Speech Pathology (M.S.)
Administered by Audiology and Speech Pathology
Effective Fall, 2008
Admission. In addition to meeting the general admission requirements for the School of Graduate Studies, applicants for the master's degree program in speech pathology must meet the following requirements:
Applicants are required to submit a one-page, typed letter detailing their professional background, experience and rationale for wanting to be admitted to the program in speech pathology.
Applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation from references who have knowledge of their academic and/or clinical background. This information must include the name, address, position and telephone number of each reference.
Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a major in communication disorders and a minimum QPA of 2.8. Applicants must provide up-to-date transcripts. If a student is still completing undergraduate course work, they must indicate (a) the name/titles of the courses being completed, and (b) the expected date of completion. Applicants whose major is in an area other than communication disorders will be required to satisfactorily complete certain academic and practicum deficiencies. These will be prescribed by faculty following analysis of the individual's transcript.
The Graduate Record Examination is required of all applicants. Typically, successful students have had approximate scores of Verbal, 450; Quantitative, 450; Analytical writing, 4.0
Deadline for submission of all application materials is February 15. Applications are only accepted for Fall semester enrollment.
Retention. Graduate students must maintain a QPA of 3.0 with no more than one grade lower than a B- throughout the graduate program. If a grade lower than a B- is earned in the final Clinic course prior to externship (72.576), the course must be repeated with a grade of B or higher prior to enrolling in a field experience. If a grade lower than a B- is earned in a field experience (72.584 or 72.586), the course must be repeated. To progress in the graduate program, students must maintain an adequate academic standing and adhere to the department suitability clause.
Graduation. The graduate program in speech pathology consists of a minimum of 55 semester hours with most courses being required. A Master's Thesis option (6 credits) is available and may be completed as part of the minimum 55 credit requirement. Clinical experience is considered necessary and inseparable from the existing course sequence. It becomes an important step in the development of a competent clinician, linking theory with clinical experience, and preparing for certification and eventual employment in the field.
Required Courses
72.550 Aphasia
72.552 Language Disorders in Preschool Children
72.554 Fluency Disorders
72.556 Disorders of Phonology and Articulation
72.558 Clinical Practicum and Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology I
72.560 Voice Disorders
72.562 Language Disorders in School-aged Children
72.564 Craniofacial Disorders
72.565 Motor Speech Disorders
72.566 Clinical Practicum and Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology II
72.570 Cognitive Based Language Disorders
72.572 Augmentative and Alternative Communication
72.574 Clinical Instrumentation in Speech Pathology
72.576 Clinical Practicum and Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology III
72.581 Swallowing I: Anatomy, Physiology, Disorders
72.582 Research in Speech and Language Pathology
72.583 Swallowing II: Assessment and Management
72.584 Field Experience in Speech Language Pathology I
72.586 Field Experience in Speech Language Pathology II
Thesis Option
72.599 Master's Thesis
The thesis may substitute for six credits of required coursework. Courses that may not be substituted include 72.582, 72.558, 72.566, 72.576, 72.584, and 72.586 The substitution of a thesis for six credits of academic coursework will have no effect on the content or credit requirement for American Speech-Language-Hearing Association certification.
Speech/Language Pathology Faculty and Clinical Staff
Shaheen N. Awan, Ph.D., Professor of Speech Pathology; Voice, research (Vocology); speech science.
Robert J. Lowe, Ph.D., Professor of Speech Pathology; Phonology, phonetics
J. Joneen Lowman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor of Speech Pathology; Child language disorders
Pamela A. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Speech Pathology; Traumatic brain injury, aphasia, orofacial disorders of speech.
Sharon Blake, M.S., CCC-SLP Clinical Staff
Jody Siep, M.S., CCC-SLP Clinical Staff (CSIU)
Peggy Snyder, M.S., CCC-SLP Clinical Staff
Carrie Vitko, M.S., CCC-SLP Clinical Staff
Anita Wasileski, M.S., CCC-SLP Clinical Staff
Cindy Yocum, M.S. CCC-SLP Clinical Staff