Program Coordinator: Dr. Maryann Power, CCC-SLP
Tel: 508-929-8567
email: mpower@worcester.edu
Speech Language Pathology Courses
SPEECH - LANGUAGE - HEARING CLINIC
Communication Science Disorders Department
Worcester State College offers a graduate program leading to a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology. This program is designed to provide a high caliber academic and clinical program for the preparation of speech-language pathologists. The program prepares students for positions in public school speech-language therapy programs, rehabilitation centers, hospital speech and hearing clinics, nursing homes, special-care facilities, centers for the hard of hearing, and private practice. The graduate program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Application forms may be obtained from the Graduate Office, Worcester State College, 486 Chandler Street, Worcester, MA 01602-2597 or online at www.worcester.edu. Admission is considered for the fall semester only.
A monthly information session is held by the graduate coordinator to answer any questions about the program or prerequisites. Please call (508) 929-8055 to register.
APPLICATION DEADLINE IS February 15 for the fall semester.
I. Admission Requirements:
A. Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
B. Candidates for admission are required to submit a completed authorized application form which is available online and at the Graduate Office at Worcester State College. Requirements and procedures for admission to Graduate Studies are specified on the application form. The applicant must comply with these requirements and procedures.
C. Candidates must submit official transcripts from all undergraduate programs which were part of the bachelor’s degree and all programs where any prerequisite courses were taken, including Worcester State College.
D. Candidates applying for admission must have taken or currently be enrolled in the following prerequisite courses at the time of application for the master’s degree program:
· Three (3) credit hours in biological sciences
· Three (3) credit hours in physical science
· Three (3) credit hours in mathematics
· A three-credit course in statistics (A math statistics would also fulfill the 3 credit hours in mathematics.)
· Six (6) credit hours in the behavioral and/or social sciences (a course in child growth and development must be included)
· Fifteen (15) credit hours in the basic human communication processes: (anatomy of the speech & hearing mechanism, phonetics, normal development of speech and language, speech science, hearing science. If speech and hearing science were taken as one course, a course in another normal communication process is required). The grades in these courses are weighted heavily.
E. Applicants must submit scores from either the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogy Test (MAT) and The TOEFL (if English is a second Language).
F. Final candidates may be interviewed by department faculty/staff.
To be considered for the master’s degree program, all prerequisite courses must be completed by the month of May that precedes the fall entrance term. The courses in anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing, phonetics, and normal language development must be completed at the time of application. Students completing prerequisites at the time of application must provide evidence of enrollment. Prerequisites may be taken at WSC in the evening as a non-matriculated student or as a day student. Day students must complete an “undergraduate non-degree” application for admission to the Speech-Language Prerequisites Program. Deadline for day students to apply is:
Fall Semester – July 1
Spring Semester – November 1
II. General Requirements:
A. The minimum requirement for a master’s degree in speech-language pathology is fifty-five (55) semester hours of credit.
B. A maximum of twelve (12) graduate credits of “B-” or above taken within two (2) years of the term of admission, at an CAA accredited institution, may be accepted toward the graduate degree.
C. Courses are taught in the afternoon, late afternoon and evening. A maximum load is four courses per semester and takes at least two full years including summers to complete. A three course per semester load takes two and one-half years to complete. A two course per semester program would take at least three 1/2 years. A grade point average of 3.0 is required to remain in the program and to earn the degree. Courses with a grade of C+ or below must be repeated.
D. All work for the degree must be completed within a period of six years.
E. The Dean of Graduate Studies reserves the right to periodically review the performance of graduate students in accordance with the academic standards of the Graduate Program and of Worcester State College.
III. Curriculum Requirements for a Master of Science Degree in Speech-Language Pathology
A. Course Requirements:
CD 901 Introduction to Graduate and Clinical Skills (summer) 2 credits
CD 920 Articulation & Phonological Disorders (fall) 3 credits
CD 921 Language Disorders in Children (fall) 3 credits
CD 922 Language Disorders in Adults (spring) 3 credits
CD 923 Fluency Disorders (fall) 3 credits
CD 924 Voice Disorders (summer) 3 credits
CD 925 Motor Speech Disorders (fall) 3 credits
CD 926 Reading and Writing Disabilities (summer) 2 credits
CD 927 Audiological Issues for SLPs (fall) 3 credits
CD 928 Aural Rehabilitation (spring) 3 credits
CD 929 Dysphagia (spring) 3 credits
CD 940 Evaluation & Diagnosis in Speech-Language Pathology (spring) 3 credits
CD 946 Organization of S/L Programs in Schools (summer) 1 credit
CD 947 Augmentative/Alternative Communication (summer) 1 credit
CD 950 Cognitive Aspects of Communication (summer) 2 credits
CD 980 Research in Communication Sciences & Disorders (spring) 3 credits
CD 987 Selected Topics in Communication Sciences & Disorders – take two topics for one credit each (summer or spring) 2 credits
CD 990 Speech-Language-Hearing Practicum: College Clinic (spring, summer, fall) (A minimum of 2 semesters is required in the WSC Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic) 3 credits each time
CD 991 Speech-Language-Hearing Practicum: Externships. (A minimum of 2 semesters is required in externships) 3 credits each time
B. Clinical Clock Hours:
In addition to academic coursework, students are required to complete 25 hours of observation of clinical work and 375 live hours of participation in diagnostic/therapeutic work in three distinctly different clinical settings. Observation hours and 50 of the live hours may be transferred from the undergraduate level.
C. Written Comprehensive Examination:
Students will be expected to submit a passing score from the NESPA examination in Speech/Language Pathology and complete a departmental comprehensive examination.