Program Description
Hofstra University’s master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology prepares students to become professional, competent clinicians who provide services to children and adults with communication disorders. The program is designed to meet the standards of the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), 2200 Research Boulevard #310, Rockville, Maryland 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.
The program prepares graduates to work in a variety of settings, including preschools, special education programs, public and private schools, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, developmental centers, acute and sub-acute care settings, and private practices. Our academic and clinical programs prepare graduate students to evaluate and treat communication and swallowing disorders in individuals throughout the life span.
The MA is a 52 credit program. The curriculum includes course work in basic communication processes and communicative development across the lifespan; the nature of communication and swallowing disorders and differences; principles and methods of prevention, assessment, and intervention; professional and ethical standards of conduct; principles of research and evidence-based practice; and knowledge of contemporary professional issues.
Clinical work and laboratory experiences complement academic course work. All students complete an initial clinical practicum at the Joan and Arnold Saltzman Community Services Center, which houses the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. The Clinic is a full service center which offers assessment and treatment services for individuals with a wide range of communication disorders. The Clinic is staffed by certified audiologists and speech-language pathologists who provide intensive supervision of student interns. Students also complete external clinical placements in educational, pediatric, and/or adult settings. These clinical experiences are designed to build student competencies in the evaluation and treatment of a wide variety of communication disorders across the lifespan.
The MA program offers students two options:
- Option 1 MA in Speech-Language Pathology
- Option 2 MA in Speech-Language Pathology with Teacher Certification as Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD)
Students taking Option 1 complete a minimum of 52 semester hours of graduate work taken within the department. Students taking Option 2 complete all requirements for Option 1 plus an additional 5 semester hours of course work for a minimum of 57 semester hours. All students are required to complete 25 hours of supervised clinical observation prior to registering for graduate clinical practica. A minimum of 375 of clinical contact hours are obtained at the graduate level.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many credits is the MA program?
- The MA program for Speech-Language Pathology is 52 credits
- The MA program for Speech-Language Pathology with Teacher Certification is 57 credits
- The bilingual extension includes all requirements for ii) above plus an additional 6 credits for a total of 63 credits
- How long does it take to complete the MA?
The full-time MA program for options i) and ii) takes 2 years including 2 winter sessions and 1 summer session. - What are the requirements for applying to the program?
- BA in Communication Sciences and disorders, or the appropriate prerequisite course work;
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0;
- Three academic (faculty) letters from the undergraduate program or from instructors of prerequisite course work;
- Personal statement of no more than 500 words.
- Is it possible to complete the MA program on a part-time basis?
For part-time basis you need approval from the Graduate Program Director. - How should I go about registering for prerequisite courses?
Submit an application for non-matriculated status, available from the Office of Graduate Admissions.