Speech-Language Pathology Postgraduate Course Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide
Becoming a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is a rewarding career that requires commitment and dedication. Preparing for a speech-language pathology graduate program doesn’t need to be a stressful experience. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the requirements for postgraduate courses in speech-language pathology, covering various aspects from academic prerequisites to clinical experiences and application procedures.
Academic Prerequisites
Undergraduate Degree
As is the case when you pursue any graduate degree, you need to complete an undergraduate degree to enroll in an MS in SLP program. While some graduate programs require an undergraduate degree in the field of communication disorders, many do not. Admission to the Master of Science Education Program in Speech-Language Pathology is highly competitive. All students applying for admission to the graduate program must either 1) have completed a bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at an accredited college or university prior to the start of the master’s program, OR 2) hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution in a major other than Communication Sciences and Disorders and also have, or will have completed a post-baccalaureate (e.g. preparatory) equivalent of a Communication Sciences and Disorders degree (i.e.
Prerequisite Courses
In addition to earning an undergraduate degree, most master’s level programs require that you have completed specific prerequisite courses in order to enroll. If your undergraduate degree is in a field other than Communication Sciences & Disorders, you MUST have at least 21 credit hours of required undergraduate courses.Students must complete the following prerequisite coursework prior to entry into the program. A physical science course (i.e. Two social science courses (e.g.Students must complete at least 12 credits in prerequisite courses or their equivalent (Courses include: Phonetics, Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism, Typical Speech and Language Development, and Speech Science).
GPA Requirements
In completing your undergraduate degree, it’s essential to keep your GPA as high as possible, as each graduate program will evaluate your undergraduate GPA when processing your application. A minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a four-point scale) in all previous undergraduate and graduate study. Students must have completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher at the time of application to the program.
GRE Scores and TOEFL
While some graduate programs no longer require GRE scores as a part of the application process, many still do have this requirement. A. No- the GRE is not required for admission. Generally speaking, students who earned undergraduate degrees from foreign institutions where English is not the primary spoken language will need to complete the Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Each program will have its own minimum accepted score. All international applicants from non-English speaking countries must demonstrate English language competence via the Degrees of Reading Power (DRP) examination. TOEFL results may be substituted instead of taking the DRP.
Read also: Speech Topics for Students
ASHA Content Area Courses
In addition to the coursework described above, you will need to complete certain undergraduate-level coursework to qualify for the ASHA certification you’ll get after your master’s degree. If you earned an undergraduate degree in a field related to speech-language pathology, you would most likely have already completed these requirements. If you haven’t, you will need to confirm with the graduate program whether you need to complete these before the start of your first semester or whether they can be completed during your first semester. Once students are admitted into the program, the student will meet with a program advisor to ensure they have completed ASHA Content Area Courses: Students have to complete at least one course with a grade of C or higher in the following courses to graduate from the master's program at SBU: Biology, Social Sciences, Statistics, and either Chemistry or Physics.
Application Materials
Letters of Recommendation
You need THREE reference letters. Three (3) letters of recommendation with CSDCAS recommendation forms, preferably two from former faculty members. Materials to be submitted through CSDCAS include: three letters of recommendation from references who have knowledge of your academic and/or clinical background. Submit three letters of recommendation from professors, therapists, and/or other professionals who know you well. They should attest to your skills and abilities as they relate to becoming a speech-language pathologist, and your potential for completing a graduate program. Academic references who can speak to your potential in a graduate program are the strongest, but work references who can cite your professionalism are also acceptable. Please see the SLP application for specific details as to what the references should address in their letters.
Essays and Personal Statements
The essays (400 words or less) are one measure of the application and gives the applicant an opportunity to highlight his or her special abilities, skills, talents, and experiences. The answers should reflect genuine impressions about you as an individual and future professional. Materials to be submitted through CSDCAS include: a one-page, typed letter detailing your professional background, experience, and rationale for seeking admission to the MS in Speech-Language Pathology Program. Each applicant must submit a personal statement that describes the applicant's special qualifications over and above those already cited on the degree application, including experience and how this program helps advance his or her professional and personal goals. The letter of intent/personal statement should highlight the applicant’s interest in speech-language pathology by identifying personal interests, passions and relevant qualities, work experience, clinical and extracurricular experience, academic history, and an aptitude for working with a linguistically and culturally diverse population. The statement should also outline professional interests, future career goals and objectives in obtaining a Master of Science Education Program in Speech-Language Pathology at USC. It is recommended that you not list the same items that are on your resume, but rather reflect on the importance of the activities in terms of your growth and development to this point.
Resume or CV
A current resume. A current resume. A resume or CV should be uploaded with your application. The resume should include relevant work and volunteer experiences, research, and other extracurricular activities or accomplishments.
Transcripts
Official transcripts of all undergraduate study, including evidence of having received a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. As part of the USC application, you must submit official transcripts from each college or university attended. You will need to do this directly through the USC application system.
Read also: Guide to SLP Education
Transfer Credits
I have taken some graduate courses in the field at another university. We may accept up to 9 semester hours of graduate transfer credit from another institution(s). Requests for such transfer credit must be made at time of admission. The course syllabus and official transcripts from the transferring institution must accompany the request. The course(s) to be transferred must be in the content area of the courses required in our department.
Program Structure and Curriculum
The DE program-of-study is for three years. Because we offer undergraduate, Master’s and PhD degrees for full time students, we must adhere to a schedule and class size that we can effectively manage. We therefore cannot make any changes in the program-of-study without those changes adversely affecting the quality, and possible accreditation of the program. Therefore, you will not be allowed to take more than what has been outlined. The Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders program is a full-time, in-person program, consisting of a minimum of 72 credit hours of combined academic and clinical coursework. The traditional master’s degree program requires a prescribed sequence of academic and clinical courses that may vary according to the semester of entry. The school must approve changes to the prescribed plan of study. As you move through the program, you will follow a prescribed sequence of courses. This sequence can only be changed under extraordinary circumstances. If you need to request a change in either your Academic Plan of Study or Clinical Plan of Study, you will be required to provide your request, in writing, first to your faculty advisor who will then refer you to a master’s program coordinator. The master’s program coordinator will be responsible for approving all changes to study plans.
Course Load and Employment
Further, we have found that most students are in the DE program because they are working. Our experience tells us that two graduate courses per semester plus a clinical internship is MORE than enough to handle, and handle well! The curriculum is very demanding and requires a student to devote a great deal of time to completing course assignments. It is not recommended that students be employed outside of the university while enrolled in the program. External work can place you in a state of conflict with classmates when completing group work, which is a large part of many courses. However, some graduate assistantship positions are available throughout the university and within the department, which are designed for students who need to earn additional funds. At the end of the curriculum, students will be working full time (40+ hrs) on a full-time internship and will find it very difficult to maintain employment.
Curriculum Topics
Our program has separate courses in augmentative communication, aphasia, cognitive-based language disorders, both preschool and school-age language course, and swallowing disorders. The study of speech disorders is covered via coursework in articulation, craniofacial disorders, fluency, voice, and motor speech disorders. The study of swallowing disorders is focused on anatomy and physiology and a wide array of evaluation and management methods. Academic courses totaling 35 units are required for the Master of Science degree in speech-language pathology.
Clinical Practica and Internships
Students initiate their clinical experience during the first semester of the program in the on-campus Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic, allowing students to put theory into practice. Students provide speech, language, and swallowing assessment and intervention under the direct supervision of licensed and ASHA certified speech-language pathologists. Clinical practica total 6 units. Internships totaling 14 units are based on the number of experiences necessary for the student to obtain the 375 clinical clock hours plus 25 observation hours required for ASHA certification and California state licensure. To accomplish this goal, much of the educational programming at the master’s level takes place at the UCF Communication Disorders Clinic and in more than 200 practicum/internship sites throughout the greater Orlando area and the state of Florida. Practicum opportunities are available through the Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic located in Centennial Hall on Commonwealth University's Bloomsburg campus and through other affiliated agencies.
Read also: Alumni Homecoming Speech Guide
Supervision Requirements
The guided observation and direct client/patient contact hours must be within the ASHA Scope of Practice in Speech-Language Pathology and must be under the supervision of a clinician who holds current ASHA certification in the appropriate profession and who, after earning the CCC-SLP, has completed (1) a minimum of 9 months of post-certification, full-time experience and (2) a minimum of 2 hours of professional development in the area of clinical instruction/supervision. Guided clinical supervision may occur simultaneously during the student’s observation or afterwards through review and approval of the student’s written reports or summaries. Go to www.asha.org; Click on tab at top, “certification”, put in the 8-digit ASHA # or the SLP’s name with city/state (you have to know where they may live).
Financial Aid and Assistantships
Help finance your grad degree. Gain professional experience. Earning an advanced degree is an investment in your future. Our Financial Aid team is your guide to navigating the aid process for your graduate degree. Students offered admission may be eligible for a position in the school as a graduate teaching assistant (GTA) or graduate research assistant (GRA), however, these opportunities are limited. Please review the College of Graduate Studies’ Assistantships webpage for more information. A GTA application can be completed after admission to the program. Graduate Assistantships - Available to qualified applicants. Because the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology is a new program we do not offer any forms of departmental scholarships/aid/assistance, including graduate assistantships.
Holistic Review and COVID-19 Impact
Our admissions committee completes a holistic review of each applicant and for the 2020-2021 admissions cycle students have the opportunity to answer the Additional COVID-19 Questions in the Core CSDCAS Application. While these questions are optional we strongly encourage students to answers these questions as part of their CSDCAS application. Please describe how COVID-19 has impacted your pathway to graduate school. Academic: Were you able to interact with your professors? Did you have to leave an academic program stateside or abroad? Did your school require you to move to pass/fail grading systems? Did your GRE exam get cancelled or delayed? Professional: Did you hold a job? Did have to seek new job opportunities? Did you lose a job? Personal: Did you have to move out of a house or dorm? Did you have to cancel travel plans? Did you modify your planned experiences related to healthcare or volunteer opportunities? Did you seek out volunteer opportunities that arose from the crisis?
Certification and Licensure
Being “certified” means holding the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), a nationally recognized professional credential that represents a level of excellence in the field of Audiology (CCC-A) or Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). Those who have achieved the CCC-ASHA certification have voluntarily met rigorous academic and professional standards, typically going beyond the minimum requirements for state licensure. At this time our program meets the educational eligibility criteria for licensure as a speech-language pathologist in the state of Florida. We are unable to confirm the licensure and certification requirements of other states. You are welcome to contact Jaclyn Lucey, MA, CCC-SLP, our master’s degree program director, with questions in this regard. is responsible for licensing, monitoring, disciplining and educating speech-language pathologists and audiologists to assure competency and safety to practice in Florida. Graduates are eligible for certification in Teaching Speech to Language-Impaired Students granted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Pathology issued by the Council for Clinical Certification of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), and licensure in speech pathology issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Examiners for Speech, Language, and Hearing. The SLHS department curriculum includes all academic and clinical experiences necessary for American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) certification in speech-language pathology, State of California Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential (SLPSC), and the State of California license to practice speech-language pathology. Students are required to complete all academic courses. The practice of speech-language pathology in the state of California requires a license issued by the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Examining Committee Medical Board of California. Exempted settings are public schools and federal facilities. Commonwealth U- Bloomsburg is approved to offer programs that lead to certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and licensure in Pennsylvania. Commonwealth U- Bloomsburg’s Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program is designed to prepare you for the national exam required for certification and leads to eligibility for speech-language pathology licensure in PA. Commonwealth U- Bloomsburg cannot confirm this program meets the requirements for licensure in other states. Other states’ requirements may be viewed at the www.asha.org. Because requirements differ by state, applicants should verify requirements for their state(s) of interest prior to applying to this program. Note that state requirements are subject to change at any time and without notice. Please visit our state authorization page and www.asha.org for details.
Application Process
Applications to Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg's M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology program are managed by the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application System (CSDCAS). The applicant portal opens in early August and can be accessed using this link: CSDCAS Portal. Review the step-by-step application process for graduate school at Commonwealth University. Applicants must apply through the University of Southern California Centralized Application System (USC). The Admissions Committee only reviews applications that are submitted and verified. This means that all items required (see below) have been submitted and verified by USC. It is recommended that applicants submit their applications early to allow for verification during the busy application season. Submitting all required documents at least three weeks prior to the deadline is advised, to avoid any delays in the application review process. Admission is granted one time per year, for a fall semester start. Complete all sections of the application. Pay specific attention to the Program Materials required for the MS-SLP. Below is an overview of the requirements for the application. Specific information is described in the actual application. Prospective students will complete a two-step application process to be considered for admission to the UCF Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders program. First, applicants should complete the Welcome to the University of Central Florida’s Graduate Application! Please refer to the school’s admissions page for detailed information on how to apply. We offer two cycles for admission, fall and spring. All application materials MUST be sent directly to CSDCAS. Please be advised: It may take CSDCAS up to Three Weeks to verify your application.
Advising Services
The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers a full range of advising services, including academic, professional and personal advisement. Academic advisors are non-faculty, professional staff members who are knowledgeable about school program requirements and university guidelines for admissions, registration and graduation. Prior to registration for your first semester of graduate study, the academic advisor will assist you in the development of an Academic Plan of Study and a Clinical Plan of Study. Faculty advisors are full-time professors in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders. When you enter the graduate program, you will be assigned to a faculty advisor who will be responsible for academic and professional advising. Faculty advisors typically schedule five office hours during the week. At peak advising times, such as registration, they will often schedule additional hours. Master’s degree student advising is readily available in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Advising is offered Monday through Friday by appointment.
Additional Opportunities and Considerations
Early Admission
The Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology Admissions Committees offer early admission into the programs based on the evaluation of an applicant’s ability and readiness for graduate work. In addition to meeting the general admission requirements for the School of Graduate Studies, applicants for the MS in Speech-Language Pathology Program must meet the following requirements: Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a major in communication disorders and a minimum QPA of 3.0. Applicants whose major is in an area other than communication disorders will be required to satisfactorily complete certain academic and practicum deficiencies.
Nondegree Students
Nondegree students are applicants who have completed at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States and are not seeking a graduate degree. Once admitted as a nondegree student, you must come to the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders’ office during the first week of classes to receive permission to be enrolled in a communication sciences and disorders course. The school will not grant permission to enroll in any courses prior to the first week of classes and only certain courses are available for nondegree students. Due to the large number of applicants to our program, we cannot evaluate prerequisite courses prior to admission. Our program accepts prerequisites from other accredited institutions.
Scholarships
AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and DisabilityOrganization: American Association on Health and DisabilityDescription: Graduate or undergraduate students with a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act can apply for this scholarship. Laven ScholarshipOrganization: CAPCSD (Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders)Description: This award is intended for graduate students in a professional program (Master’s SLP, Master's AuD, or SLPD) who have shown exemplary service. Examples of service may include, but are not limited to, community service, service to the department or university, or service to the greater discipline.
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