School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Master of Science Program in Speech-Language Pathology
Objectives
The Master of Science program in Speech-Language Pathology offers broad-based professional preparation in speech-language pathology within an environment which supports an active program of clinical services and research. Students are provided comprehensive exposure to clinical approaches in speech-language pathology and to the scientific foundations from which clinical approaches are derived. Practical experience is available in a variety of on- and off-campus clinical, educational, and medical settings.
The graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology is accredited in speech-language pathology by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Facilities
The principal sites for the academic, clinical, and research activities of the Speech-Language Pathology program are the UT Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders, adjacent to The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and Callier-Richardson on the UT Dallas main campus. These facilities, and others throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, provide the educational, clinical, research, and medical environments essential for an interdisciplinary program in Speech-Language Pathology.
Admission Requirements
The University's general admission requirements are discussed on the Graduate Admission page.
Admission to the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Program is based on a review of the applicant's transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and statement of purpose.
Degree Requirements
The University's general degree requirements are discussed on the Graduate Policies and Procedures page.
The Master of Science program requires a minimum of 48 semester credit hours.
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
48 semester credit hours minimum
Faculty
Professors: Sandra B. Chapman, Julia Evans, John Hart Jr., Pamela R. Rollins, Steven Small, Robert D. Stillman, Linda M. Thibodeau
Associate Professors: Roozbeh Behroozmand, Mandy J. Maguire, Andrea Warner-Czyz
Assistant Professors: Yune Lee, Adrianna Shembel, Lei (Pumpki) Su
Professors Emeriti: Thomas Campbell, Christine Dollaghan, Hanna K. Ulatowska, Anne van Kleeck
Professors of Instruction: Michelle Aldridge, Emily Touchstone
Professors of Practice: Lucinda Dean, Diane Garst Walsh, Helen Kenedi, Felicity Sale
Associate Professor of Practice: Jessica Carter
Assistant Professor of Practice: Hannah Pourchot Neale
Required Courses
Students entering the master's program with a bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology are required to take the following courses:
COMD 6221 Voice Disorders
COMD 6222 Stuttering
COMD 6308 Assessment and Intervention of Language Impairments in Preschool and School-Age Children
COMD 6320 Motor Speech Disorders
COMD 6377 Neurogenic Communication Disorders I
COMD 7303 Dysphagia
Elective Courses
Students must also complete 23 semester credit hours of approved elective courses. These must include a minimum of three additional courses in the areas of language disorders in children and language disorders in adults. Two courses must be completed in one area and one course in the other.
Students enroll in Practicum in Communication Sciences (COMD 6330) or Internship in Communication Disorders (COMD 6630) each semester. One semester of Internship is required. In general, a maximum of 9 semester credit hours of Practicum/Internship may be counted toward the minimum 48 semester credit hours required for the degree. However, to meet eligibility requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and Texas State licensure, students may need to enroll in additional semester credit hours of Practicum/Internship beyond the 9 semester credit hour minimum. Exceptions to the above requirements must be approved by the program head.
Combined Master/Doctoral Study
Students who wish to earn a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology while pursuing doctoral study should consult with the Director of Clinical Programs in Speech-Language Pathology. Students approved to enroll in both master's and doctoral courses pursue an individualized plan of study leading to both degrees. A minimum of 39 semester credit hours in the chosen PhD program must be taken in addition to the minimum credit hour requirements for the MS degree.
Comprehensive Examination
All students seeking the master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology must pass a written comprehensive examination. A thesis is optional.
Out-Of-Field Students
Students entering the program who lack undergraduate preparation in speech-language pathology or audiology are required to take preparatory courses as part of their graduate degree plan. Students must be admitted to the graduate program before they are eligible to enroll in preparatory courses. UT Dallas does not offer a non-degree or "leveling" program in Speech-Language Pathology.