Admission & Program Requirements for the Masters Degree in Speech-Language Pathology
Academic
Applicants for the graduate degree in speech-language pathology must have completed an undergraduate major in communicative disorders, including course work in each of the following areas: biology, anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanism, human communication development, phonetics, audiology, developmental articulation and phonological disorders, language disorders, clinical procedures, aural rehabilitation, and introduction to speech and hearing science.
Deficiencies in the above areas must be completed during the master’s program. These courses will not be counted toward the graduate degree. Potential applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree in communicative disorders should consult with the School’s Coordinator of Graduate Programs.
Practicum
The applicant should have completed a minimum of 25 guided clinical clock hours of observation. If this requirement has not been met, the applicant will be required to obtain the hours prior to enrollment in graduate practicum or during the first semester of graduate practicum.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
A minimum of 2.8 (A-4.0) cumulative undergraduate GPA and a minimum of 3.0 in the major are required for consideration of acceptance into the graduate program. If accepted, a student with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.80-2.99 will enter the program on probation for one academic semester. During this probationary enrollment, the student must complete a minimum of nine (9) academic credits with a grade of B or better in each course taken. If students fail to meet this requirement, they will be dismissed from the program.
Admission Procedures
Application forms must be received by the Coordinator of Graduate Programs by the deadline specified for fall semester enrollments. Current transcripts, three (3) letters of recommendation (a minimum of two (2) must come from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic or clinical performance), a letter of intent, and scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) must also be filed by the specified deadline.
Applicants will be evaluated for admission to the speech-language pathology program by the faculty and staff of the School of Communicative Disorders based on GPAs, letters of recommendation, letter of intent, and GRE scores.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Students who major in speech-language pathology will be required to meet ASHA minimum requirements for clinical certification which are in effect at the time of graduation.
Academic Credits
Speech-language pathology majors will be required to completed a minimum of 40 graduate credit hours of academic course work. The academic course work will be selected to meet the requirements for the clinical and/or educational certification.
Clinical Practicum/Externship Credits
Students who major in speech-language pathology will complete a total of 21 credit hours of supervised clinical practicum. Three semesters and one summer session of graduate practicum and the clinical externship are required.
The required clinical externship CD 795 (15 semester credits) is an extended clinical assignment on a full-time basis outside the Center for Communicative Disorders. The assignment may be in a school, hospital, or clinical setting.
Thesis
A thesis is optional. Speech-language pathology students who wish to obtain a doctorate degree in the future are encouraged to consider completing a thesis. The student who wishes to consider doing a thesis should discuss their ideas and research plan with a faculty member having similar interests.
ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY FOR THE MASTER’S DEGREE
Application
After successful completion of a minimum of nine (9) academic semester credits, the student may apply for candidacy. The student must submit an application for candidacy no later then the middle of the next enrollment period (8th week of academic semesters). The Coordinator of Graduate Programs will inform students of the candidacy process, distribute, and collect the applications.
Grade Criteria for Candidacy
To be considered for candidacy the student must have a GPA of 3.0
Students who do not earn a GPA of 3.0 will be placed on probation during the next enrollment period. The student may apply for and be considered for candidacy if a cumulative 3.0 GPA is obtained within the next nine (9) or more credits. The student must meet the GPA requirements for candidacy after one probationary period. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program.
Students who have started their programs on a probationary basis and do not earn a B or better in every course taken during the first semester of graduate study will be dismissed from the program.
ACADEMIC STATUS DURING CANDIDACY
Academic and Clinical Practicum Status
After admission to candidacy, all students are expected to maintain a minimum of a B average (3.0 GPA) each semester to remain in good standing. If a student’s GPA is less than 3.0, they will be placed on probation during the next enrollment period. Consistent with University policy, students on probation must raise their overall GPA to a B or better with the next 9 graduate credits. See 2007-2009 UWSP Course Catalog for more information.
According to University policy (UWSP Course Catalog 2007-2009 p. 181), "Grades of C will be accepted in no more than 8 of the 30 credits that apply toward a degree."
APPROVAL FOR THE CLINICAL EXTERNSHIP
In order for students to gain approval to begin their externship semester and to complete their Master of Science degree, they must demonstrate competencies in the knowledge and skills required by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association.
The following requirements must be met.
a. Required academic coursework must be completed or in progress.
b. Clinical requirements must be completed or in progress.
c. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0
d. Students must meet all academic and clinical competencies, with no remaining improvement plans.
e. No additional concerns from the SCD faculty regarding successful completion of the externship have
been noted.
Students must receive a grade of a B or better during their externship semester. If students receive an unsatisfactory performance grade of a B- or lower during their extern semester, they may request a second externship semester pending approval by the School of Communicative Disorders.
Last updated: 04/29/2008