 15.

Important Information:

• As part of the application review process, your GPAs will be verified. Your written responses will also be evaluated on content and depth.
• Students accepted into the SLHS Departmental Honors Program will be notified by early November so they can reach out to spring course instructors to discuss potential SLHS Departmental Honors Contracts. Dr. Abby Hemmerich will serve as your SLHS Honors adviser.
• If accepted, you will be asked to submit a signed commitment to the SLHS Departmental Honors Program.
• Occasionally a student may be invited to apply by a faculty member. If invited to apply, you should address this in the Application Questions response section of the application eForm.

University Honors Program

Students invited to join UW-Eau Claire's award-winning University Honors Program can also apply to our Departmental Honors Program. We will work with you to integrate the requirements for both programs.