Speech-Language Pathology

The Master of Science program in Speech-Language Pathology at Nazareth College is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard #310, Rockville, Maryland 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

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 the certificate of clinical competene by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), New York State professional license, and Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities through the New York State Education Department.

The program requires a minimum of 42 credit hours of academic course work and 9 credit hours of clinical course work (a total of 51 minimum credit hours). 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 foundational courses required for graduate study in the Nazareth College Speech-Language Pathology Program are admitted to the Extended Program (refer to foundational courses identified in the Extended Graduate Program section).

Graduate students begin their practicum experience in the Nazareth College Speech/Hearing Clinics and outreach programs. The clinics service a diverse group of clients with speech, language, cognitive, and hearing disorders.Throughout the program, students complete at least nine hours of practicum experiences with individuals across the lifespan (early intervention, school-age, and adult), across various settings, and with a variety of populations.

Program Director
Dawn Vogler-Elias, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
(585) 389-2770
dvogler9@naz.edu

Entry Requirements

Completed Online Application
Completion of the professional statement as described on the application
Official transcripts from all colleges attended
- Applicant must have completed, or will be completing, a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative index of 3.0 and a “B” average in the major field by the start date of the desired term.
  - An applicant who does not meet these grade point average expectations must address them in his/her professional statement; please see the Professional Statement section of the admissions application for further information.
Two letters of recommendation (additional letters may be sent directly to Graduate Admissions)
Official GRE scores
Copy of supervised observation and clinical hours (Only needed for students entering with undergraduate degree in CSD)
Copy of verification of teacher certification from the TEACH system (Only needed for students entering with Initial Certification)
Resume

Application Deadlines:
February 1 for Fall Term

Typical Graduate Program

In consultation with the Graduate Program Director/academic advisor, students plan and implement individualized programs to acquire and retain knowledge and skills in the competency areas outlined by the CAA. Specific knowledge must be verified/demonstrated in the following areas: Articulation, Fluency, Voice & Resonance, Language, Hearing, Swallowing, Cognitive Aspects, Social Aspects and Augmentative & Alternative Communication Modalities. Each student’s graduate program of study is created to ensure that they possess the appropriate requisite knowledge when registering for competency-based and elective course work.

Program Deficiencies
Students whose undergraduate preparation in speech-language pathology has areas of deficiency or who completed an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders or an equivalent program from another institution may be required to complete the necessary foundational (preparatory) courses identified in the Extended Program section. The Program Director will assist those students in identifying those deficiency areas which must be completed in order to fulfill the certification requirements outlined by the CAA.

Academic Core (10 credit hours)

These courses are typically completed during the first two semesters of graduate study.

CSD 511 - Methods of Diagnosis of Communication Disorders-Advanced Credits: 3
CSD 530 - Neuroanatomy of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism Credits: 3
CSD 571 - Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology Credits: 0
CSD 598 - Contemporary Issues in Interprofessional Team Practice Credits: 1
CSD 604 - Research Methodology in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Credits: 3

Disorders Core (Program Plan to be created to meet ASHA standards)

CSD 520 - Alternative and Augmentative Communication Credits: 3
CSD 533 - Fluency Disorders Credits: 3
CSD 540 - Feeding and Swallowing Disorders Credits: 3
CSD 577 - Phonological Process Disorders Credits: 3
CSD 590 - Motor Speech Disorders Credits: 3
CSD 531 - Language Disorders Credits: 3 or CSD 537 Seminar: Literacy and Language Credits: 3
CSD 532 - Voice Disorders Credits: 3 or CSD 534 Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies Credits: 3
CSD 535 - Aphasia and Related Disorders Credits: 3
or CSD 579 Introduction to Cognitive Rehabilitation and Brain Injury Credits: 3

Advanced Coursework & Electives (Program Plan to be created to meet ASHA standards)

All courses except Advanced Clinical Techniques recur on cycle (i.e. fall, spring, or summer). Advanced Clinical Techniques courses are offered every term.

CSD 504 - Language Acquisition Credits: 3
CSD 518 - Conferencing and Consulting Techniques In Speech-Language Pathology Credits: 1 to 3
CSD 541 - Medical Sp Lang Path Credits: 2
CSD 542 - Seminar: Developmental Disabilities Credits: 3
CSD 544 - Early Intervention Credits: 3
CSD 561 - Educational Audiology Credits: 3
CSD 597 - Facilitating Lang & Comm Through Tech Credits: 3
CSD 605 - Thesis Credits: 3
CSD 607 - Independent Study Credits: 1 to 3
CSD 610 - Current Topics in Communication Disorders Credits: 3
CSD 611 - Special Topics and Innovations in Speech Lang Path Credits: 1 to 2
CSD 661 - Autism Supports Across the Lifespan Credits: 3
HHS 611 - Seminar in Challenging Behavior Credits: 1

Practicum: Clinical Coursework and Practica

Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Training is required for all practicum courses.

The Council for Clinical Certification (CFCC) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association requires practicum experiences that encompass the breadth of the current scope of practice across the life span and settings. Practica are designed to develop the knowledge and skills in the areas outlined by the CFCC, and in compliance with the Council for Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology standards (CAA). Students must complete a minimum of 400 clock hours of which at least 375 hours must be in direct client/patient contact and 25 hours in observation. At least 325 of the 400 hours must be completed at the graduate level. Students must have the appropriate foundational clinical methods coursework that is taken concurrently with their first program-based practicum. Students must obtain a minimum of 25 direct contact hours (initial clinical competency experience) in speech-language pathology activities under the supervision of Nazareth College faculty before they are eligible for an external practicum. This experience is typically obtained in the Nazareth College Speech and Hearing Clinics or through targeted on-campus or community outreach clinical experiences. Graduate students who have not completed their pre-clinical observation hours must do so prior to registering for clinical methods coursework; they are encouraged to register for CSD 359 Pre-Clinical Observation in Speech-Language and Hearing (1 credit).

CLINICAL COURSEWORK CREDIT REQUIREMENTS:

Typical Graduate Status: 10-12 credit hour minimum - This option is for students who are completing the majority of their clinical practica at the graduate level.

Advanced Standing Status: 9 credit hour minimum - This option is for students who have completed significant clinical practica at the undergraduate level.

Final Evaluation

CSD 699 - Master’s Comprehensive Exam and Graduate Portfolio Review Credits: 0

TOTAL CREDITS: Minimum 51 of Academic and Clinical Coursework

Extended Graduate Program

Students admitted with undergraduate preparation in areas other than speech-language pathology will be required to complete the Extended Graduate Program. This is in accordance with the minimum 75 semester hours required by ASHA for certification. Students must earn a grade of B or higher in all foundational courses in order to continue in the program. Permission to repeat a foundational course may be granted on a case by case basis. The extended program includes the following foundational courses or their equivalents:

15 credit hours in Basic Communication Processes: CSD 132 Speech-Language Acquisition; 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. (When available, CSD 504 Language Acquisition may be taken to fulfill CSD 132 and 252.) See Undergraduate Catalog for course descriptions.
15 credit hours in Methodology and Practice: CSD 333 Speech Pathology I; CSD 335 Methods of Speech-Language Evaluation; CSD 500 and CSD 500L Methods of Speech-Language Therapy and Lab; CSD 437 Hearing Problems and Testing; CSD 438 Aural Rehabilitation. See Undergraduate Catalog for course descriptions.

Liberal Arts and Sciences Pre-requisite Course Requirements
All students enrolled in the graduate program must have transcript credit (which could include coursework, advanced placement, CLEP or other examinations of equivalency) for each of the following areas:

(1) biological sciences (Biology);
(2) physical sciences (Physics or Chemistry);
(3) Statistics;
(4) social-behavioral sciences.

Additional Credentials and Concentrations

Teacher Certification
Students who wish to pursue Initial Teacher Certification for Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD) at the graduate level are required to complete the following courses:

SPF 501 Social Foundations of Education or equivalent
PSY 221 Developmental Psychology: Childhood and Adolescence or equivalent
EDU 583 Heath Education/Child Abuse/Violence Prevention Workshop
EDU 593 Harassment, Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Discrimination in Schools: Prevention and Intervention (DASA Training)
CSD 565 Student Teaching
CSD 568 Speech-Language Services in the Schools*

*Note: CSD 568 is typicallystrongly recommended for all students who wish to work in an educational setting, even if they are not pursuing NYS teacher certification

NYS Teacher Certification Tests & Applying for Teacher Certification through New York State
Teacher candidates use the NYS TEACH system to apply for Initial and Professional certifications and need to pay the fees in effect at the time they apply. New York requires all teacher candidates to have a fingerprint/background check on file with TEACH, pass all appropriate New York State Teacher Certification Examinations www.nystce.nesinc.com> and have the appropriate years of teaching experience. New York State Education Department maintains a website with certification requirements: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/

The new assessments/tests (available starting September, 2013) are as follows for students in a first time certification program requiring student teaching:

Educating All Students Test (EAS); and
Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST).

For Professional Certification the teacher candidate will need to pass the Speech-Language Pathology PRAXIS II Examination.

During a teacher candidate’s final semester, information on the certification application process will be sent via email. Additional support may be obtained by contacting Nazareth College Teacher Certification Office at (585) 389-2592 or by email tcert@naz.edu, or naz.edu/education/teacher-certification

Deafness Specialty Concentration

The Deafness Specialty Concentration prepares speech-language pathologists to work with families and children to promote their spoken language and literacy, and maximize their potential for academic and social success. Graduate students in the program learn to work with individuals from birth through young adulthood who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as working with families, teachers, and service providers, after completing a three course sequence. They are prepared to work with a diverse population of children who are deaf who may use hearing aids or cochlear implants and who may use a range of communication options including spoken language, Cued Speech, and sign language. Details can be found at the following link: https://www2.naz.edu/academics/grad/deafness-specialty-program/

Deafness Specialty Courses (DPS) (By permission only)
DSP 595 - Language and Communication in the Early Years: Deaf & HOH Children Birth to Five Credits: 3
DSP 596 - Language, Literacy, and Communication in School-age Deaf and HOH Students Credits: 3
CSD 597 - Facilitating Lang & Comm Through Tech Credits: 3
Autism Concentration (I-SPAN)
The Interdisciplinary Specialty Program in Autism (I-SPAN) is a graduate-level program that prepares professionals to work with individuals on the autism spectrum across the lifespan. It consists of a three-course sequence that examines contemporary topics related to best practice in person-centered support of individuals on the autism spectrum in multiple settings. I-SPAN is open to graduate-level matriculated students in a variety of disciplines, including speech-language pathology, education, social work, occupational therapy, physical therapy and nursing. More information is available at the following link: https://www2.naz.edu/academics/grad/interdisciplinary-autism-program.

Autism Specialty Courses (I-SPAN) (By permission only)
AUT 660 - Exploring Autism From Multiple Perspectives Credits: 3
CSD 661 - Autism Supports Across the Lifespan Credits: 3
AUT 662 - Autism: a Contemporary Lens Credits: 3