Program Overview
College of Natural and Health Sciences
Site: Greeley, Extended Campus/Distance
Mode: In-person (Greeley); Online (Extended Campus)
Start term: Fall (Greeley); Fall 2024 (Extended Campus)
Acting Chair: Kim Murza, Ph.D.
Location: Gunter 1400
Telephone: 970.351.2734
Fax: 970.351.2974
Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/audiology-speech-language-sciences/
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
General Master's Degree Admission Requirements
Program Requirements:
Students will be admitted to this limited-enrollment program on the basis of:
- Academic record,
- At least three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with their academic/clinical performance,
- Responses to academic and applicant questions.
Admission to the Graduate School does not guarantee admission to the Speech-Language Pathology graduate program.
Prerequisites. The 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. These requirements must be met before admission to the graduate program.
Degree Requirements
Select one of the following research courses (3 hours)
| RCS 610 | Interpretation and Evaluation of Behavioral Research | 3 |
| SRM 600 | Introduction to Graduate Research | 3 |
Complete the following courses (34 hours)
| CSD 516 | Professional Issues in SLP | 2 |
| CSD 555 | Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Communication | 3 |
| CSD 563 | Voice and Resonance Disorders | 3 |
| CSD 571 | Speech and Hearing Science | 4 |
| CSD 580 | Clinical Practices in Aural Rehabilitation | 1 |
| CSD 655 | Acquired Disorders of Language & Cognition | 3 |
| CSD 656 | Feeding and Swallowing Disorders: Lifespan | 2 |
| CSD 657 | Motor Speech Disorders: Lifespan | 2 |
| CSD 658 | Assistive Technology for Communication Disorders | 2 |
| CSD 661 | Articulation and Phonological Disorders in Children | 3 |
| CSD 664 | Fluency Disorders | 3 |
| CSD 682 | Language Disorders in Early Childhood and Preschool | 3 |
| CSD 684 | Disorders of Language & Literacy: School-Age and Adolescent | 3 |
Research Courses (2 hours)
| CSD 515 | Foundations of Research and Writing | 1 |
| CSD 517 | Evidence-Based Decision-Making in Speech-Language Pathology | 1 |
Clinical Practicum — 10-14 hours
| CSD 567 | Diagnostic Procedures: Introduction | 1-2 |
| CSD 568 | Diagnostic Procedures: Intermediate | 1-2 |
| CSD 569 | Advanced Diagnostic Procedures | 1-2 |
| CSD 583 | Clinical Practicum: Introduction | 1-2 |
| CSD 585 | Clinical Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology: Intermediate | 1-2 |
| CSD 586 | Clinical Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology: Intermediate/Advanced | 1-2 |
| CSD 588 | Clinical Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology: Advanced | 1-2 |
CSD 567: Take 1 hour
CSD 568: Take 1 hour
CSD 569: Take 1 hour
CSD 583: Take 1 hour
CSD 585: Take 2 hours
CSD 586: Take 2 hours
CSD 588: Take 2 hours
The primary purpose of clinical practica is to help students become competent in the assessment and treatment of various communication disorders. For this reason, students are required to be continuously enrolled in practicum courses during their graduate work. Clinic clock hours obtained through practicum courses will be used to help students meet the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) clock-hour requirements in certain clinical categories. In some cases students may need additional clinical clock hours and experience as determined by the Clinic Coordinator. In such instances, they may repeat CSD 585, CSD 586, CSD 588, CSD 567, CSD 568, and/or CSD 569. See the program handbook for more information.
Internships — 12-24 hours
Students must take both internships.
Must be arranged by internship coordinator.
| CSD 592 | Internship in Public Schools | 1-15 |
| CSD 692 | Internship in Medical Settings | 1-16 |
CSD 592: Take a minimum of 6 hours.
CSD 692: Take a minimum of 6 hours.
Thesis Option (Elective Credit Hours - 9)
Students who elect to complete a thesis may reduce the number of credits assigned to internship with the consent of their academic advisor. In addition to the requirements above, they must complete the following:
| CSD 699 | Thesis: Communication Disorders | 1-6 |
| SRM 602 | Statistical Methods I | 3 |
| | or | |
| | Other statistics course approved by advisor | |
Students, who complete this program and who pass the Praxis exam and clinical fellowship, are eligible for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and for licensure from the Colorado Department of Education. Eight weeks of internship in public schools are required to be eligible for licensure from the Colorado Department of Education. This program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the ASHA and by the Colorado Department of Education.
Satisfactory performance on culminating activity/activities approved by program faculty, in accordance with Graduate School policy, satisfies the completion of the comprehensive exam and is required to complete the M.A. Program.