Candidates for admission to the master's program in speech-language pathology are required to hold a four-year bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an accredited institution. An undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders is not a requirement. Qualified students from all backgrounds are encouraged to submit applications.
The length of the program may vary depending on the undergraduate background of the student. For instance, if you have a bachelor's degree in another field, it will take six semesters to complete the program. The prerequisites are:
Speech and Language Science
Audiology and Hearing Science
Functional Anatomy and Physiology
Language Development
Phonetics and Phonology
If admitted, you will receive an individualized academic plan. The above courses may be taken prior applying to the program or as part of your graduate program. Twenty-five (25) observation hours must be acquired before starting clinic work. Hours must be verified by an ASHA certified SLP with original signatures.
The final formative assessment for the MS degree is an oral presentation of a single case from an array of 6 cases that are provided to you in your first semester of the graduate program. The guidelines and rubric for scoring the oral presentation accompany the case studies. Completing a formal master's thesis (experimental study) is not an option. However, students who may be interested in pursuing a research path in their career have the option of becoming involved in projects that utilize the research process with individual faculty as part of their studies. This would be in addition to completing the oral examination.
