Speech-Language Pathology, MS

Program Code: MS_821A_1
CIP Code: 51.0203

Program of Study for the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Completion of the Master of Science (MS) degree in Speech-Language Pathology provides students with the academic and clinical qualifications for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and for North Carolina state licensure.

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; complete application to the Graduate School ; official general GRE exam scores (unless waived); a personal statement; and participation in an online interview.

Additional Information on Admission Requirements: Recommendations should come from academic faculty who can speak to the applicant’s potential success in a graduate speech-language pathology program. Submission of additional recommendations is encouraged to ensure a completed application by the deadline. International applicants must meet the criteria for admission to the Graduate School including valid proof of English Language Proficiency as outlined by the Graduate School. Instructions for the personal statement and interview process are on the program’s website and within the application system.

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet criteria for admission to the Graduate School . Admission is on a competitive basis; not all students who exceed this requirement will be offered admission.

Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility: The standardized exam requirement may be waived for applicants who earned a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Location: On Campus

Course Requirements for the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Total Required (Minimum 60 Hours)

Required Courses (54 Hours)

In addition to taking courses required to meet any undergraduate deficiencies for ASHA certification and North Carolina licensure, completion of the master’s degree requires a minimum of 5 consecutive semesters of full-time enrollment. Students must complete a minimum of 54 semester credit hours of academic and clinical courses including:

Thesis Option (6 Hours)

Choose One:

With Thesis (6 Hours)

CSD 5999 - Thesis (1-4) (3 Hours)
3 hours of approved graduate electives selected with approval of the major advisor in speech-language pathology or related areas such as counseling, early childhood education, psychology, reading and special education

Without Thesis (6 Hours)

6 hours of approved graduate electives selected with approval of the major advisor in speech-language pathology or related areas such as counseling, early childhood education, psychology, reading and special education

Other Requirements for the MS in Speech-Language Pathology

Thesis: Optional
Proficiency: Must demonstrate competency of required knowledge and skills by successful completion of all required components in academic and clinical coursework.
Candidacy: Required; see an assigned academic advisor for specific timeline and requirements for admission to candidacy
Comprehensive: Required. All students are required to pass the SLP program’s summative assessment. Students must also earn a passing score on the PRAXIS II (NTE) in Speech-Language Pathology.
Product of Learning: Not required

Academic Standards for Retention

The Graduate Program Director prepares a plan of study for each student to ensure that all requirements are met. A student must maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 and maintain satisfactory non-academic criteria that are important to function as a speech-language pathologist. Finally, each student must adhere to the rules of ethical conduct as described in the Code of Ethics of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Graduate students in Speech-Language Pathology are also expected to abide by ASU’s code of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity Code and the Department’s Professional Dispositions, Behaviors and Essential Functions policy. The policy states that students must: 1) have the intellectual and academic capabilities sufficient to meet the curricular demands of the programs, 2) be proficient in oral and written English sufficient to achieve effective clinical and professional interaction with clients and relevant others, and 3) possess certain dispositions, behaviors and essential functions that are expected of professionals engaged in clinical practice. Failure to meet the standards may result in dismissal from the program. The standards are fully described in the Speech-Language Pathology student handbooks and can be found on the program’s website.