Speech-Language Pathology, M.S.

1. The Master of Science degree in SLP requires that the student satisfactorily complete an integrated program with a minimum of 75 semester hours (including combined undergraduate and graduate courses). The Master of Science (non-thesis) program includes 40 graduate hours of required coursework plus clinical practicum. (Specific coursework and practicum categories follow.) The Master of Science thesis program includes 40 graduate hours of required coursework, up to six thesis hours, and a clinical practicum. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in the graduate program in order to remain in the program and complete the degree.
2. Following is a listing of academic coursework and clinical practicum requirements:

Academic Coursework: 75 semester credit hours (SCH)

A.Basic Science Coursework/Basic Sciences
Transcript credit for each of the following areas: biological sciences, physical sciences, social/behavioral sciences, and statistics

B. Basic Human Communication Processes
Must have knowledge of basic human communication and swallowing processes, including their biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural bases. Must have undergraduate speech and hearing transcript credit.

C. Professional Coursework
Must demonstrate knowledge of the nature of speech, language, hearing, and communication disorders and differences and swallowing disorders, including the etiologies, characteristics, anatomical/physiological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural correlates. Specific knowledge must be demonstrated in the following areas:

• articulation
• fluency
• voice and resonance
• receptive and expressive language in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and manual modalities
• hearing
• swallowing
• cognitive aspects of communication
• social aspects of communication
• communication modalities

Supervised Clinical Observation and Practicum: 400 clock hours (CH)

1. Clinical Observation (25 CH)
2. Clinical Practicum (375 total CH)
3. 325 CH at graduate level in SLP

3. Graduate SLP students must pass the departmental comprehensive examination for graduation with the M.S. degree. Students typically take this examination during the Fall semester of their second year of the program. Students in the thesis program submit an accepted thesis in lieu of taking a comprehensive exam. Meeting these requirements in a timely manner helps to ensure that students will meet the expected May graduation date.

Available Graduate Tracks

There are two tracks available for Speech-Language Pathology graduate students in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders.

Non-Thesis Track
Non-Thesis Track is available for students interested in pursuing a professional career in Speech-Language Pathology. Students in the Non-Thesis Track are required to complete a comprehensive examination that consists of a case-based and a multiple choice exam taken during the semester before the final externship.

Thesis Track
The Thesis Track is available for students who are primarily interested in research in communication disorders and/or interested in pursuing a doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology or a related field.