Speech - Language Pathology (M.A.)

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The Master’s degree (M.A.) in Speech-Language Pathology is a two-year post-baccalaureate program consisting of four semesters of didactic coursework (including one summer session) and clinical practicum and a minimum of two semesters of external, full-time clinical placements. The master’s (M.A.) education program in speech/language pathology and the doctoral (Au.D.) education program in audiology at the University of South Dakota is 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 toll free or 301-296-5700.

Master of Arts, Speech-Language Pathology: Total 52-77 credit hours*

All graduate students working toward the completion of graduate degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders must meet the academic and clinical practicum requirements for the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in their area of emphasis (Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology) by the end of their degree program. The ASHA requirements may be waived for international students. In addition, all graduate students are required to pass a comprehensive examination in the final semester of their graduate study. The Communication Sciences and Disorders faculty will determine the content, form, and the length of the examination. Specific academic and clinical practicum requirements for the degrees and national certification are contained in the department’s Student Handbook. Consult your advisor or the department chairperson.

Major Area Coursework

Communication Sciences and Disorders core course work (11 to 20 credit hours):
DCOM 523 - AURAL REHABILITATION 3 cr hrs *Unless taken at the undergraduate level.
DCOM 532 - DISORDERS OF PHONOLOGY AND ARTICULATION 3 cr hrs *Unless taken at the undergraduate level.
DCOM 535 - LANGUAGE DISORDERS OF CHILDREN 3 cr hrs *Unless taken at the undergraduate level.
DCOM 710 - PROFESSIONAL ISSUES IN COMMUNICATION DISORDERS I 1 cr hrs
DCOM 711 - PROFESSIONAL ISSUES IN COMMUNICATION DISORDERS II 1 cr hrs
DCOM 724 - ADVANCED COMMUNICATION SCIENCE 3 cr hrs
DCOM 730 - CENTRAL AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDERS 3 cr hrs
DCOM 787 - THEORIES AND METHODS OF GRADUATE STUDY AND RESEARCH 3 cr hrs
Speech-Language Pathology course work: (41 to 57 credit hours)
DCOM 533 - VOICE DISORDERS 3 cr hrs *Unless taken at the undergraduate level.
DCOM 534 - AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION 3 cr hrs *Unless taken at the undergraduate level. 3 credit hours required.
DCOM 537 - ADVANCED LANGUAGE DISORDERS 3 cr hrs *Unless taken at the undergraduate level. 3 credit hours required.
DCOM 595 - PRACTICUM 1 to 6 cr hrs (5-6 credit hours required)
DCOM 731 - FLUENCY DISORDERS 3 cr hrs
DCOM 732 - CRANIOFACIAL ANOMALIES 3 cr hrs
DCOM 733 - NEUROMOTOR SPEECH DISORDERS 3 cr hrs
DCOM 734 - ACQUIRED DISORDERS OF LANGUAGE AND COGNITION 3 cr hrs
DCOM 736 - DIAGNOSTICS IN SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DISORDERS 3 cr hrs
DCOM 737 - DYSPHAGIA 3 cr hrs
DCOM 794 - INTERNSHIP IN COMMUNICATION DISORDERS 1 to 12 cr hrs (18-24 credit hours required) two semesters of internship required
Notes:

Total credit hours required for the program are individualized based on which courses were completed at the undergraduate level (18 possible) and the hours of clinical practicum and internship mandated by the clinical sites and necessary for the student to meet ASHA requirements for client contact hours (minimum 375 clinical clock hours with clients plus 25 hours of observation in the Scope of Practice for Speech-language Pathology required for certification).

* Variation in number of credits reflects differential requirements for students with or without a baccalaureate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.