The Summer Vocology Institute is administered through University of Utah's Continuing Education department. As such, the University of Utah handles all billing and payments in regard to tuition. Tuition for 2025 is $500 per credit hour. One credit hour equals 15 classroom instruction hours.

• Principles of Voice Production - $1500
• Voice Habilitation - $100
• Instrumentation for Voice Analysis - $100
• Voice for Performers - $100
• Total - $4,500 - 135 hours of in-person, hands-on classroom instruction
  • Note – For matriculating University of Utah students, tuition is determined by their home department.

The SVI staff tries to keep costs to its participants as low as possible. We do this in part by arranging discounted housing through the University for students, which is one of the biggest expenses. We are also fortunate in that The University of Utah in-state tuition rate is assessed, even though students come from all over the world and the courses are taught in Utah.

We no longer offer different tuition rates for graduate and undergraduate credit. Current University of Utah degree seeking students are required to pay the University of Utah graduate tuition for the program of their choice (either Communication Sciences and Disorders or Music). The SVI cost link has additional details.

Information on housing and textbooks are below. 

One of the missions, and great strengths, of the SVI is a cross-pollination of ideas created by individuals with different backgrounds. This synergy is created though human interaction, shared ideas, overcoming language, cultural and professional barriers, and enhanced methodologies. During the past several years, medical doctors, singers, vocal coaches/collaborative pianists, singing voice teachers (private teachers as well as college faculty members), actors and acting teachers, voice therapists, engineers, and graduate students in all voice disciplines (acting, singing, speech pathology, voice science, etc.) have attended SVI.

Students have come from Argentenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, India Ireland, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Scotland, Syria, Turkey, and from all across the United States.

Enrollments are kept low to facilitate discussions and hands-on demonstrations and ample interaction time between the participants and faculty. Historically, individual classes do not exceed 30 students.

Past participants—both US and abroad—have had no difficulty transferring SVI credits to their home institutions. Completion of the SVI for credit means you will earn 9 semester hours of graduate level credit. The University of Utah offers credits to show up on your transcript as either Communication Science and Disorders credits or Music credits. However, it is important that participants realize that approval for credit transfer is their responsibility. Usually, this entails obtaining permission from an academic advisor or graduate committee before taking the courses, having the University of Utah send your transcripts to your program advisor after the SVI is over, and providing your committee or advisor with the course descriptions and numbers.

Yes. Although the SVI is not currently an ASHA certified CEU provider, the courses can be counted as such. This process will be discussed during student orientation.

Typically, the quality level of applicants is very high, so the acceptance rate is also very high. Often, those who apply have master's or doctoral degrees. Applicants often have done some previous cross-disciplinary work. For example, an SVI participant may have earned a bachelor's degree in music or theater and a master's degree in speech science. We do not have any quotas or cutoff points at this time. Students whose application materials indicate that they are ready for the challenges of the coursework are admitted on a first-come, first-serve basis. We do reserve the right to limit the number of students due to resource limitations. Cohorts have ranged from 20 to 35 students in past years.

We won't mislead you—the pace can be quite intense. You will take graduate level courses offered in a compressed timetable. You can expect to cover a chapter a day in Principles of Voice Production; in a normal semester, that would be a week's worth of material. In the middle of the program, juggling Habilitation and Instrumentation at the same time can be quite a stretch. You should expect homework—either readings or exercises or a combination of both—every night.

Please purchase your textbooks before coming to Salt Lake City. We suggest reading ahead in Dr. Titze's book, Principles of Voice Production, before you arrive (if possible). We also have put together a math review to help you be ready to handle the mathematical aspects of the class.

However, it is not all work and no play! You will have lots of great colleagues as study partners. There are no classes on Sundays and some Saturdays are free. Also there are no class in observance of Juneteenth and Independence Day, so planning hikes in the mountains or trips to local musical performances museums and National Parks are definitely possible.

Bring a water bottle! Salt Lake City is considered the "high desert" so it can be quite dry. You should also bring sunscreen. The elevation of the University of Utah is around  4,800 feet, so the sun will burn you much faster here than at sea level. Our student handbook provided to all accepted students  contains many details about living in and around Salt Lake City. The weather has been quite hot the past few summers and we are in the middle of a significant drought. In the summers, we can have many days over 100F/38C, however air conditioned classrooms can be chilly as well as spending time in the mountains at night.

Regarding course materials, you should bring your textbooks and a calculator—you'll need it for Principles of Voice Production and possibly for Habilitation and Instrumentation. It is also a good idea to collect and read the published materials (books, papers, articles, etc.) of the faculty from whom you will be learning. 

Each student who takes all 9 hours of the courses for credit receives a certificate of completion. It is signed by representatives from the Utah Center for Vocology and the University of Utah. It is not a degree, nor is it a professional licensure.

As far as working with clients, it depends on the type of work one is talking about and the needs of the client. If "work with clients" means teaching actors and singers with healthy voices in a non-therapy setting, this is fine. From a legal standpoint, however, to do anything called "voice therapy" in the United States, one must have a speech pathology degree and be certified with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CCC status). Thus, the SVI does not offer a legally binding recognized certification. As described above, however, SVI course credits can be transferred into any established graduate program or used for Continuing Education Units by persons already certified by ASHA.

Upon completion of the program, you may state that you are a "SVI trained Vocologist".

Beginning in 2023, graduates will also receive a digital badge through Credly. The link will be sent via email after graduation.

Principals of Voice Production is absolutely necessary to take before any other courses no matter what your credentials. The only students who will not have to take Block One would be those who took Principles of Voice Production at the University of Iowa from Professor Ingo Titze. All others must take block one.

It is highly recommended that if you plan to complete all four courses, that you try to complete them within 1-3 summers.

With regard to absences, due to the speed and intensity with which we teach at SVI, it is not adviseable to miss more than two class periods of any class. One class period typically covers one week of graduate-level content, making it very difficult to make up the content and homework if you have excessive absences.

Students may choose to stay either on campus OR off campus. 

Note: Due to the limited availability of low-cost housing, and the financial impact of late minute cancelations, in 2025 we will require a non-refundable pre-payment of $500 to hold your place in either On-Campus, or Off-Campus Sponsored housing by April 15. This pre-payment will be applied to your total bill which will be payable in full on move-in day.

On Campus Housing: The University of Utah dorms were once part of the Olympic Village during the 2002 SLC Winter Olympics. SVI has a contract with Summer Housing for access to 9-12 rooms at Benchmark Apartments. The apartments have 3 single bedrooms with 2 bathrooms and are modestly furnished with kitchens and a shared living space. (Towels and linens are provided,but renters must bring their own kitchenware - cups, plates, bowls, silverware.) Apartment-mates will be other participants from SVI. All-female, all-male or all sex/gender-inclusive accomodations will be arranged per student requests. Students with complex rooming needs should check with the SVI Administrator to discuss. You will also have access to amenities including access to the wireless internet, rehearsal rooms, free laundry, and dorm gym. There are also food plan options to choose from if you are interested. On-campus housing parking permits are available for nearby lots.

Because our room allotment is limited, priority will be given first to International students and then domestic students who are attending all 7 weeks of SVI. The room rental will be from Sunday, June 1 through Saturday, July 19 to allow some time for settling in and departure. The cost for 2025 is $35/day plus a refundable $150 key/damage deposit.

Once accepted into SVI, students who have indicated interested in renting one of these apartments on their application form will be contacted by the SVI administrator (svi@utah.edu). Placement is prioritized for international students to help them manage costs, followed by domestic students planning to attend the entire summer. Our second level of assessment is date of application, so please apply early if you wish to be considered for this lower-cost housing.

Off Campus Sponsored Housing (NEW for 2024): In collaboration with the Pioneer Theatre Company, private apartments will be made available to SVI for rent again in summer of 2025. The Meldrum House is a historic, recently renovated, 3-story walk-up apartment building located one block west of the west side of the U of U campus. A 12 minute walk to UCV classroom. Fully furnished one-bedroom apartments, including linens and all kitchen tools/utensils. Wi-fi, cable tv. Coin laundry on-site. Shared outdoor patio space. There is no designated parking lot or parking permits provided for this building. Free on-street parking available 2-3 blocks west of building or in University lots with a paid summer permit.

Move-In availbility date will be Sunday, June 1. Check out is Saturday, July 19.

Cost is $55/day for a 1bedroom. Weekly linen service available for an additional $30. $150 damage deposit paid via check. Refundable after move-out inspection. $500 deposit is due on April 15 to hold the room. It will be applied to your balance for the total cost of your rental and balance is due at check in on June 1.

Off Campus Independent Housing: If you prefer to not stay on campus you are responsible to make arrangements. Please note that if you decide to drive to campus you will need to get a parking pass from Commuter Services if you wish to park in University-owned lots. Hourly parking is $3/hour, so it is much more cost-effective to get a summer session pass. Student Handbook contains more detailed information about parking.

U of U Shuttle: is available for on-campus transportation. It is free and is helpful for students staying at the on-campus apartments to get to class. 

The Principles of Voice Production course uses the textbook with the same title by Ingo Titze. It is available for purchase through the NCVS website.

The Voice Habilitation textbook is, VOCOLOGY: The Science and Practice of Voice Habilitation by Ingo Titze and Katherine Verdolini Abbott. It is also available for purchase through the NCVS website.

Materials for other courses/sessions will be announced by the instructors and/or stated on class syllabi.