Speech-Language Pathology, M.S.

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A master’s degree in speech-language pathology is required for Texas licensure and for the Certificate of Clinical Competency by the American Speech Language Hearing Association. Upon completion of the master’s degree, the student must complete a clinical fellowship and pass a national examination to receive licensure and certification. The master’s program is nationally accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are admitted to the Master of Science program in speech-language pathology only in the summer II semester of each year. The application deadline is Feb. 15. To be considered for admission review, the applicant must submit the following materials:

To Research and Graduate Studies - Send the following to Office of Research and Graduate Studies, P.O. Box 13024, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962:

Application to Research and Graduate Studies via Apply Texas at applytexas.org/adappc/gen/c_start.WBX
Official transcripts
Verbal, quantitative and writing GRE scores

To the Program - The speech-language pathology graduate program utilizes the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service, which allows applicants the ability to collect and submit graduate application materials. The following materials are required:

transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
official copies of GRE scores
three letters of recommendation, including at least one from a professional in the field, one from an academic professional and one from any other source.
autobiographical letter of application indicating why you chose speech-language pathology as a possible career and any experience you have had in the field
bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders or equivalent (leveling coursework)
composite factor of at least 865 obtained by multiplying the combined verbal and quantitative GRE scores with the GPA of the last 60 undergraduate hours

Curriculum

The Master of Science program in speech-language pathology consists of a minimum of 57 semester hours, which must include the following:

a minimum of 400 clinical practicum hours
- twenty-five hours must be spent in clinical observation, which should be obtained at the undergraduate level
- and 375 hours must be spent in direct client contact.

The observation and direct client contact hours must be within the scope of practice in speech-language pathology. Clinical contact hours are obtained by registering for SPH 504 six times throughout graduate studies.

All post-baccalaureate students with an undergraduate degree in other fields who are interested in the master’s degree in speech-language pathology must first complete prerequisite leveling courses from the bachelor’s degree curriculum (CSD 200, CSD 210, CSD 220, CSD 23, CSD 240, CSD 300, CSD 310, CSD 320, CSD 330, CSD 410, CSD 420 and CSD 430).

SPH 500 - Aphasia Credit(s): 3
SPH 501 - Phonological Disorders Credit(s): 3
SPH 502 - Fluency Disorders Credit(s): 3
SPH 504 - Clinical Practicum: Speech Language Pathology Credit(s): 3
SPH 505 - Language Disorders and Augmentative and Alternative Communication Credit(s): 3
SPH 506 - Dysphagia Credit(s): 3
SPH 507 - Speech Science Credit(s): 3
SPH 508 - Neuropathologies of Speech Credit(s): 3
SPH 509 - Seminar: Research In Speech-Language Pathology Credit(s): 3
SPH 510 - Special Studies In Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Credit(s): 3
SPH 511 - Advanced Audiology Credit(s): 3
SPH 512 - Voice Disorders and Craniofacial Anomalies Credit(s): 3
EPS 550 - Research Methods Credit(s): 3

Additional Requirements

Candidates for the M.S. must apply for admission to candidacy. Students will not be admitted to candidacy until they have completed 12 hours of required courses and have a GPA of at least 3.0 in all courses in the major. A departmental admissions committee may require a continuation or diagnostic examination before approving admission to candidacy.

The candidate also must pass a departmental comprehensive examination covering specific competencies in the major and have taken the National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology. These examinations are taken by the student during the final year of graduate study. Students who are not currently enrolled in at least one course at SFA are not eligible to take the comprehensive examination. Students design and present an original research project involving the collection and statistical analysis of experimental data at the end of the second spring semester. Topics typically include many clinical efficacy studies and/or single subject design studies. In the past, graduate students have presented their research at ASHA and TSHA conferences. All requirements for the master’s degree must be completed within six years.