Master of Arts Degree Program Options
The Master of Arts Degree program offers two options:

  • Plan A: This plan consists of required coursework and elective coursework, supervised clinical practicum, a three-credit full-time internship and the successful completion of a capstone project during the final semester of enrollment.
  • Plan B: this plan consists of required and elective coursework, supervised clinical practicum, a six-credit full-time internship, and the successful completion of a capstone project during the final semester of enrollment.


Requirements Plan A - Thesis Plan B - Internship
Thesis SLP 798 - 6 credit hours N/A
*Full-time Internship
SLP 795 - 3 credit hours
SLP - 6 credit hours
Required Courses SLP 632, 638, 704, 708, 713, 714, 717, 722, 734, 735, 736, 739 -- 
36 credit hours		 SLP 632, 638, 704, 708, 713, 714, 717, 722, 734, 735, 736, 739 --
36 credit hours
Practicum
SLP 749 -- 15 credit hours
SLP 749 -- 15 credit hours
Electives
 5 credit hours (can use SLP 795 for 3 of these)
 5 credit hours
Total Credit Hours 62
 62

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


Courses/Course Descriptions

Required Courses (36 credit hour courses, 15 hours practicum)

Summer II

SLP 632 (3) - Counseling Issues in Communication Disorders

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.

SLP 704 (3) - Language Disorders in Preschool Children

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

SLP 713 (3) - Voice/Resonance Disorders/Laryngectomee Rehabilitation

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.

Fall

SLP 717 (3) - Aphasia

Study of assessment and treatment of aphasia and right hemisphere disorders. Specific topics include neuroanatomical bases for language, neurology, clinical research design, ethical service delivery, and patient/family counseling. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program in speech-language pathology.

SLP 739 (3) - Stuttering

Overt and covert characteristics of stuttering behavior including their prevention, etiology, and modification. Prerequisites: Admission to the graduate program in speech-language pathology.

SLP 736 (3) - Speech Sound Disorders in Children

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

SLP 749 (3) - Clinical Practicum

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 CSD graduate courses.

Spring

SLP 708 (3) - Language Disorders in School-Age Children

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; CSD 704

SLP 735 (3) - Augmentative and Alternative Communication

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.

SLP 638 (3) - Seminar: Adult and Pediatric Swallowing and Feeding

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

SLP 749 (3) - Clinical Practicum

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 CSD graduate courses.

Summer I

Elective (2-3)

SLP 749 (3) - Clinical Practicum

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 CSD graduate courses.

Summer II

SLP 749 (3) - Clinical Practicum (Full- or Part-Time Summer Specialty Clinics)

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 CSD graduate courses.

Fall 

SLP 714 (3) - Motor Speech Disorders

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.

SLP 722 (3) - Cognitive Communication Disorders of Dementia and TBI

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

Elective Course (See options below)

SLP 749 (3) - Clinical Practicum

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 CSD graduate courses.

Spring

SLP 795 (3-6) – Internship

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

SLP 798 (6) – Thesis (optional)

Complete a thesis directed by a committee in conformity with university’s thesis guidelines. CR/NC only. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program in speech-language pathology.

Electives (5 hours needed)

Should be selected from the following in consultation with student's academic advisor.

CSD 512 - Supporting Students with Literacy Disorders 

Offered Fall and Summer I semesters. 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.

CSD 525 (3) - Research Design in Communication Disorders 

Note: Required if equivalent course not taken at the undergraduate level.
Offered Fall and Spring semesters. 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: Signed CSD major or minor; or graduate status in speech-language pathology or audiology.

CSD 551 (3) - Autism Spectrum Disorders; A Clinical Focus 

Offered Fall and Spring semesters. This course examines clinical procedures and evidence-based practice for assessment of intervention in communication skills of clients with autism spectrum disorders. Prerequisites: Signed CSD major or minor; or graduate status in speech-language pathology or audiology.

CSD 537 (1-6) - Special Topics in Communication Sciences and Disorders 

Could be offered any semester. 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 six credits when content does not duplicate previous special topics studies. Prerequisite: Determined specific to the topic presented. See Class Schedule.

CSD 637 (1-9) – Advanced Special Topics in Communication Sciences and Disorders

Could be offered any semester. 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 six credits when content does not duplicate previous special topics studies. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program in speech-language pathology.

SLP 790 (1-9) - Advanced Independent Study

Offered every semester. 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.