Speech-Language Pathology, M.S.
Admissions Requirements
Due to the large number of applications received each year, admission to the master’s degree programs in speech-language pathology is highly competitive. The mean four-year undergraduate GPA for those admitted during the previous year was 3.75 (on a 4.0-point scale). Admission is holistic, and submission of GRE scores is not required, but optional.
Degree Requirements (Minimum 76 Hours)
Course Work and Clinical Experiences
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers the Master of Science degree (M.S.) in Speech-Language Pathology in a full-time face-to-face/residential format (MS-Res), as well as in a part-time distance education format (MS-DE). The M.S. degree offered in two pathways (MS-Res and MS-DE) is designed to ensure that its graduates obtain the academic course work and clinical experiences necessary to meet the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) standards for the Certification of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). As such, the curricula require a minimum of 76 semester hours of academic course work plus the completion of 375 clock hours of supervised clinical practicum. Virtually all master’s degree graduates, however, exceed these minimums, with most completing as much as 80 semester hours of study. Courses comprising the master’s degree curriculum fall within three basic content areas: Basic Communication Sciences, Professional Coursework, and Clinical Practicum. In addition, the following courses have been verified by the State of South Carolina, Department of Education, Office of Educator Services, to meet the South Carolina Literacy Competencies (Administrators/Speech Language Therapist) for the Read to Succeed pre-service 6-credit requirements:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMD 706 | Preschool Language Development and Disorders | 3 |
| COMD 720 | School-Age Language & Literacy Development and Disorders | 3 |
| COMD 727 | Advanced Study of Literacy for Speech-Language Pathologists | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours | 8 | |
Basic Communication Sciences
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMD 501 | Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Mechanisms | 3 |
| COMD 744 | Neurocognitive Bases of Language Behavior | 3 |
| COMD 745 | Introduction to Speech Science and Acoustic Measurement | 3 |
| COMD 507 | Language Theory and Phonetics | 3 |
| COMD 560 | Observation of Speech Language Pathology | 1-3 |
| COMD 570 | Introduction to Language Development | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 16-18 | |
Professional Course Work
Of the minimum 45 semester hours of professional course work, a minimum of 36 semester hours must be within the area of Speech-Language Pathology. MS-Res and MS-DE students must also take PUBH 700.
- Speech Disorders (Minimum 6 semester hours at the graduate level, with 9 semester hours overall at the undergraduate and graduate levels)
- Language Disorders (Minimum 9 semester hours)
- Other Speech Pathology Courses (Minimum 15 semester hours)
- Audiology (Minimum 6 semester hours at the graduate level)
- Cochlear Implants (Minimum 3 semester hours)
Clinical Practicum
Minimum 24 semester hours.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMD 772 | Practicum in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology (minimum 12 semester hours total) | 12 |
| COMD 774 | Internship in Speech Pathology | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours | 24 | |