This two-year program is designed to prepare students for entry-level activity as speech-language pathologists. The program is full time and has an emphasis on preparing students to be life-long learners with a strong foundation in evidence-based practice (EBP) and academics. Our program is constructed within a framework of the clinician-researcher model.
The curriculum supports the development of skills related to EBP in a sequence that provides students with hands-on learning opportunities in a clinical setting. Our well-designed public clinic allows students to hone their skills and learn about business practices of the profession. Throughout the curriculum, students gain experience formulating clinical questions, examining research, collecting data, evaluating outcomes, and presenting their findings in written and oral formats. Through their coursework and clinical training students develop critical thinking skills that will support them in the future.
Speech-Language Pathology M.A.
This certifying master’s program is fully accredited and provides excellent academic, research, and clinical preparation.
Areas emphasized include:
• The science of communication;
• The nature, prevention, assessment, and management of:
- developmental articulation disorders
- language and literacy disorders
- voice disorders
- fluency disorders
- pervasive developmental disorders, including autism
- dysphagia
- neurologic disorders including aphasia, apraxia, post head-injury disorders and dementia;
• Augmentative and alternative communication systems;
• Aural rehabilitation.
This program offers extensive supervised clinical experience through the well-equipped UNC Speech- Language Pathology and Audiology Clinic and ancillary clinics in Colorado. This M.A. program is accredited by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Students who complete this program are eligible to apply for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech- Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language- Hearing Association. Graduates can also qualify for licensure from the Colorado Department of Education. Career opportunities include: positions in schools, hospitals, practice in association with a range of physicians including otolaryngology, neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry and pediatrics; rehabilitation centers, and private practice.
Admission. Students will be admitted to this limited-enrollment program on the basis of:
1. academic record,
2. Graduate Record Examination scores,
3. at least three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with their academic/clinical performance,
4. a letter of intent.
Admission to the Graduate School does not guarantee admission to the Speech-Language Pathology graduate program.
Prerequisites. This program assumes an undergraduate background in speech-language pathology and/or audiology. Students who do not have such a background must fulfill academic requirements as determined by their major advisor and should be prepared to spend a minimum of two additional semesters to complete undergraduate level courses prior to beginning graduate coursework.