MA in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, Speech-Language Pathology

The MA in speech-language pathology degree is designed to prepare students for careers in clinical service delivery in speech-language pathology. Most graduates of the master's program hold clinical positions in schools, hospitals, community clinics, private practices, and other facilities around the country where they evaluate and treat individuals with communication disorders.

Our information sessions for Fall 2024 entry have concluded. If you would like more information, please email [email protected].

Mission of the MA in Speech-Language Pathology

The master's program combines academic coursework and clinical education experiences in the environment of a major research university where faculty are actively engaged in pursuing questions that have clinical relevance and impact. Master's students have opportunities to collaborate with faculty in research experiences in addition to fulfilling the requirements for professional practice.

The learning outcomes of our program's coursework and clinical practice are:

• Students will apply principles of evidence-based practice to their clinical service delivery.
• Students will apply principles of the ASHA code of ethics to entry-level practice.
• Students will have the oral and written language skills necessary to engage in entry-level clinical practice.

These outcomes are directly related to our objective of educating students for entry-level clinical excellence, as well as for our emphasis on research.

The MA program in speech-language pathology is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Because our program is accredited, students who complete the master's programs in speech-language pathology are eligible for clinical certification by ASHA.

Clinical certification is granted to an individual clinician after they have done all of the following:

• Completed the MA program
• Passed a national certification test in speech-language pathology
• Completed a clinical fellowship (CF) under the supervision of a clinician who holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA in the appropriate professional area

Degree Progress

Students enrolled in our MA-SLP program are expected to participate in person, full-time. Students who enter the program having completed most or all of the required prerequisite coursework are expected to enroll for 4 semesters (fall/spring across 2 years) and students who enter the program who need to initially complete prerequisite coursework will enroll for 6 semesters (fall/spring across 3 years). Students are expected to engage in clinical practica during the summers in between each academic year. MA-SLP students are expected to be present in-person during the duration of the program.

Speech-Language Pathology graduate students complete academic coursework and clinical practicum concurrently. Practicum placements vary on a semester basis. Students start practicum with clinicians in our internal Julia M. Davis Speech-Language-Hearing Science Center. For external practicum, we work with a range of sites: schools, private practice, hospitals, rehab centers, skilled nursing facilities, etc. For more information about practicum sites, download our list of recent practicum sites.

Outline for MA-SLP Degree Progress