Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Catalog NOT CURRENT 
    
2018-2019 Catalog NOT CURRENT [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Speech-Language Pathology, MS-SLP


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Speech-language therapy is a health and rehabilitation profession that provides screening, evaluation and treatment services for children and adults who have difficulties with language, articulation, phonology, voice, fluency, cognition, feeding, chewing, and swallowing. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are allied health professionals who work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults in settings including acute care, rehabilitation, home health, private practice, public and private schools, and guidance centers. 

Mission Statement

The mission of the Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology at USAHS is to graduate clinicians who can identify and manage a full range of communication conditions across the life span. Through development of critical thinking, cultural competency, ethical standards, and compassionate patient care principles, the graduates will be poised to promote the quality of life for the clients whom they serve. They will be prepared to guide, lead, and influence their profession.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP), graduates will be able to demonstrate:

  • Accurately diagnose communication disorders.
  • Outline treatment pathways appropriate to the disorder and in patient‐specific context.
  • Execute treatment plans in a professional, patient‐centric manner based on evidence.
  • Based on Evidence‐Based Practice (EBP) and continuous assessment, modify the treatment/management plan as needed to achieve the desired patient goals.
  • Educate clients and their caregivers on condition(s) and on prevention management protocols as appropriate to the situation.
  • Critically evaluate & apply research to inform practice.
  • Demonstrate professional behaviors according the standards of the practice/field and in consideration of cultural and linguistic diversity of persons served and colleagues.

Program Prerequisites

Bachelor’s Degree

Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) or Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) with appropriate prerequisite coursework or Alternative degree with appropriate prerequisite coursework and leveling courses.

Observation Hours

Twenty-five observation hours with an ASHA Certified SLP.  MS-SLP Clinical Observation hours: The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) requires a minimum of 25 documented hours of clinical observation as a prerequisite to graduate level clinical work and receipt of the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). Students must complete the 25 observation hours before beginning any direct patient/client contact at the graduate level. Students may still be in the process of completing observation hours when submitting applications to graduate school, but graduate programs will require these hours to be completed before starting the degree program.

Prerequisite Coursework

Required prerequisite coursework: Admissions recommends that all prerequisite course work be no more than 5 years old. This is a recommendation and is preferred, it is not a requirement to apply.  All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. All students must have a minimum of three credits completed in the following basic sciences:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Statistics
  • Behavioral or Social Science

Students may apply while still enrolled in an undergraduate degree program or while completing prerequisite coursework. Students should submit a plan of study with the application that indicates all remaining courses that will be completed prior to program enrollment.

Alternative Bachelor’s Degree 
Individuals who hold bachelor’s degrees in fields other than Communication Sciences and Disorders, Speech‐Language Pathology, or the equivalent must complete the above prerequisite coursework and the following leveling coursework before beginning graduate work in MS-Speech‐Language Pathology at USAHS. These courses should include:
  • Speech Anatomy and Physiology
  • Phonetics
  • Neuroanatomy
  • Audiology and Aural Rehabilitation (3 credits) or Audiology (3 credits) AND Aural Rehabilitation (3 credits) or Fundamentals of Hearing (3 credits)
  • Normal Speech & Language Development

Additionally, students who did not complete a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders (or similar) must complete:

  • Introduction to Communication Science and Disorders

GRE Score

An official GRE score report sent directly to the University from ETS. The test must have been taken within the last five (5) years. A combined minimum GRE score of 294 for the verbal and quantitative sections is recommended. The analytical writing score is also evaluated. All applicants must apply through CSDCAS where the University’s GRE Institutional Code Number is 2300. Candidates who have previously earned a Master’s degree are exempt from the GRE requirement.

Delivery of Coursework

The MS-SLP program is 50/51 credits, and is offered on a full-time basis over 5 trimesters. Coursework is provided in a blended learning format. This is a combination of an online learning component with classroom instruction. Lab classes are taught in a hands-on setting, while some portions of the course content are presented through a variety of interactive online activities and augmented by in-class discussions, patient interactions, and simulation. This learning style allows students to have a vast range of learning techniques at their fingertips

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is a Candidate for Accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. This is a “pre-accreditation” status with the CAA, awarded to developing or emerging programs for a maximum period of five years.

 

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