Speech-Language Pathology

Certification Requirement Changes

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association along with the Council on Academic Accreditation in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology have changed the requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology. The new requirements went into effect on January 1, 2005.

The Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) accredits the graduate Speech-Language Pathology Program of the Nazareth College Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. The program’s mission is to prepare students with the knowledge, skills and attitude to be effective, efficient, and ethical professionals in a diverse society. Upon completion of this program, students are eligible to apply for certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), licensing by the New York State Education Department, and teacher certification by the New York State Education Department.

The program requires a minimum of 39 credit hours of academic course work and, 9 credit hours of clinical course work. The program offers a wide range of courses and practica opportunities to prepare students to work in a variety of settings including medical, educational and private agencies. Applicants who have not completed the undergraduate prerequisites for graduate study in speech-language pathology are admitted to the Extended Program.

Graduate students begin their practicum experience in the Nazareth College Speech Hearing Clinic and its outreach programs. The clinic services a diverse group of clients with speech, language, and hearing disorders. Students interested in neurological disorders are given opportunities to conduct evaluations, treatment, and research in the Aphasia Clinic.

The Nazareth College clinics are an integral part of the clinical education component of the program. Services are available to the community at large.

Program Director
Lisa Durant-Jones, M.S.

Entry Requirements

Completion of a baccalaureate degree at an accredited institution with a cumulative index of 3.0.
Presentation of official transcripts.
Two letters of recommendation.
Copy of teacher certification where applicable.
Copy of supervised observations and clinical hours where applicable.
Score on GRE (Graduate Record Exam).
Application and fee.
Completion of the personal-professional statement as described on the application form.

Application Deadlines

February 1 for Fall Term
October 1 for Spring Term

Prerequisite Courses

All applicants to the Speech-Language Pathology program must have transcript credit (which could include course work, advanced placement, CLEP, or examination of equivalency) for each of the following areas:

(1) biological sciences,
(2) physical sciences,
(3) mathematics/statistics, and
(4) social-behavioral sciences.

Applicants whose undergraduate preparation in speech-language pathology is deficient will be required to complete prerequisite courses in an extended program. To continue graduate study, students must obtain a B or higher grade in all prerequisite courses taken in the extended program. The following courses, or their equivalents are required:

15 credit hours in Basic Communication Processes: CSD 132 Introduction to Speech, Language and Hearing; CSD 201 Phonetics; CSD 231 Anatomy of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism; CSD 232 Speech Science; CSD 252 Psycholinguistics. See Undergraduate Catalog for course descriptions.
15 credit hours in methodology and practice: CSD 335 Methods of Speech-Language Evaluation; CSD 360 or 361, and 362 (lab) Methods of Speech-Language Therapy; CSD 437 Hearing Problems and Testing; CSD 438 Aural Rehabilitation; CSD 452 Behavior Management. Students who do not currently hold Inital Certification and desire teaching certification must complete the following 15 credit hours in addition to the prerequisite courses in communication sciences and disorders noted above: EDU 204 History and Philosophy of Education; PSY 221 Developmental Psychology I: Childhood and Adolescence; EDU 475 Health Education/Child Abuse/Violence Prevention & Intervention Workshop (0 credit); EDU 468 Organization and Administration of Speech-Language-Hearing Services in the Schools; CSD 565 Student Teaching. All courses are 3 semester credit hours unless noted otherwise. See Undergraduate Catalog for course descriptions.
Students who have completed an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from another institution may be required to complete additional academic course work in order to fulfill certification requirements as outlined on the Knowledge and Skills Acquisition Form. The Program Director will assist those students in identifying thoes deficiency areas as a program of study is developed.

New York State Certification Examinations are required for teacher certification (pre-K-12 - All Grades).