Speech-Language Pathology M.S.

(52-55 Semester Hours)

Purpose

The graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology is designed to provide students with the wide variety of academic and clinical practicum experience necessary for a career in various work settings available to a Speech-Language Pathologist. Students who complete the Master of Science degree will have the academic and clinical practicum experience necessary to meet requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the license in speech-language pathology from Oklahoma State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and the Oklahoma State Department of Education Standard Certificate in Speech-Language Pathology.

Admission

Criteria for admission into the M.S., Speech-Language Pathology program include:

1. Admission to the Graduate College
2. Baccalaureate degree in communication disorders from an accredited college or university or baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in another discipline & completion of leveling requirements (Approval of leveling coursework is determined by the SLP program faculty.)
3. Official transcripts of all previous college coursework submitted by the institution where coursework was completed directly to the NSU Graduate College.
4. Completion of leveling requirements for prospective students without undergraduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology (contact program director for additional information about leveling requirements.
5. Undergraduate GPA of 3.25 overall or 3.5 in undergraduate SLP courses.
6. Submission of Graduate Record Examination or Miller Analogies Test Scores that are no more than 5 years old (no minimum score requirement; scores used to differentiate between applicants as necessary).
7. Submission of the SLP Program application packet.
8. Personal or phone interview for students with first language other than English; may be required for other students.

NOTE: Only applicants with complete application packets will be considered. The responsibility for requesting transcripts (other than Northeastern State University transcripts) is the applicant’s. Transcripts must be mailed directly from the institution attended to Northeastern State University, Graduate College Office, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, 74464. Due dates for applications are listed in the SLP graduate application packet available from the Graduate College or from the SLP program.

In the event the number of qualified student applicants exceeds the number of spaces projected to be available in the graduate program (based on a 6:1 student to graduate faculty ratio), applicants will be reviewed and ranked according to the above criteria by a committee made up of the SLP graduate faculty. Students will be admitted to the program based on their ranking and the number of spaces available.

Advisement

The program chair serves as adviser for all SLP graduate students. Students who have been admitted to the SLP graduate program must attend a scheduled group advisement/orientation meeting prior to their first enrollment in SLP graduate courses. Students will meet with the program chair during subsequent semesters for advisement concerning course sequences and to track progress toward completion of the degree.

Admission to Candidacy

Candidacy requirements:

Students who have been admitted to the SLP graduate program are eligible to be admitted to candidacy for the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology degree upon completion of:

• Submission of Degree Plan approved by the advisor and Dean of the Graduate College
• Submission of Statement of Understanding (signed by student and advisor and delineating program requirements, university requirements, and ethical considerations required in clinical practicum) to Graduate College
• Maintenance of grades of “B” or better in all graduate courses during the first two semesters in the graduate program

Admission to candidacy must be completed before the first 24 hours of the program is completed. A minimum of 16 hours must be completed after the student has been admitted to candidacy.