Master of Arts
in Speech-Language Pathology

Program Requirements: General

Please see the "Course Descriptions" link at left for detailed descriptions of the courses mentioned below.

Semester Hours

1. The M.A. Program in SLP offers students two options:
   • Option I - M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology
     
     
   • Option II - M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology with Teacher Certification
   
   
   
2. Students taking Option I require a minimum of 56 semester hours of graduate work taken within the department. Students taking Option II require a minimum of 61 semester hours of graduate work taken within the department. Students who have completed a 3 semester hour undergraduate course in aural rehabilitation are required to complete only 4 graduate level semester hours of audiology. All other students are required to complete 7 semester hours in audiology including aural rehabilitation.

Thesis

Within each of the programs of study, a student chooses either a Master's Thesis or non-thesis track. The Master's Thesis track requires SPCH 301-302 as part of the M.A. degree requirement. Regardless of the track chosen, a comprehensive examination must be taken in the student's final semester of study under advisement of the Graduate Program Director. The Comprehensive Examination is offered three times each academic year.

Clinical Observation

Each student must complete 25 hours of supervised clinical observation prior to registering for graduate clinical practica. A minimum of 375 clock hours of clinical practica are required at the graduate level with at least one practicum scheduled during a fall or spring semester.

• Within the first year of study, speech-language pathology students must complete at least 20 hours of clinical work in audiology.

Each student must provide documentation of: inoculation for measles/mumps, rubella, hepatitis B and, annually, documentation of a negative TB test and physical examination.

General Program Policies

1. All semester hours after acceptance must be completed in residence. The M.A. degree shall be completed within a five-year period from the date of completion of the student's first M.A. level course, excluding SPCH 235 and SPCH 235L.
   
   
2. All programs of study in speech-language pathology must be designed under advisement by a faculty advisor.
   
   
3. All part-time students are strongly encouraged to complete at least 6 semester hours per semester.
   
   
4. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 average throughout their course of study. Any student falling below a 3.0 average will be placed on probation. A probationary status may not be maintained for more than one semester, inclusive of summer sessions. Any student who fails a required course in the program is subject to dismissal.
   
   Students who obtain a grade of C or less in disorders courses (i.e. courses that focus on professional content) may be required to repeat the course, as determined by the Graduate Director. Both grades will appear on the student's record. A course may be repeated only once. A student who obtains a grade of C or less on the repeat course is subject to dismissal from the graduate program.
   
   
5. Students who have accumulated 2 or more incomplete grades at the start of a semester, including summer sessions, may not begin clinical practicum. Clinical practica in students' minor area are excluded from this policy.
   
   Students who have an incomplete grade for any clinic course in the major area may begin the next clinic practicum in the sequence only after the incomplete clinic grade has been eliminated and a satisfactory letter grade has been assigned.
   
   
6. All students are required to complete successfully the comprehensive examination during the last full semester of graduate study. Applicants for the examination must file within the first month of the semester in which they plan to take the examination.
   
   
7. Continuation in the M..A. program requires satisfactory interpersonal behavior and professional performance in clinical practica, with no documented reports of unprofessional or unethical conduct.

Further Information

For further information regarding the graduate program and scholarships, contact: Carole Ferrand, Ph.D., Graduate Program Director.