The Master of Arts Degree program offers two options:

  • Plan A: This plan consists of required and elective coursework, supervised clinical practicum, a three-credit full-time internship, and the successful completion of a master's thesis (six credit hours).
  • Plan B: This plan consists of required and elective coursework, supervised clinical practicum, a six-credit full-time internship.

Required Courses (48 hours)

​Review of theory and practice of counseling methods and techniques to be used by speech-language pathologists in clinical practice. Prerequisites: Admission to the graduate program in speech-language pathology. 

Credits 3(3-0) 

Contact Hours (3-0) 

Course Syllabus

Study of direct and indirect evaluation and treatment of swallowing disorders in patients with neuromuscular disorders, oral and pharyngeal cancer, and pediatric feeding disorders. Prerequisites: admission to the graduate program in speech-language pathology. 

Credits 3(3-0) 

Contact Hours (3-0) 

Course Syllabus

​Course includes identification, assessment of, and intervention for communication and language delays in children, with focus on three to five year age group. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program in speech-language pathology. 

Credits 3(3-0) 

Contact Hours (3-0) 

Course Syllabus

​Study of normal and disordered language and cognitive processes as they relate to school age children. Prerequisites: Admission to the graduate program in speech language pathology; CDO 704. 

Credits 3(3-0) 

Contact Hours (3-0) 

Course Syllabus

​This course covers etiology, evaluation, and treatment of persons with voice/resonance disorders and laryngectomies. Prerequisites: Admission to the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology. 

Credits 3(3-0) 

Contact Hours (3-0) 

Course Syllabus

Advanced study in the diagnosis and treatment of motor speech disorders in children and adults. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program in speech-language pathology. 

Credits 3(3-0) 

Contact Hours (3-0) 

Course Syllabus

Assessment and treatment of aphasia and right hemisphere disorder. Topics include neuroanatomical bases for language, neurology, clinical research design, ethical service delivery, and patient/family counseling. Prerequisites: Admission to the graduate program in Speech- Language Pathology. 

Credits 3(3-0) 

Contact Hours (3-0) 

Course Syllabus

​Assessment and treatment of cognitive-communicative disorders of dementia and traumatic brain injury as within the scope of practice for speech-language pathologists. Prerequisites: Admission to the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology. 

Credits 3(3-0) 

Contact Hours (3-0) 

Course Syllabus

​Assessment and treatment of communications disorders resulting from multiple deficits originating from neurological, neuromuscular, sensory, and cognitive disorders. Verbal and nonverbal management approaches are considered. Prerequisites: Admission to the graduate program in SLP. 

Credits 3(3-0) 

Contact Hours (3-0) 

Course Syllabus

​Advanced study of the diagnosis and treatment of articulation and phonological disorders in children. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology. 

Credits 3(3-0) 

Contact Hours (3-0) 

Course Syllabus

​Overt and covert characteristics of stuttering behavior including their prevention, etiology, and modification. Prerequisites: Admission to the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology. 

Credits 3(3-0) 

Contact Hours (3-0) 

Course Syllabus

​Experience in clinical practices and applicable documentation with various types of clinical profiles in different settings inclusive of educational and medical speech-language pathology. Up to 15 credits earned in this course will not count in the variable credit total. Prerequisites: Admission to the graduate program in speech-language pathology, completion of 25 hours of clinical observation under the supervision of an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist, and a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in the CDO graduate courses. 

Credits 1-15(Spec) 

Contact Hours (Spec)

Note: 
  • Fifteen (15) hours of SLP 749 is required. Each full-time graduate student is expected to enroll in clinical practicum each semester for three (3) credits beginning with the first Fall Semester of enrollment.
  • Participation in the Summer Speech-Language Specialty Clinics is required during the summer following the first year in the graduate program.
  • Practicum coursework includes obtaining clock hours with clients. These clock hours are based upon student need as determined by the Director of Clinical Instruction and Speech-Language Pathology Services.

Additional Requirement - Select one of the following capstone experiences:

​SLP 795 Internship* 

Full-time clinical experience with an approved supervisor in hospital, private practice, school, or other appropriate setting. CR/NC only. Prerequisites: admission to the graduate program in speech-language pathology. 

Credits 3(Spec)

Contact Hours (Spec) 

Course Syllabus 


SLP 798 Thesis 

Complete a thesis directed by a committee in conformity with university’s thesis guidelines. CR/NC only. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Three of these credit hours can be used as elective hours.

Credits 6(Spec) 

Contact Hours (Spec) 

Course Syllabus

​SLP 795 Internship* 

Full-time clinical experience with an approved supervisor in hospital, private practice, school, or other appropriate setting. CR/NC only. Prerequisites: admission to the graduate program in speech-language pathology. 

Credits 6(Spec) 

Contact Hours (Spec) 

Course Syllabus

* Full-time internship = 36+ hours/week, a minimum of 14 weeks.

Electives (8 hours) Should be selected from the following in consultatioin with your academic advisor.

​Learn how the foundations of literacy are built on oral language and how to assess and remediate literacy issues. Prerequisites: 55 credit hours completed or graduate status. 

Credits 3(3-0) 

Contact Hours (3-0) 

Course Syllabus

Study of critical evaluation of scientific literature. Research in evidence-based practice related to clinical decision-making. Exploration of quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods in research design procedures. Prerequisites: A Signed CDO/CSD major or minor; STA 282QR or STA 382QR or PSY 211QR; or admission to the graduate program in Speech- Language Pathology or Audiology. 

Credits 3(3-0) 

Contact Hours (3-0) 

Course Syllabus

​Selected topics/problems/current issues of interest not normally included in existing courses. Current topic(s) are listed in the semester Class Schedule. Repeatable up to 6 credits when content does not duplicate previous special topics studies. Prerequisites: Determined specific to the topic presented. See Class Schedule. 

Credits 1-6(Spec) 

Contact Hours (Spec)

​This course examines evidence-based practices and clinical procedures for communication assessment and intervention of clients with autism spectrum disorders and social pragmatic communication disorders. Prerequisites: Signed CSD major or minor; or graduate status in speech- language pathology or audiology. 

Credits 3(3-0) 

Contact Hours (3-0) 

Course Syllabus

​Student-initiated study guided by a faculty member. Prerequisites: Admitted into the M.A. in speech-language pathology or Au.D.in audiology and in good-standing; permission of instructor; completion of Course Contract document. 

Credits 1-9(Spec) 

Contact Hours (Spec) 

Course Syllabus

​Current topics for each semester listed in Course Search and Registration. Maximum credit 9 hours. Prerequisite: admission to the graduate program in speech-language pathology. 

Credits 3(Spec) 

Contact Hours (Spec) 

Course Syllabus

​Operation and application of basic laboratory equipment used in acoustical research, and the reading and discussion of significant publications on phonetics. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program in speech-language pathology. 

Credits 3(3-0) 

Contact Hours (3-0) 

Course Syllabus

Total: 62 hours