Program of Study - Communication Sciences and Disorders (MS)
Purpose
The Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders program is designed to prepare graduates for the Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellowship (SLPCF), the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), a license to practice in the state of Texas, and eventually independent clinical practice in the profession of speech- language pathology.
Scope
The Master of Science degree in communication sciences and disorders is a clinical and academic degree. Students must have earned a baccalaureate degree in communication sciences and disorders or speech-language pathology to enter the graduate program in Communication Sciences and Disorders. The graduate curriculum includes extensive supervised clinical practice, as well as coursework in the following areas:
- Research in communication disorders.
- Multicultural and multilingual issues.
- Normal speech, language, swallowing and hearing development across the life span.
- Procedures for diagnosing and assessing disorders of articulation and phonology; expressive and receptive language fluency; voice and resonance; swallowing; hearing (especially as it relates to speech and language development and disorders); cognitive aspects of communication; social aspects of communication; and augmentative and alternative communication.
- Procedures for addressing the intervention needs of individuals with disorders of articulation and phonology; expressive and receptive language; fluency; voice and resonance; swallowing; hearing; cognitive aspects of communication; social aspects of communication; and augmentative and alternative communication.
- Procedures for audiological screening, assessment and interpretation of audiological test results.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the graduate program in communication sciences and disorders, prospective candidates must first meet all requirements for graduate admission to UT Rio Grande Valley, as well as the other requirements listed below:
- Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from a regionally accredited institution in the United States.
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.
- GRE General Test. GRE test scores are valid for 5 years. A waiver of the GRE requirement will be granted to applicants who show proof of completing a graduate degree (master’s or doctoral).
- Three letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources.
- Personal statement (500 words) detailing professional goals and reasons for pursuing the graduate degree.
- Resume including educational background and work experience.
Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline. The application is available at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply.
Program Requirements
Choose one of the following options:
Non-Thesis Option:
Required Courses (58 Credits)
| COMD 6180 | Graduate Practicum: Audiology | 1 |
| COMD 6301 | Clinical Practicum I: Speech Pathology | 3 |
| COMD 6302 | Clinical Practicum II: Speech Pathology | 3 |
| COMD 6303 | Clinical Practicum III: Speech Pathology | 3 |
| COMD 6304 | Clinical Practicum IV: Speech Pathology | 3 |
| COMD 6310 | Research in Communication Disorders | 3 |
| COMD 6325 | Childhood Language Disorders and Clinical Intervention | 3 |
| COMD 6330 | Fluency Disorders | 3 |
| COMD 6335 | Language Disorders in Adults | 3 |
| COMD 6340 | Phonological Assessment and Intervention | 3 |
| COMD 6345 | Voice Disorders | 3 |
| COMD 6350 | Audiology II | 3 |
| COMD 6355 | Normal and Abnormal Language Development of Culturally Diverse Populations | 3 |
| COMD 6360 | Neuromotor Speech Disorders | 3 |
| COMD 6365 | Language Assessment of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations | 3 |
| COMD 6385 | Dysphagia | 3 |
| COMD 6390 | Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Developmental Disorders | 3 |
| COMD 6395 | Advanced Clinical Practicum I | 3 |
| COMD 6396 | Advanced Clinical Practicum II | 3 |
| COMD 6397 | Augmentative Alternative Communication | 3 |
Capstone Requirement
Completion of Summative Assessment
Taking of the Praxis National Examination
Completion of ASHA Clinical Practicum Hours
Thesis Option:
Required Courses (64 Credits)
Capstone Requirement
Completion of Summative Assessment
Taking of the Praxis National Examination
Completion of ASHA Clinical Practicum Hours
Total Credit Hours: 58-64
Completion of Summative Assessment
Students have one of two options for meeting the required summative assessment requirement: Graduate Thesis or a Written Comprehensive Examination. Students can find more detailed information about the thesis and written comprehensive examination in the department’s Graduate Student Handbook.
Graduate Thesis
This option is for students who want to complete the thesis option and is reserved for students who exhibit excellent writing skills and the potential for conducting independent research. This option is reserved typically for students who anticipate completing a doctoral degree, but any student who possesses the ability to complete a thesis may choose this option. Students accepted for graduate thesis must register for COMD 7300 in the fall and COMD 7301 in the spring of their final year of graduate study. Only six (6) thesis credits may be counted toward graduation requirements.
Written Comprehensive Examination
Students who do not choose the thesis option must take and pass a departmental written comprehensive examination. The examination will be in an essay format. No semester hour credits are earned for successfully completing the written comprehensive examination.
Taking of the Praxis National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology
Prior to graduating with the master’s degree, students must take the Praxis National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology and request that their score be forwarded by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and ASHA. For students who choose the Non-Thesis Option (thereby requiring them to take the departmental written comprehensive examination) evidence of a passing score on the Praxis examination by March 1 of the semester of graduation will allow them to request a waiver of the departmental written comprehensive examination.
Completion of Clinical Practicum Hours
All students must enroll in Clinical Practicum each semester during the first full year of graduate study (Fall= COMD 6301; Spring= COMD 6302; Summer I= COMD 6303; Summer II= COMD 6304). A minimum of one (1) semester of Audiology Practicum (COMD 6180) and a minimum of two (2) semesters of Advanced Clinical Practicum (COMD 6395, COMD 6396) are also required. In accordance with ASHA requirements, students must earn a minimum of 400clock hours of supervised clinical practicum prior to graduating with the master’s degree. Of these 400 clock hours, at least375 clock hours of supervised clinical practice and 25 clock hours of clinical observation must be completed and documented in conjunction with these clinical practicum courses. Of the 375 click hours of clinical practice, at least 325 must be obtained at the graduate level. A maximum of 75 clock hours of clinical experience may be obtained through supervised simulation technology. These clock hour requirements are subject to change depending on possible future changes in the ASHA’s certification requirements.