Program Objectives
Our Master of Science (MS) in Speech-Language Pathology program combines academics with clinical experience to prepare highly trained speech-language pathologists.
You have the option to complete a thesis. You will also have clinical experiences every term — both on and off campus — beginning with structured observations of assessment and intervention procedures
Graduation Requirements
Our Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program requires 67 credit hours to complete.
You must have a cumulative academic GPA of 3.0 or greater and successfully complete the comprehensive examination.
Thesis students must successfully complete the thesis process in lieu of passing a comprehensive examination.
All master’s degree requirements must be completed within 48 months from the beginning of the first term in which a full-time student is enrolled in the program.
Review the course catalog for our most up-to-date curriculum information.
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First year
Fall term
- SLP - 506L Clinical Methods Lab (Credits: 1)
- SLP - 537L Anatomy Lab (Credits: 2)
- SLP - 521 Language Disorders in Children I: Birth Through Age 5 (Credits: 3)
- CHS - 610 Research Methods in Health Sciences (online) (Credits: 2)
- SLP - 526 Speech Sound Disorders (Credits: 2)
- AUD - 606 Introduction to Neuroscience (Credits: 3)
- SLP - 511P SLP Practicum I (Credits: 1)
- IPE 502 Interprofessional Patient Centered Teams (Credits: 0)
Spring term
- SLP - 522 Language Disorders in Children II: Age 6 through Adolescence (SLP - 521) (Credits: 3)
- SLP - 558 Dysphagia (SLP - 523L and SLP - 537L) (Credits: 3)
- SLP - 567 Dysarthria (SLP - 523L and SLP - 537L) (Credits: 3)
- SLP - 523L Instrumentation Lab (Concurrent registration with 558 & 567) (Credits: 1)
- SLP - 564 Aphasia (Credits: 3)
- SLP - 512P SLP Practicum II (Credits: 2)
- IPE 502 Interprofessional Patient Centered Teams (Credits: 0)
Summer term
- SLP - 568 Cognition of Acquired Language and Communication Disorders (Credits: 3)
- SLP - 563 Voice Disorders (Credits: 3)
- SLP - 524 Fluency, Dysfluency and Stuttering** (Credits: 2)
- SLP - 542L Tracheostomy and Ventilator Lab (SLP - 523L and SLP - 537L)** (Credits: 1)
- SLP - 503L Auditory Skills Lab for the Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP - 523L and SLP - 537L)** (Credits: 1)
- CDS - 576 Issues in Counseling** (Credits: 2)
- SLP - 513P Speech-Language Pathology Practicum III (Credits: 3)
Second year
Fall term
- SLP - 510 Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology** (Credits: 2)
- SLP - 582 Topics in Research Methods In Communication Disorders (Credits: 1)
- SLP - 562 Craniofacial Anomalies and Genetic Syndromes (SLP - 523L and SLP - 537L)** (Credits: 2)
- SLP - 535 Clinical Issues in Cultural and Language Diversity (Credits: 2)
- SLP - 540 Head and Neck Cancer Management (SLP - 523L and SLP - 537L)** (Credits: 2)
- SLP - 592 Applied Topics in Communication Disorders (Credits: 1)
- SLP - 589P SLP Practicum IV (Credits: 4)
Spring term
- SLP - 590P SLP Practicum V (Credits: 9)
Program total: 67 credit hours
** Indicates course may be audited.
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Thesis students may deselect up to 8 credit hours of select coursework (see courses listed with two asterisks).
Deselected courses may be audited. Audited courses will appear on the student’s transcript without credit hours assigned.
The selection of the courses to remove from a student’s program of study is done with the approval of the student’s adviser, considering the individual’s undergraduate background and graduate needs and experiences.
Courses not audited are required to be taken for credit.
Clinic practicum hours may be altered. Students selecting the thesis option should schedule an appointment with the clinical education manager at the time they elect to complete a thesis to begin this planning.
The Summer Practicum (SLP Practicum 3) may be increased to 4 credit hours. The Spring Year 2 Practicum (SLP Practicum 5) may be reduced to 8 credit hours.
These practicum experiences will be scheduled either on campus or at select external sites to facilitate completion of the thesis.
Students may also seek additional practicum opportunities earlier in their academic programs to accelerate the achievement of the requisite number of contact hours.
Students who may potentially alter their practicum hours must be in frequent contact with the clinical education manager to monitor that the requisite contact hours needed for graduation are being attained.
Students who do not obtain the needed contact hours will register for additional credit during the following summer term so that this graduation requirement will be met.
First year
Fall term
- SLP - 506L Clinical Methods Lab (Credits: 1)
- SLP - 523L Instrumentation Lab (Credits: 1)
- SLP - 537L Anatomy Lab (Credits: 2)
- SLP - 521 Language Disorders in Children I: Birth Through Age Five (Credits: 3)
- CHS - 610 Research Methods in Health Sciences (Credits: 2)
- SLP - 564 Aphasia (Credits: 3)
- AUD - 606 Introduction to Neuroscience (Credits: 3)
- SLP - 511P SLP Practicum I (Credits: 1)
- IPE - 502 Interprofessional Patient Centered Teams (Credits: 0)
Spring term
- SLP - 522 Language Disorders in Children II: Age 6 Through Adolescence (Credits: 3)
- SLP - 558 Dysphagia (Credits: 3)
- SLP - 567 Dysarthria (Credits: 3)
- SLP - 568 Cognition of Acquired Language and Communication Disorders (Credits: 3)
- SLP - 582 Topics in Research Methods In Communication Disorders (Credits: 1)
- SLP - 512P Speech-Language Pathology Practicum II (Credits: 2)
- SLP - 900 Independent Study (Credits: 1-6)
- IPE - 502 Interprofessional Patient Centered Teams (Credits: 0)
Summer term
- ** SLP - 503L Auditory Skills Lab for the Speech-Language Pathologist Credit(s): 1
- SLP - 526 Speech Sound Disorders Credit(s): 2
- ** SLP - 540 Head and Neck Cancer Management Credit(s): 2
- ** SLP - 542L Tracheostomy and Ventilator Lab Ventilator Dependent Patients Credit(s): 1
- ** SLP - 524 Fluency, Dysfluency and Stuttering Credit(s): 2
- ** CDS - 576 Issues in Counseling Credit(s): 2
- SLP - 513P SLP Practicum III Credit(s): 3-6
- SLP - 598 Thesis Credit(s): 2
Second year
Fall term
- ** SLP - 510 Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology (Credits: 2)
- ** SLP - 562 Craniofacial Anomalies and Genetic Syndromes (Credits: 2)
- ** SLP - 535 Clinical Issues in Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (Credits: 2)
- SLP - 563 Voice Disorders (Credits: 2)
- SLP - 592 Applied Topics in Communication Disorders (Credits: 1)
- SLP - 589P SLP Practicum IV (Credits: 4)
- SLP - 598 Thesis (Credits: 2)
Spring term
- SLP - 590P SLP Practicum V (Credits: 8-10)
- SLP - 598 Thesis (Credits: 2)
Program total: 67 credit hours
** Indicates course may be audited.
Students in the thesis track will begin their research with Independent Study in Spring 1 (two credits) and continue with Thesis Research in Summer 1, Fall 2 and Spring 2 (two credits each).
A total of eight credit hours of independent study and thesis research will be accrued. Thesis-track students may audit a maximum of four credit hours per term in Summer 1 and Fall 2 to offset the credit hours attained through their thesis research.
Although up to eight credit hours of coursework may be audited, any eligible course not audited must be taken for credit to satisfy the program’s overall degree requirements.
Due to thesis-track students’ ability to audit up to eight credit hours, the number of credit hours required for graduation is equal for thesis and non-thesis students.
ASHA requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence
The academic coursework and clinical education hours required by ASHA for the Certificate of Clinical Competence is described online.
Students are responsible for reviewing this information and their undergraduate and graduate coursework to ensure the requirements will be met.
If a deficiency exists, it is best to identify it early so that appropriate plans can be made. Students should review their coursework with their academic advisers during the first term of enrollment.
View the current course catalog
Refer to the course catalog for our most up-to-date curriculum information.