Speech-Pathology (MA)

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements of the Graduate School, students seeking admission to the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology must be recommended for admission to the graduate program by the Graduate Admissions Committee of the Department of Communication Disorders. The Committee evaluates each applicant based on grade point averages, letter of intent, and three recommendations (at least two of which must come from a faculty member who taught the applicant in a communicative disorders course if the undergraduate degree is in communicative disorders). The departmental Graduate Admissions Committee may ask applicants to schedule personal interviews. Only those students who can demonstrate strong potential for completing all degree requirements are accepted into the program. The Graduate Admissions Committee will review only those applications that are submitted by January 15th. Students are admitted to the graduate program only in the Fall Quarter of each academic year.

Admission requirements include the following specific grade point averages on undergraduate work:

1. For applicants who possess a baccalaureate degree in pre-professional speech-language pathology: overall GPA of 3.2 (on a 4.0 system), with minimum of 3.2 on speech-language pathology coursework.
2. For applicants without a baccalaureate degree in pre-professional speech-language pathology: overall GPA of 3.2 (on a 4.0 system), with minimum of 3.2 on last 30 semester hours completed.

Prior to application, students who lack a baccalaureate degree in speech-language pathology must complete 19 specified hours of undergraduate coursework in speech-language pathology. For specific course requirements, contact the Department of Communication Disorders.

Graduation

The minimum number of graduate semester hours required for the Master’s degree in Speech Pathology is 36. However, additional credit hours may be required to complete clinical practicum requirements. The student with an undergraduate degree in speech-language-hearing typically requires two years of full-time study (including at least one summer) to complete all degree requirements. A student who does not hold an undergraduate degree in speech-language-hearing is expected to satisfy any course deficiencies prior to application to the graduate program to meet the academic and clinical requirements of the ASHA. All courses necessary to satisfy any deficiencies are offered in the Department of Communication Disorders. Graduate students in Speech Pathology will complete a thesis or non-thesis degree plan.

All degree candidates must register for and pass SPCH 585: Comp Exam in Speech-Lang Path , both written and oral parts. A maximum of two attempts is allowed. Students who fail to pass the written and/or oral section on the second attempt will be dismissed from the program.

Professional Certification

• Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology Certificate