Hearing and Speech in the Evening (HESPIE)

Position yourself to apply for graduate training with Hearing and Speech in the Evening (HESPIE). This program provides the pre-requisite coursework needed to apply to most hearing and speech sciences graduate programs. With HESPIE, you’ll acquire the knowledge of basic communication processes, as well as an understanding of speech, language, and hearing disorders and differences—including etiologies, characteristics, prevention, assessment, and intervention.

HESPIE is a 15-month, eight-course, non-degree, post-baccalaureate program that provides a strong background for graduate training in Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and in Hearing, Language, or Speech Sciences. Upon completion, students should acquire the knowledge and skills to demonstrate knowledge of basic communication processes as well as knowledge of speech, language, and hearing disorders and differences, including etiologies and characteristics, prevention, assessment, and intervention.

HESPIE offers two learning options: in-person or 100% online.

• HESPIE-Campus features traditional, seminar-style, instruction. Classes meet in UMD College Park campus classrooms, offering a focused, distraction-free learning environment.
• HESPIE-Online uses UMD’s online learning environment to deliver content through easy-to-use web-based technology that supports engaging and interactive learning.

Both learning options use the semester academic calendar with classes held during fall and spring semester (16 weeks each) and Summer Session (two 6-week sessions). Courses follow a convenient weekday evening schedule to accommodate working students. Instruction is provided by university faculty and experts in the field.

Note: Information on how to apply, tuition and fees, registration, financial and academic deadlines, and more may be found in the grey box at the top of this page. Registration for HESPIE course sections is restricted to program-admitted students.

Academic Program Director Contact Information

HESPIE is offered through the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Students with specific academic questions should contact the Program Coordinator via email: HESPIE@umd.edu.

Whereas HESPIE is designed to meet the pre-requisite requirements of most graduate programs, including UMD’s, the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences cannot guarantee that other graduate programs might not have additional requirements. Students are encouraged to check requirements of those other graduate programs. Acceptance into HESPIE does not guarantee admission into a graduate program at the University of Maryland.