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Speech-Language Pathology M.S.

The speech-language pathology program is committed to preparing competent and compassionate clinicians, motivated scholars and ethical professionals for entry into the field of speech-language pathology.

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree program in speech-language pathology at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University consists of 11 academic courses and a sequence of clinical practicum experiences. Students enroll in SPHS 5309 Advanced Clinical Practicum in each semester of the program.

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Accreditation

ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University's speech and hearing sciences graduate programs—the Doctor of Audiology (residential) and Master of Science in speech-language pathology (residential)—are accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2200 Research Boulevard, #310
Rockville, MD 20850
800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.  

First Year

During the first year of graduate studies, clinical practicum experiences are obtained within the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University Speech and Hearing Clinic and other specialty clinics.

Second Year

During the second year, students are placed in externship assignments to develop a comprehensive clinical foundation. Courses are offered online in the final semester at this time to offer maximal flexibility in final-semester externship assignments.

  • Pre-requisites and Entry Requirements
    • Applicants to the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program should have an undergraduate degree in speech and hearing sciences or a related field.
    • Students who do not have an undergraduate degree in speech and hearing sciences may be required to complete prerequisite courses. The following courses are considered prerequisites for the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. These courses may be taken prior to applying for admission into Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology degree program. Some courses may be taken concurrently with graduate coursework. Determination of suitability for accelerated leveling will be made on an individual basis. 
    • Prerequisite courses
      • SPHS 2372 Phonetics
      • SPHS 3310 Language Acquisition
      • SPHS 3318 Speech Anatomy & Physiology
      • SPHS 4334 Audiology 1
      • SPHS 4342 Audiologic Rehabilitation
      • SPHS 3314 Speech and Hearing Science
      • SPHS 4332 Neurology
    • Students must have a physical (physics or chemistry), a biological science, a statistics and a behavioral science course.
    • To apply as a post-baccalaureate student in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science, fill out an application for admission on the ApplyTexas website. Students should have 3.0 GPA in their undergraduate degree.
    • If you have questions, please email slp@lamar.edu.
  • July Entry Application Process

    Application Requirements

    Please use your name as it appears on your state-issued ID (or passport) on your application and on all other communication with ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University. Note: The following two steps have a finalized deadline of February 1st, however, in order for documents to be verified and processed we recommend submission no later than mid-December. 

    Please complete your application to the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (M.S.) by completing the following two steps: 

    1. Go to ApplyTexasand complete an application. The Apply Texas application must be completed by all M.S. SLP applicants, even if you are a ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ undergraduate student who completed an application for undergraduate admissions. This application includes your biographical, education, and residency information. M.S. SLP applicants will receive a waiver of the Apply Texas fee. Simply choose any payment option and the waiver will be applied by the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University Graduate ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ department. 
    2. The following website:  will lead you through the application process that allows you to submit your transcript(s), letters of recommendation, personal essay, and writing prompt response.
    • Transcripts:  Submit OFFICIAL transcripts from ALL universities you have attended to the CSDCAS portal. All applicants must have a minimum of a 3.0 overall GPA as calculated by . You will be prompted to download a form that requests official transcripts from each college or university you have attended. You will also be prompted to enter individual classes you have taken on the CSDCAS portal. Both steps need to be completed. Your transcripts must include grades from the Fall semester of your senior year. We recommend sending in transcripts for previously attended institutions as soon as possible, and sending in Fall transcripts for the currently attended institution as soon as Fall grades are posted (if you must submit for other deadlines prior to receiving fall grades, be sure to include Fall coursework as "In Progress" and Spring coursework as "Planned" and then complete  as soon as you have received fall grades). 
    • NOTE: You must map your prerequisite coursework on the final tab of the application. Please notice that some courses may not be applicable to your undergraduate curriculum. Required courses may be taken prior to or concurrent with graduate coursework. Determination of suitability for accelerated leveling will be made on an individual basis.  Please enter all that are applicable.
    • GRE: The GRE is currently waived.
    • Personal Essay: All applicants should provide a 1-2 page written personal statement. This statement gives you an opportunity to present yourself to us and share information about who you are, why you are interested in speech language pathology as a profession, and why you are interested in our program specifically. To help us get to know you better, you may want to tell us about an experience or event that had a significant impact on you, or a specific commitment or goal that reflects who you are as a person. 
    • Any unusual aspects of your academic history should be explained in this statement as well.
    • The personal statement should be uploaded under “Documents.”

    Begin uploading documentation to your CSDCAS application early! 

    • All CSDCAS applications must be VERIFIED by CSDCAS by February 1. A verified application means that it has been e-submitted, payment has been received, and ALL documentation (ALL official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and your personal statement) has been received and verified.
    • Although our deadline of receipt and verification of your application is February 1, we recommend that you e-submit your application at least four weeks in advance of the February 1st deadline to allow time for verification. CSDCAS cannot verify your application until all official transcripts have been received, so be sure to get those documents submitted as early as possible. (Please send transcripts in early Fall for all previously attended institutions and as early in December as possible for the currently attended institution. If you have e-submitted and been verified prior to the completion of Fall coursework, please utilize .) 
    • Regularly check your CSDCAS portal to monitor your application and the receipt of all supporting documents.
    • It is YOUR responsibility to monitor the status of the CSDCAS application and ensure that all materials are received and verified by the deadline.

    An incomplete application cannot be reviewed by the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Committee. 

    *INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS or students receiving their undergraduate degree outside of the United States:  

    • Please note that we recommend the use of World Education Services, Inc. for transcript evaluations as this company's evaluations are accepted by both the CSDCAS portal and ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University. Application evaluations should be sent to CSDCAS directly.
      • While CSDCAS does not require international applicants to complete transcript entry for verification, the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University Speech-Language Pathology program does require you to complete this component in order to maintain equity and parity with domestic applicants with regard to GPA calculations. Please contact slp@lamar.edu for a form to complete this process.
    • Once admitted, students are required to submit a health certificate from a U.S.-based physician or health service certifying that they are free from tuberculosis. Any subsequent travel outside of the US may require additional tuberculosis testing. Students must also have health insurance. In order to qualify for an F-1 visa, applicants have to submit an affidavit of support and a financial statement that demonstrates that no financial support, aside from an assistantship, will be required for the applicant and his/her dependents to reside in the U.S. 
    • Once an international student is academically accepted, he or she must immediately contact the International ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ office to complete a financial guarantee form and submit it with proof of funds for I-20 processing.  An applicant's first I-20 will be sent via express courier at no charge.  Any subsequent courier costs for I-20 documents will be the responsibility of the applicant. 
    • Before attending on-campus classes, students who are under age 22 must either receive a vaccination against bacterial meningitis or meet specific criteria for declining a vaccination. Get more information on complying with this requirement pursuant to Texas Senate Bill 1107. 

    Following LU receipt of verified application, applications will be reviewed and scored via a rubric-based procedureEligible applicants will be invited to continue the application process and will be provided with a timed writing prompt outside the CSDCAS portal. 

    Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. 

    If admitted to the program, official transcript(s)/transcript evaluation(s) showing your receipt of degree must be submitted directly to ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University Graduate ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ to complete the enrollment process. More information will be provided to you at that time should you be accepted to the program. 

    Application portal will open July 15 and will close February 1st for the annual cohort. 

    For further questions, please contact  . 

  • Degree Requirements

    In order to earn Master of Science Degree in Speech-Language Pathology, the student must complete the course sequence below.

    /fine-arts-communication/speech-and-hearing-sciences/academic-programs/ms-in-speech-language-pathology.html 

    First Year

    Summer II Semester

    Articulation and Phonological Disorders

    SPHS 5307

    3

    Research in Communication Disorder

    SPHS 5321

    3

     

    Fall Semester

    Course Name

    Course Code

    Credit Hours

    Aphasia and Neurogenic Disorders

    SPHS 5301

    3

    Language Disorders of Young Children

    SPHS 5306

    3

    Advanced Clinical Practicum

    SPHS 5309

    3

    Spring Semester

    Course Name

    Course Code

    Credit Hours

    Stuttering

    SPHS 5302

    3

    Advanced Clinical Practicum

    SPHS 5309

    3

    Motor Speech Disorders

    SPHS 5326

    3

    Voice Disorders and Cleft Palate

    SPHS 5303

    3

    Summer Semester

    Advanced Clinical Practicum

    SPHS 5309

    6

    Swallowing Disorders

    SPHS 5310

    3

    Second Year

    Fall Semester

    Course Name

    Course Code

    Credit Hours

    Language Disorders of School-age Children

    SPHS 5304

    3

    Individual Study Elective*

    SPHS 5350

    3

    Advanced Clinical Practicum

    SPHS 5309

    3

    Spring Semester

    Course Name

    Course Code

    Credit Hours

    Individual Study/Elective*

    SPHS 5350

    3

    Advanced Clinical Practicum

    SPHS 5309

    3

    Advanced Clinical Practicum

    SPHS 5309

    3

    Students are required to complete comprehensive exams in their final semester. A thesis option is available. If you are interested in writing a thesis, please contact Dr. Johanna Boult at slp@lamar.edu.

    • 5390 Thesis (Prerequisite: Approval of Graduate Advisor)
    • 5391 Thesis

    Student must complete both 5390 and 5391 for required 6 credits. For more detailed description of program courses, please refer to the following website. /catalog/course-directory/index.html
    *Student can take 2 courses including SPHS 5330: Communication Management with Severe Disabilities, SPHS 6352 Aural Rehabilitation. Other topics may include family-centered practice, cognitive-communication disorders, and counseling in communication disorders.

  • Assessment

    All students must demonstrate that they are competent in the knowledge and skills as defined by the 2020 ASHA Standards. Each course and clinical practicum in the sequence targets specific knowledge and skills related to the standards as well as formative and summative evaluation period.

    Formative assessment

    • Daily feedback from clinical supervisors
    • Mid-term student review by all clinical supervisors and academic faculty
    • End-of-semester clinical assessment report
    • Evidence-based practice structured writing assignment
      • In the first semester, the assignment is an introduction to information literacy as well as evidence-based practice.
      • In the second semester, the focus of this project is the evaluation of resources.
      • In the third semester, students are expected to design a well-structured therapy plan supported by evidence from current research. This includes (1) formulating a cohesive plan based on academic learning; (2) finding, evaluating, integrating, and citing new information from credible sources into treatment designs.  The successful completion of this project depends on the synthesis of skills gained in the first two-semester information literacy projects, combined with coursework and clinical experiences that are developed across the first three semesters through lab projects and one-on-one feedback sessions with clinical supervisors. 

    Summative assessment

    • Comprehensive examination during the second year of the graduate program. Feedback on areas of strength and weakness are given to help prepare for the PRAXIS exam.
    • +Students may select a thesis option instead of completing comprehensive exams. Students who want to complete this option should contact Dr. Johanna Boult at slp@lamar.edu.
  • English-Proficiency Requirements

    English Proficiency Requirements

    • TOEFL or IELTS scores () should be submitted through CSDCAS and to ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University directly. Use TOEFL Code C122 to send the official score to CSDCAS and 6360 to send the score to LU.
      • TOEFL and IELTS minimum scores are based on the ASHA Committee on Language Proficiency (2019)
        • TOEFL Internet-Based: Total=minimum of 83 and 26 on the spoken segment
          • TOEFL Internet-Based: Total=preferred 105 and 26 on the Speaking and Listening segment
        • IELTS=minimum of 6.5 and 7 on the spoken segment
          • IELTS=preferred 7.5 and 7.5 on the Speaking and Listening sections
        • *Duolingo is NOT accepted as evidence of language proficiency for the Speech & Hearing Sciences programs

    Additionally, if a student whose native language is not English is accepted into ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University's Speech and Hearing Sciences graduate program, and if there is evidence that this student is having exceptional difficulty with one or more of the tasks required in clinical service delivery (e.g., speech perception, speech/language modeling, comprehending speech or language produced by individuals with communication disorders, writing clinical reports, counseling families, etc.) the student will be asked to address these differences through a remediation plan (e.g., therapy for accent reduction, perceptual training, etc. as needed).

  • SLP Student Outcome Data

    Please consult the table below to understand what out departmental success looks like:

    SLP On Time Completion Rate

    Year Ontime completion average
    Later than on time completion
    Non completion
    Completion Rate
    2023-2024 17 4 0 80.09%
    2022-2023 25 1 0 96.15%
    2021-2022 28 3 0 90.32%
    3-Year Average  89.74%
    NOTE: Number and percentages reflect the speech-language pathology graduates employed in the profession or pursuing further education in the profession within one year of graduation.

    PRAXIS Pass Rate

    NOTE: All master's students must take the PRAXIS examination prior to certification.

    Year Number of Reported test-takers
    Number of test-takers passed Pass Rate
    2023-2024 21 21 100.00%
    2022-2023 32 28 87.50%
    2021-2022 31 26 83.87%
    3-Year Average  89.29%

     

     

     

     

     

    Employment Rate of Graduates

    Year Number of Graduates Employed
    Number of Graduates not Employed Pass Rate
    2023-2024 11 0 100.00%
    2022-2023 23 0 100.00%
    2021-2022 26 0 100.00%
    3-Year Average program completion rate  100.00%

    NOTE: Number and percentages reflect the SLP graduates employed in the profession or pursuing further education in the profession within one year of graduation. Data were provided for students reporting employment information to the program.

  • State Licensure Determination Table

    State Licensure Determination Table

    We have determined that the LU Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology Program curriculum:

    Meets the educational requirements in these states and US Territories

    We have not determined if the program curriculum meets the requirements in these states and US Territories

    List of states/territories

    List of states/territories

    Alabama

    Alaska

    Arizona

    Arkansas

    California

    Colorado

    Connecticut

    Delaware

    District of Columbia

    Florida

    Georgia

    Hawaii

    Idaho

    Illinois

    Indiana

    Iowa

    Kansas

    Kentucky

    Louisiana

    Maine

    Maryland

    Massachusetts

    Michigan

    Minnesota

    Mississippi

    Missouri

    Montana

    Nebraska

    Nevada New Hampshire

    New Jersey

    New Mexico (*No reciprocity)

    New York

    North Carolina

    North Dakota

    Ohio

    Oklahoma

    Oregon

    Pennsylvania

    Rhode Island

    South Carolina

    South Dakota

    Tennessee

    Texas

    Utah (*No reciprocity)

    Vermont (*No reciprocity)

    Virginia

    Washington

    West Virginia

    Wisconsin

    Wyoming

    Guam

     

    American Samoa

    Northern Mariana Islands

    Puerto Rico

    U.S. Virgin Islands

    This information is based on ASHA’s State-by-State guide. ()

    For states that do require training with school-based populations, our program does provide each student with clinical practicum experience with school-aged children prior to graduation.

Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities Chart: School is 53%, College/University is 3%, hospital is 13%, Resdential Health Care Facility is 10%, Non-residential Health Care Facility is 16%, Other is 5%

Salaries

According to a 2010 survey by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the median annual salary for speech-language pathologists is $55,934; for audiologists it is $65,000.

Salaries for speech scientists and hearing scientists are quite variable and, depending on the employment setting, can range from $40,000 to more than $60,000 for graduates with and doctoral degrees.

Cost Estimates

You can find out about tuition and fee estimates by visiting LU's tuition and fees page.

Other Expenses

In addition to tuition and fees, students may need to consider other expenses. These include living expenses and travel expenses to attend clinical placements during year two. Texas living expenses are considered more economical when compared to the national average.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

The following scholarships are available for the students pursuing the MS in Speech-Language Pathology

  • Tony Houseman Memorial Scholarship
  • Paula and John Lovoi Scholarship in Speech-Language Pathology
  • Diane and Don Shaver Speech and Hearing Sciences Scholarship

Note: All students accepted and enrolled into the M.S. program receive a $1,000.00 scholarship per year of their graduate studies. All out-of-state students receive an out-of-state tuition waiver.

For more information visit our department's scholarships webpage

To learn more about financial aid/student loans, visit LU's student financial assistance website.

Research

Speech and Language Pathology faculty are involved in a variety of lab and field-based research. Please refer to faculty profiles to find out more about research interests and specific research studies.