Elaine DeRoover,
Room 4489, CHHS Bldg.

John M. Hanley,
Room 4470, CHHS Bldg.

Gary D. Lawson,
Room 4488, CHHS Bldg.

The Master of Arts in Speech Pathology and Audiology, which is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), provides academic and practicum experiences basic to the development of clinical competence in the evaluation and treatment of language, speech, and hearing disorders.  Students are generally expected to meet the standards for certification of clinical competence by ASHA.  The master’s degree program consists of a minimum of fifty credit hours.  Supervised clinical practice is required during every term of full-time registration and includes at least two assignments to off-campus practicum sites, in addition to regular evaluation and therapy responsibilities in the Charles Van Riper Language, Speech and Hearing Clinic.

Admission Requirements

Students are admitted for full-time study beginning only in the Fall semester.  Admission decisions are announced on March 15, April 30, and July 15; applicants are advised to complete the application process as early as possible.  Not every applicant who meets minimum admission requirements can be admitted; the department reserves discretion in admission of the most highly qualified applicants.  Specific admission requirements are outlined below:

1. A grade point average of at least 3.0 in the last sixty credit hours of undergraduate study.
2. Completion of an undergraduate major, or equivalent undergraduate course sequence, in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.  The student who has not completed these requirements as an undergraduate will need to do so before enrolling in departmental graduate courses.
   1. Undergraduate preparation must include at least fifteen semester hours (or equivalent) in courses that provide information on basic human communication processes.  There should be at least one course in phonetics, one course in speech and language development, and one course in the science of speech and hearing.
   2. Undergraduate preparation must also include at least twelve semester hours (or equivalent) in courses that provide basic information on speech, language, and hearing disorders.
3. A grade point average of at least 3.00 in all undergraduate speech pathology and audiology course work.
4. Completion of at least twelve semester hours (or equivalent) of basic science course work, including courses in (a) biological and physical science, (b) mathematics, and (c) behavioral and social science.  The student who has not completed this course work as an undergraduate will need to so as a graduate student in order to meet ASHA standards for clinical certification.
5. Submission of scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination.
6. Evidence of personal and professional qualifications considered necessary for successful professional practice, as reflected in:
   1. Three letters of recommendation from individuals able to comment on the applicant’s academic and practicum achievements and potential for successful graduate work.
   2. Responses to a departmental questionnaire-application.