The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology (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 42 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 Brain Injury Clinics.
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.
(585) 389-2775
ldurant4@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 where applicable
- Copy of verification of teacher certification from the TEACH system where applicable
- Resume
Application Deadlines:
February 1 for Fall Term
October 1 for Spring 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 Council on Academic Accreditation in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Specific knowledge must be verified/demonstrated in the following areas: Articulation, Fluency, Voice & Resonance, Language, Hearing, Swallowing, Cognitive Aspects, Social Aspects and Modalities. Students with an undergraduate degree in the major will be required to take additional academic or clinical course work at the graduate level when the Graduate Advisor cannot verify a targeted knowledge or skill area.
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 in the Knowledge and Skills Acquisition Form from ASHA.
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