ObjectivesThe Master of Science program in speech-language pathology provides academic and practicum experiences basic to the development of clinical competence in the evaluation, diagnosis, and remediation of disorders of speech, and language.
The program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). All students are expected to acquaint themselves with department and University requirements and regulations, and to consult closely with their advisers in order to fulfill both academic and practicum requirements leading to the Certificate of Clinical Competence of ASHA and to New York State licensure. Students are expected to adhere to University policies regarding academic integrity and professional behaviors, as outlined in course syllabi.
Course description
The master’s program in speech-language pathology is 56-57 credits and can be completed in full-time or part-time study. In addition to the program at the main campus in Garden City, the Master’s program is also offered at two additional locations: Adelphi University’s Manhattan Center and at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue. The academic courses at the Garden City Campus are held on a traditional 15-week semester. The academic courses at the Manhattan Center and St. Joseph’s College campus are held on Sundays in 8-week cycles. All students must take academic course work at the program site (i.e., Garden City, Manhattan Center, or at St. Joseph’s College) to which they were admitted. Exceptions are granted only in extenuating circumstances with prior approval of the student’s academic adviser. All clinical seminars, teacher prep courses, and in-house practica are held on the Garden City campus.
Students must complete a series of supervised clinical practica, both at the Hy Weinberg Center for Communication Disorders and in at least two of our outside clinical affiliated agencies. Students must earn a grade of B– or better in SPH 660 prior to enrolling in an outside practicum. During their course of study, students are limited to one outside clinical placement during the summer session. All students should expect to do their outside placements during daytime hours. In addition, students will be required to provide full-time availability for at least one of their outside clinical placements during a regular academic semester (fall or spring). Students who plan to complete an internship in a hospital or rehabilitation setting must do their residency at that time. For students whose undergraduate education did not include supervised clinical practice, it may be necessary to enroll in additional clinical practica in order to meet the clock-hour requirements mandated by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Students pursuing NYS Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD) Certification or the Bilingual Extension to the TSSLD in addition to NYS license and ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) must consult with the coordinator of TSSLD to develop a program of study.
To be eligible for graduation, master’s level students must pass a departmental comprehensive examination. The student’s academic adviser must approve applications for this examination during the semester prior to taking the examination. The comprehensive exam is offered three times in an academic year (fall, spring, and summer semesters). Motivated students can complete a research project in lieu of the written comps.
Master's Programs Admission Requirements and Procedures
Students are accepted for the fall semester only. All applicants to the master’s degree program in communication disorders must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Students applying provisionally to the M.S. degree program in Communication Disorders who have not received undergraduate training in communication disorders are required first to complete a minimum of 18 credits in undergraduate prerequisite courses or their equivalent (see below), as approved by the department. Students may not apply more than two times for admission to the master’s program in communication disorders. All master’s degree students accepted provisionally pending completion of undergraduate prerequisite courses must complete their outstanding courses at Adelphi, and receive no more than one C grade (C+, C, C–) in order to matriculate. Prerequisite courses are typically offered at least twice a year on the Garden City campus. Students may take prerequisite courses at other institutions with prior approval of their academic adviser. Upon completion of prerequisite courses, students are to meet with their adviser to complete a form for official matriculation into the master’s program.
Note: The department strongly advises non-undergraduate majors to take as many prerequisites as possible before applying for graduate school admission. We require a minimum of 3–4 graded courses.
Course# Course Title Credits
SPE 138 Sound and the Auditory Mechanism 3
SPE 140 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism 3
SPE 142 Phonetics 3
SPE 144 Development of Speech and Language 3
or
SPH 602 Speech and Language Development 3
SPE 350 Survey of Developmental Language Disorders
or
SPE 351 Survey of Speech Disorders 3
or
SPE 410 Survey of Adult Neurogenic Disorders 3