Speech Language Pathology, M.S.

Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate the knowledge and skills required for certification by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), licensure and school certification in Speech-Language Pathology, and will qualify for a clinical fellowship position in a school, hospital, private practice, or rehabilitation/residential settings.

Master’s students who successfully complete the program will demonstrate:

Students will demonstrate the knowledge and skills outlined below at a level designated as ready for the clinical fellowship (CF): 

1. Knowledge of basic human communication and swallowing processes, including their biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural bases, by recognizing and recalling facts and understanding what the facts mean. 
2. Knowledge of the nature of speech, language, hearing, and communication disorders and differences and swallowing disorders, including the etiologies, characteristic, anatomical/physiological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural correlates in the following content areas: articulation, fluency, voice/resonance, language, hearing, swallowing, cognitive, social, and communication modalities, by recognizing and recalling facts and understanding and applying the facts, concepts, and ideas as related to persons with communication and swallowing disorders. 
3. Knowledge/application of the principles and methods of prevention, assessment, and intervention for people with communication and swallowing disorders across the life span including consideration of anatomical/physiological, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural correlates of the disorder in the following content areas: speech sound production, fluency, voice/resonance, receptive and expressive language/literacy, hearing, swallowing/feeding, cognitive aspects of communication, social aspects of communication, and augmentative and alternative communication modalities by applying the facts, rules, concepts, and ideas; breaking down information into components parts; judging the value of information or ideas; and combining parts to generate new knowledge and/or implement new procedures or recommendations.   
4. Knowledge/application of standards of ethical conduct by applying the facts, rules, concepts, and ideas; breaking down information into components parts; judging the value of information or ideas; and combining parts to generate new knowledge and/or implement new procedures or recommendations. 
5. Knowledge/application of processes used in research and the integration of research principles into evidence-based clinical practice by applying the facts, rules, concepts, and ideas; breaking down information into components parts; judging the value of information or ideas; and combining parts to generate new knowledge and/or implement new procedures or recommendations.   
6. Knowledge of contemporary professional issues by applying the facts, rules, concepts, and ideas; breaking down information into components parts; judging the value of information or ideas; and combining parts to generate new knowledge and/or implement new procedures or recommendations.   
7. Knowledge about entry level and advanced certification, licensure, supervision, and other relevant professional credentials, by recognizing and recalling facts and understanding and applying the facts within the profession of communication and swallowing disorders.   
8. Skills in oral and written or other forms of communication sufficient for entry into professional practice by applying the facts, rules, concepts, and ideas; breaking down information into components parts; judging the value of information or ideas; and combining parts to generate new knowledge and/or implement new procedures or recommendations.   
9. Skills in clinical evaluation in the areas listed below by applying the facts, rules, concepts, and ideas; breaking down information into components parts; judging the value of information or ideas; and combining parts to a produce and/or implement new procedures or recommendations.   

• Conduct screening and prevention procedures. 

• Collect case history information and integrate information from clients, relevant others and professionals. 

• Select and administer appropriate evaluation procedures. 

• Adapt evaluation procedures to meet client needs. 

• Interpret, integrate and synthesize all information to develop diagnosis and design appropriate intervention. 

• Complete administrative and reporting functions necessary to support evaluation. 

• Refer clients for appropriate services.   

10. Skills in clinical intervention in the areas listed below by applying the facts, rules, concepts, and ideas; breaking down information into components parts; judging the value of information or ideas; and combining parts to a produce and/or implement new procedures or recommendations.

• Develop setting-appropriate intervention plans with measurable and achievable goals that meet client’s needs to allow them to participate as fully as possible in the environment.   
• Implement intervention plans involving client and relevant other in the intervention process. 
• Select or develop and use appropriate materials and instrumentation for prevention and intervention. 
• Measure and evaluate clients’ performance and progress. 
• Modify intervention plans, strategies, materials, and instruments as appropriate to meet client needs. 
• Complete administrative and reporting functions necessary to support intervention. 
• Identify and refer clients for services as appropriate. 

11. Skills in clinical interaction and personal qualities in the areas listed below in the areas listed below by applying the facts, rules, concepts, and ideas; breaking down information into components parts; judging the value of information or ideas; and combining parts to produce and/or implement new procedures and/or recommendations. 

• Communicate effectively, recognizing the needs, values, and preferred mode of communication to provide person-centered family-centered care.   
• Manage care of clients to ensure an interprofessional, team-based collaborative practice. 

• Provide counseling regarding communication and swallowing disorders to clients and relevant others. 

• Adhere to the ASHA Code of Ethics and behave professionally. 

Admission

Candidates for admission to the Master of Science (M.S.) program in speech language pathology must meet the requirements for admission to the Graduate School, including language proficiency, found in the Admission  section of this Bulletin.

In addition, admission requirements for graduate study in speech-language pathology include:

• an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0;
• an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.5 in courses in communication disorders;
• completed 25 hours of guided observation; 
• be able to provide current vaccination records and pass a criminal background check.

Students who do not meet these requirements may be considered for provisional or probationary admissions at the discretion of the graduate program advisor and faculty of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. A bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology or a closely related field, accompanied by the appropriate leveling coursework, is required. Applicants with adjacent degrees or outdated coursework may be subject to additional evaluation and may need to complete supplementary coursework to meet program standards.

Curriculum Requirements

The M.S. degree in Speech-Language Pathology requires 41 credit hours consisting of 35 coursework credit hours and 6 clinical practicum credit hours. Students begin their supervised clinical work in the University’s speech and hearing clinic with subsequent practica at various off-campus facilities. Speech-language pathology graduate students are assigned two offsite practicum placements during the last semester of their master’s program - one in a hospital and/or rehabilitation setting and one in a pediatric/educational setting. Students must be in good standing within the department prior to placement in offsite clinical practice. 

Prospective speech-language pathology graduate students are required to begin the master’s program in the fall semester because coursework is sequential and comprehensive. Students are required to purchase and participate in an electronic national exam preparation system to prepare for passing the national examination, an online tracking system for client contact hours and Simucase, which consists of virtual case studies in speech-language pathology. In addition, students must successfully complete a comprehensive examination to qualify for graduation with an M.S. in speech-language pathology.