Speech-Language Pathology, MS

To pursue the MS in Speech-Language Pathology, students must possess a bachelor's degree, including at least 24 hours in approved speech-language pathology courses (i.e. Speech & Hearing Science, Clinical Methods, Phonetics, Anatomy & Physiology, Neurological Substrates of Communication and Swallowing, Child Language Development, Audiology, and Aural Rehabilitation.

Course distributions leading to the MS in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) will allow for the completion of compulsory academic and clinical training required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for professional certification in the field of speech-language pathology (Certificate of Clinical Competence in SLP, CCC-SLP). A minimum of 375 clock hours of supervised clinical practice, 325 hours of which must be on the graduate level, is required.

The Davies School of Communication Sciences & Disorders offers two tracks within the graduate program leading to the master's of science: 1) a SLP track and 2) an EBSLP track. Both tracks require a core of 43 credit hours (see below). The EBSLP track requires an additional 3 credit hours, consisting of COSD 60233 in spring of the second year. The clinical training experiences of students in the EBSLP track also include children and adults whose primary language is Spanish.

In both the SLP and EBSLP tracks, students have the option to complete a thesis. The requirements for the thesis and non-thesis options are as follows:

Thesis Option

This option requires a minimum of 43 hours for students electing the SLP track, and 46 hours for students electing the EBSLP track. Students are required to complete COSD 70323 and six hours of COSD 70980. Thesis hours will be taken in lieu of other coursework. A final comprehensive examination based on the thesis is required.

Non-Thesis Option

This program requires a minimum of 43 hours for students electing the SLP track of study, and 46 hours for students electing the EBSLP track. Students are required to complete COSD 70323. A final comprehensive examination consisting of written and oral portions is required, and is based on the academic and clinical experiences of the students during their program of study.

Academic and Clinical Performance

Student academic and clinical performance is assessed on a regular basis within the context of knowledge and skill acquisition needed to matriculate through the sequence of educational experiences and requirements for ASHA CCC-SLP. If academic performance (based on course grades) and/or clinical performance (based on clinical educator evaluations and clinical practicum grade) are evaluated to be unsatisfactory, students may be placed on academic probation. If a student is placed on probation, a remedial plan will be established by the graduate program director, clinical coordinator, and the student. Performance in the subsequent semester may result in a number of outcomes that can include (a) removal from probation and continuation with the original plan of study under which the student entered the program (b) continued academic probation with continuation of the original plan of study under which the student entered the program (c) continued academic probation with a delay in specific course enrollment and/or enrolling in clinical externships, and thus the addition of a minimum of one additional semester where the student will re-take a course and/or complete a clinical practicum, (d) any of the above with loss of the Graduate Assistantship, or (e) recommendation for dismissal from the program.