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The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers the Master of Science Degree with a concentration in Speech-Language
Pathology. Our Council of Academic Accreditation (CAA) accredited program meets the academic requirements of the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Certificate of Clinical Competence as well as the requirements for Licensure from the
State of Ohio.
The Master's Program is a two-year program, consisting of 4 academic semesters of on-campus study (including one summer semester).
The fifth semester is devoted to a full-time, off-campus externship. Students will be enrolled in practica experiences every
semester. The practica will take place at the on-campus speech and hearing clinic as well as at various sites throughout Northwest
Ohio.
Academic Plans of Study, Final Exam, Academic Standing
Academic Plans of Study
The choice of Plan I (Thesis) or Plan II (Non-Thesis) option should be determined by the individual's professional goals.
A student who plans to pursue a doctoral degree is strongly urged to adopt Plan I. Most universities require a thesis or its
equivalent from their doctoral students.
The minimum course requirement for the Plan I program is 52 semester credit hours in Speech-Language Pathology, including
6 credits of thesis research, and a basic course in statistics. Plan II students are required to take a minimum of 51 semester
credit hours in Speech-Language Pathology. Once a student selects Plan I or Plan II and has filed a Tentative Degree Program
with the Graduate College, switching plans is possible only with consultation of the Graduate Coordinator.
Both Plans I and II prepare the student for ASHA certification and licensure for the state of Ohio. A student may also wish
to become certified as a Speech-Language Pathologist in an Ohio school setting. In order to do this, the student must fulfill
the requirements of the Ohio Division of Special Education for a special provisional certificate.
Final Exam
The final exam for both Plan I and Plan II students is the National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology
(NESPA). The examination is designed to assess the student's ability to integrate academic and clinical knowledge in various
areas of Speech-Language Pathology and/or Audiology. A passing score of 600 is required. This exam is administered by NTE
and can only be taken after all required academic work is completed. Therefore, students should plan on taking the exam during
the last semester of study (the externship semester). Prior to writing the final examination, Master's students must attain
a 3.0 grade point average in their course work, as well as demonstrate adequate clinical performance. Thesis students must
take the oral final examination associated with their final thesis defense in addition to the national exam.
Academic Standing
Graduate College and Department policy stipulates that a student must maintain a GPA of 3.00 in academic course work as well
as demonstrate adequate clinical performance (grade of S each semester in clinical practicum and Diagnostics II) in order
to be considered in good academic standing. Good academic standing is a condition for maintaining an assistantship.
Students are expected to counsel with the Graduate Coordinator at least once each semester to review the proposed academic
and clinical program. Students who elect to write a thesis must be in good academic and clinical standing prior to securing
approval of the thesis topic and before the oral examination.
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