Speech-Language Pathology

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 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 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, Ed.D.

Entry Requirements  

1. Completion of a baccalaureate degree at an accredited institution with a cumulative index of 3.0.
2. Official transcripts.
3. Two letters of recommendation.
4. Copy of supervised observations and clinical hours where applicable.
5. Score on GRE (Graduate Record Exam).
6. Application and fee.
7. Completion of the personal-professional statement as described on the application form.
8. Resume.
9. Copy of verification of teacher certification from the TEACH system where applicable.

   
Application Deadlines:
February 1 for Fall Term
October 1 for Spring Term

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:

1. 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.
2. 15 credit hours in Methodology and Practice: CSD 333 Speech Pathology I; 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. See Undergraduate Catalog for course descriptions.

Liberal Arts and Sciences Pre-requisite Courses

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;
(2) physical sciences;
(3) mathematics, statistics; and
(4) social-behavioral sciences.

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 in the Knowledge and Skills Acquisition Form from ASHA.

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:

• EDU 204 History and Philosophy of Education or equivalent
• PSY 221 Developmental Psychology: Childhood and Adolescence or equivalent
• EDU 475 Heath Education/Child Abuse/Violence Prevention Workshop
• CSD 468 Speech-Language Services in the Schools*
• CSD 565 Student Teaching

*Note: CSD 468 is strongly recommended for all students who wish to work in an educational setting, even if they are not pursuing NYS teacher certification

Initial certification in Speech and Language Disabilities requires the following New York State Teacher Certification Examinations: Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) and Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W). Professional certification, requires the Speech Language Pathology PRAXIS II. Completion of the New York State Certification Examinations are required prior to student teaching.

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 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/

During a teacher candidate’s final semester information on the application process will be sent via email. Additional support may be obtained by contacting the Nazareth College Teacher Certification Office at (585)389-2592 or 2591 or e-mail gpotemp2@naz.edu or chill0@naz.edu, www.naz.edu/dept/edu/certification.cfm.

Deafness Specialty Concentration

In collaboration with the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Nazareth College offers a Deafness Specialty Concentration in working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing, especially those with cochlear implants. Specialty courses include Early Intervention, Developmental Issues and Deaf Learners, Assessment and Intervention Strategies for Facilitating Spoken Language, Educational Audiology, and Cochlear Implants: Technology and Use. Extensive clinical practicum experience fostering spoken language and literacy of children who are deaf or hard of hearing is provided. Students prepare to work with linguistically and culturally diverse children and families who use a wide range of communication methods and strategies including auditory-verbal, visually-supported spoken language (Cued Speech and sign-supported speech), and American Sign Language. Specialty program students receive substantial tuition assistance from the US Department of Education. Admission to the specialty program is by competitive application; other students may take specialty courses with permission.

 Typical Graduate Program