Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

General Information about The Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology

The department offers both the Master of Science (MS) and Master of Arts (MA) degrees in speech-language pathology. The MA degree requires standard proficiency in one approved foreign language. The MS degree has no foreign-language competency requirements. Typically students choose the MS option. For additional information, see the Graduate Information section of the University Catalog.

Admission Information

Application for admission includes:

  1. Submission of undergraduate transcripts
  2. GRE scores
  3. A personal career statement
  4. Sample of scholarly or creative writing (2-10 pages)
  5. Three letters of recommendation.

Applicants whose native language is not English must also submit scores for both the TOEFL and TSE. A minimum score of 600 (paper-based) or 250 (computer-based) is required on the TOEFL, and a minimum of 45 is required on the TSE.

Admission Information for Non-matriculated Graduate Students

Non-matriculated students are those graduate students that have been provisionally admitted with a Bachelors’ Degree in something other than Communication Sciences and Disorders. Although an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders is not a prerequisite for admission into our graduate program, it is a preparatory program for the master's degree. Thus, those who enter our graduate program from other professions are required to complete a series of prerequisite undergraduate classes before full admittance to the graduate program. NOTE: The CSD prerequisite requirements are mandated by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

While it is intended that the majority of these prerequisite courses be completed prior to application to the graduate program, you may choose to complete up to three courses as deficiency requirements after acceptance into the graduate program. Please see the Director of Graduate Studies for advising.

I. 15 Credit Hours of "Normal Communication:"

  • CSD 3100 Phonetics
  • CSD 3120 Anatomy and Physiology
  • CSD 4400 Language Science
  • CSD 5380 Language Development

  • CSD 4200 Hearing Science (for Au.D. students) or CSD 4300 Speech Science (for Speech-Language Students)

II. Courses in Hearing Disorders and Rehabilitation:

  • CSD 4500 Hearing Disorders and Evaluation

  • CSD 5520 Aural Habilitation / Rehabilitation

III. Twelve Allied Course Credits:

Allied courses must include three credits in each of the following four areas:

  • Statistics (e.g., elementary statistics, statistics for the behavioral sciences, etc.)
  • Physical Science (e.g., physics, chemistry, etc.)
  • Biological Science (e.g., biology, general anatomy & physiology, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, genetics, etc.)
  • Social and Behavioral Science (e.g., psychology, sociology, cultural anthropology, etc.)

Thesis and Non-thesis Options

Non-thesis Option

  • The nonthesis option requires clinical experience as mandated by ASHA 
  • All courses listed in the Graduate Course Outline are required
  • Students are required to take the national exam (Praxis Exam) in speech-langague pathology or audiology

Thesis Option

  • The nonthesis option requires research experience. Clinical experience is also required for certification by the ASHA. 
  • Register for thesis credit (CSD 6970) in the semester in which the thesis is defended and one additinal semester; register for a total of 6 credits over the course of your master's program.
  • Work on thesis is encouraged prior to registration for credit.
  • Students may be allowed to substitute two requireed courses (6 credits) for the six thesis credits. The specific courses being substituted MUST be chosen in consultation with the student's thesis committee.

Clinic Practicum

  • Clients are typically scheduled between 8am and 7pm on Mondays – Thursdays and between 8am and 4pm on Fridays.
  • Times are determined by the Clinic Director, according to client needs.
  • Unavailability to meet with clients at necessary times may necessitate scheduling clinic in additional semesters and may delay one’s externships and graduation.

Clinical Externships

  • Two externships are required (more may be completed if desired). Typcially students complete one school and one medical externship.
  • Minimum requirements for each of the two required externships:  a) 3 to 5 full-days per week for 10 weeks or b) 2 full-days per week for 15 weeks.
  • Specific externship sites may have additional time requirements.
  • Externships may begin after the semester in which 200 “in-house” clinic hours are completed, based on the approval of Clinic Director.

Certification

  • ASHA certification in speech-language pathology or audiology requires specific graduate course work and clinical experiences. The Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders is an accredited program and and we meet ASHA requirements for certification.
  • For specific state and national certification requirements, contact the department office.

Graduate Program Statistics

RESIDENCE PROGRAM COMPLETION RATE (%):

  SLP Au.D.
Most Recent Year 88 100
Prior Year 93 88
Two Years Prior 89 100
Average 90 96

EMPLOYMENT RATE IN PROFESSION (%):

  SLP Au.D.
Most Recent Year 100 100
Prior Year 100 100
Two Years Prior 100 100
Average 100 100

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM, PRAXIS PASS RATES (%):

  SLP Au.D.
Current Year # of students taking 25 2
Current Year # of students passed 25 2
Prior Year # of students taking 21 2
Prior Year # of student passed 21 2