MA in Speech-Language Pathology Prerequisites

Prerequisites for Beginning Graduate Work

Preparatory Course Content Areas

Program directors from programs accredited by the Council for Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) have the authority to accept or reject previously completed coursework. Preparatory course requirements include these sciences, with no strict lab requirements:

Preparatory Course Minimum credits
Statistics (must include hypothesis testing)
At least 3 credits
Social/Behavioral Sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, or anthropology)
At least 2 credits
Biological Sciences (e.g., human or animal sciences)
At least 2 credits
Physical Sciences (must be physics or chemistry)
At least 2 credits

Foundations of Practice & Introductory Discipline Courses

  • SLHS 3302: Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech & Hearing Mechanisms
  • SLHS 3303: Language Acquisition & Science
  • SLHS 3304: Phonetics
  • SLHS 3305W: Speech Science
  • SLHS 4301: Introduction to the Neuroscience of Human Communication
  • SLHS 4402: Clinical Methods in Speech-Language Pathology
  • SLHS 4801: Clinical Methods in Assessing Auditory Function and Disorders
  • SLHS 4802: Clinical Methods for Treating Hearing Disorders
Students who have not completed courses in the Preparatory Course Content Areas or Foundations of Practice & Introductory Discipline Courses are eligible to apply. Students applying without these prerequisites will be considered for a three-year plan as opposed to the traditional two-year plan.

Course Substitutions

Courses with equivalent content taken at other institutions can be substituted for these courses. In some instances, the content of a course may have been distributed across two courses or more in the student’s undergraduate program. For instance, some programs blend courses such as SLHS 3302 (Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech & Hearing Mechanism) and SLHS 3305W (Speech Science) into one course. The determination of equivalence rests with the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with relevant faculty.