The Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) graduate program at SHU is designed to prepare students to meet the requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology set by the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, for Connecticut Licensure as a speech-language pathologist from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and for Connecticut teacher endorsement.
Students who wish to practice as speech-language pathologists will need to complete all undergraduate prerequisites (or their equivalents), including 25 hours of observation of ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists’ practice. They must then complete a master’s degree in SLP. Graduate study in SLP requires two calendar years, including one to two summers, of graduate-level coursework and 400 hours of supervised clinical practicum, all of which will be provided as part of SHU’s graduate program.
SHU’s graduate program in SLP has been accredited by the State of Connecticut Department of Higher Education. Program approval from the Connecticut State Department of Education for teacher endorsement as a school-based SLP has also been awarded. The Master's program in speech-language pathology at Sacred Heart University is a Candidate for Accreditation 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, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. Candidacy is a “preaccreditation” status with the CAA, awarded to developing or emerging programs for a maximum period of 5 years.This status is awarded to new programs that demonstrate compliance with the Standards for Accreditation as outlined in CAA’s Standards Compliance Continuum. It allows the program to matriculate and graduate students who, upon successful completion of the program, will be eligible for national certification and state licensure as speech-language pathologists.
SHU’s SLP graduate program is the only one in Connecticut in which SLP students have the opportunity to study and work with physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, and education students, providing unique interprofessional preservice experiences. In addition, SHU’s SLP program utilizes an innovative model of clinical education, in which students work in real field settings from their first semester under the supervision of SHU clinical faculty. Unlike most SLP programs, which use on-campus clinics for initial clinical experiences, SHU’s model enables students to practice in teams and learn in authentic work environments throughout their educational program. Finally, SHU offers three areas of optional specialized study, which can be achieved by matriculating for one additional summer following the master’s program. Choosing one of these elective specializations will enhance students' experience in (1) autism spectrum disorders, (2) language and literacy for English-language learners, or (3) medical settings.
Please note: ALL prior schools’ transcripts MUST be submitted for review, regardless of whether or not transferred courses appear on the current school transcript.
Applicants will be invited for interviews at the discretion of the SLP department once applications are reviewed.
Admissions Requirements: Two-Year Track
In addition to the requirements already listed for all students, applicants to the two-year track must provide documentation of:
- Bachelor of science or arts degree with an overall GPA of at least 3.0.
- Twenty-five (25) hours of observation of speech-language pathology practice by an ASHA-certified SLP documented on SHU form (available from the Graduate Admissions Office)
Successful completion of the following courses or their equivalents with no grade below C and a GPA of at least 3.3:
Biological sciences (3 credits) (for example, BI 111 or BI 103)
Physical sciences (3 credits) (for example, PY 103 or CH 030)
Statistics (3 credits) (for example, MA 131)
Social/behavioral sciences (6 credits) (PS 110 and PS 252 are highly recommended)
| SLP 200 | Introduction to Communication Disorders | 3 |
| SLP 210 | Phonetics | 3 |
| SLP 300 | Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Swallowing | 3 |
| SLP 310 | Introduction to Audiology & Hearing Science | 3 |
| SLP 320 | Speech Science | 3 |
| SLP 330 | Development of Language | 3 |
| SLP 340 | Neurological Bases of Communication & Swallowing | 3 |
| SLP 350 | Clinical Methods & Observation | 3 |
Admissions Requirements: Three-Year Track
In addition to the requirements already listed for all students, applicants to the three-year track must provide documentation of:
- Bachelor of science or arts degree with an overall GPA of at least 3.0.
A Bachelor's Degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better, and successful completion of the following courses or their equivalents with a GPA of at least 3.3 and no grade below C:
- Biological Sciences 3 CR (e.g., BI 103 or BI 111)
- Physical Sciences 3 CR (e.g., PY 103 or CH 120)
- Statistics 3 CR (e.g., MA 131)
- Social/Behavioral Sciences 6 CR (e.g., PS 110, PS 252-Child Development Psychology or equivalent)
No more than 6 credits of SLP courses required for the two-year track may be taken prior to applying for the three-year track.
Students in the three-year track must complete the first year of preclinical coursework with a GPA of at least 3.3 in order to advance to the next level of the graduate program.
Clinical Education
Graduate students will enroll for at least 6 credits of clinical education each term of the clinical program. Students will be assigned to a clinical practicum setting or settings each term, and will spend between 12 and 40 hours per week at each setting, depending upon the placement of the practicum in the program. Each practicum assignment will be accompanied by a clinical seminar, in which students will practice clinical skills, discuss cases, and engage in clinical learning activities. During the first year of the clinical program, students will be placed in field settings in teams, accompanied by a supervisor from SHU. During the first two semesters, students with some previous clinical experience (for example, those who completed practica experiences as an undergraduate) may be assigned a one-on-one experience with a clinician at a field site, at the discretion of the Director of Clinical Education. Field placements later in the program will involve assignment of each student to a clinician at the field site. The typical sequence of clinical practica is given below; however, individual placements will be made on the basis of availability, clinical hours, and student interest.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements
Sacred Heart University has been approved by Connecticut to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of post-secondary education. For information regarding professional licensure by state, visit Disclosures and Student Complaints.
Clinical Practicum Sequence
Fall Semester I
- Two to three half-days per week at educational or rehabilitation settings
- Speech, language, and hearing screenings and evaluations
Spring Semester I
- Two to three half-days per week at educational or rehabilitation setting
- Speech, language, and hearing screenings and evaluation
Late Spring , Summer Semester A & B
- Intensive clinical workshops: one four-week intensive, interprofessional programs for clients with aphasia, Parkinson’s Disease, traumatic brain injury, dysfluency, etc.
- Extended school-year placements: five- to six-week daily placements
- Eight- to twelve-week adult or child externship in medical or private practice settings
Fall/Spring Semester II
- Student teaching OR field placement in medical setting or specialty pediatric/educational setting
Optional Summer II
Placement in autism, English-language learner/literacy, or medical SLP setting, complemented by advanced coursework in specialty area, leading to an optional advanced study certificate.
Degree Requirements
All students will need to have successfully completed the following undergraduate foundation coursework prior to matriculation in a graduate program in SLP:
- Biological sciences (3 credits)
- Physical sciences (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Social/behavioral sciences (6 credits)
Both the two- and three-year tracks of the SLP program are offered only on a full-time basis to allow for professional socialization, clinical placements, and the integration of clinical and academic work. Both programs lead to national certification and state licensure as a speech-language pathologist. All students must complete all academic and clinical coursework required for their track with no grade below B- and an overall GPA of at least 3.0. They must also successfully complete 400 hours of supervised clinical practicum with no grade lower than B-. Students must successfuly complete the supervised clinical practicum hours, as well as required coursework, in order to earn the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. Students will be placed in fieldwork sites to earn these hours by SHU's the Director of Clinical Education.
Preclinical Coursework
To be completed at the undergraduate level for students on the two-year track, and at the graduate level during the first preclinical year for students on the three-year track.
| SLP 200 | Introduction to Communication Disorders | 3 |
| or | |
| SLP 400 | Introduction to Communication Disorders | 3 |
| | |
| SLP 210 | Phonetics | 3 |
| or | |
| SLP 410 | Phonetics | 3 |
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| SLP 300 | Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Swallowing | 3 |
| or | |
| SLP 411 | Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Swallowing | 3 |
| | |
| SLP 310 | Introduction to Audiology & Hearing Science | 3 |
| or | |
| SLP 412 | Introduction to Audiology & Hearing Science | 3 |
| | |
| SLP 320 | Speech Science | 3 |
| or | |
| SLP 420 | Speech Science | 3 |
| | |
| SLP 330 | Development of Language | 3 |
| or | |
| SLP 430 | The Development of Language | 3 |
| | |
| SLP 340 | Neurological Bases of Communication & Swallowing | 3 |
| or | |
| SLP 440 | Neurological Bases of Communication & Swallowing. | 3 |
| | |
| SLP 350 | Clinical Methods & Observation | 3 |
| or | |
| SLP 450 | Introduction to Clinical Methods & Observation | 3 |
It is also strongly recommended that all students applying for the SLP program complete requirements for endorsement as a school SLP, including:
| PS 252 | Child Development Psychology | 3 |
| ED 552 | Education in the U.S. | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| ED 569 | Introduction to Exceptionalities | 3.00 Credit(s) |
Required Graduate Coursework
Coursework will be taken in five semesters by students on the two-year track, and in five semesters following successful completion of two semesters of preclinical coursework by students on the three-year track.
To graduate from the SLP master’s program, each student is required to complete all coursework and clinical practica listed as “required” below as well as one course listed as “elective.” The following is the typical sequence of graduate coursework for the two clinical years of the graduate program in SLP:
Fall Semester I (18 credits)
Students will be assigned, upon entry into the SLP Program, to either Cohort I or Cohort II.
Cohort I
Students in Cohort I will take the following courses during Fall Semester I:
| SLP 500 | Speech Sound Disorders | 3 |
| SLP 501 | Practicum Seminar I: Managing Behavior & Service Delivery | 1 |
| SLP 502 | Clinical Practicum I | 4 |
| SLP 510 | Language Disorders in Children Birth-Five | 3 |
| SLP 514 | Assessment, Diagnosis & Eligibility | 1 |
| SLP 530 | Language and Literacy Disorders in School-aged Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| SLP 530T | Language and Literacy Disorders in School-aged Children and Adolescents Tutorial | 0 |
| SLP 540 | Adult Neurogenic Disorders I | 3 |
Cohort II
Students assigned to Cohort II will take the following courses in Fall Semester I:
| SLP 501 | Practicum Seminar I: Managing Behavior & Service Delivery | 1 |
| SLP 502 | Clinical Practicum I | 4 |
| SLP 514 | Assessment, Diagnosis & Eligibility | 1 |
| SLP 550 | Dysphagia | 3 |
| SLP 550T | Dysphagia Tutorial | 0 |
| SLP 560 | Adult Neurogenic Disorders II | 3 |
| SLP 580 | Disorders of Fluency | 3 |
| SLP 585 | Voice & Velopharyngeal Disorders | 3 |
Spring Semester 1 (18 credits)
Cohort I
Students assigned to Cohort I will take the following courses Spring Semester I:
| SLP 503 | Practicum Seminar II: Using Evidence-based Reflective Practice | 1 |
| SLP 504 | Clinical Practicum II | 4 |
| SLP 515 | Screening and Diagnostics II | 1 |
| SLP 550 | Dysphagia | 3 |
| SLP 550T | Dysphagia Tutorial | 0 |
| SLP 560 | Adult Neurogenic Disorders II | 3 |
| SLP 580 | Disorders of Fluency | 3 |
| SLP 585 | Voice & Velopharyngeal Disorders | 3 |
Cohort II
Students assigned to Cohort II will take the following courses Spring Semester I:
| SLP 500 | Speech Sound Disorders | 3 |
| SLP 503 | Practicum Seminar II: Using Evidence-based Reflective Practice | 1 |
| SLP 504 | Clinical Practicum II | 4 |
| SLP 510 | Language Disorders in Children Birth-Five | 3 |
| SLP 515 | Screening and Diagnostics II | 1 |
| SLP 530 | Language and Literacy Disorders in School-aged Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| SLP 530T | Language and Literacy Disorders in School-aged Children and Adolescents Tutorial | 0 |
| SLP 540 | Adult Neurogenic Disorders I | 3 |
Late Spring/Summer 1 (11 credits)
Each student is required to complete ONE of the three Intensive Clinical Workshops offered during the Late Spring/Summer terms.
Late Spring I
Students will be assigned to one Intensive Clinical Workshop (SLP 511, SLP 512 OR SLP 513) during the Late Spring OR Summer term
| SLP 511 | Intensive Clinical Workshop in Adult Neurogenic Disorders | 3 |
| SLP 512 | Intensive Clinical Workshop in Speech & Voice Disorders | 3 |
Summer
| SLP 505 | Practicum Seminar III: Recordkeeping & Documentation | 1 |
| SLP 506 | Clinical Practicum III | 4 |
| SLP 520 | Aural Rehabilitation | 3 |
Summer Semester 2
Students will be assigned to one Intensive Clinical Workshop (SLP 511, SLP 512 OR SLP 513) during the Late Spring or Summer term.
| SLP 513 | Intensive Clinical Workshop in Fluency Disorders | 3 |
Fall Semester II (13–18 credits)
SLP 570, SLP 600: Required for SLP program Fall Semester II
SLP 507, SLP 508, SLP 601, SLP 602 are also required and will be completed during the Fall or Spring of the second year, depending on the Cohort assignment.
Every graduate student is required to complete ONE of the electives offered during the fall or spring semesters of the final year of graduate study:
SLP 525, SLP 610, or SLP 680.
Cohort I
Students assigned to Cohort I will take the following courses in Fall Semester II:
| SLP 507 | Practicum Seminar IV: Advanced Clinical Topics | 1 |
| SLP 508 | Clinical Practicum IV | 6 |
| SLP 570 | Introduction to Research & Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| SLP 600 | Autism, AAC, & Severe Disabilities of Communication | 3 |
Cohort II
Students assigned to Cohort II will take the following courses Fall Semester II:
| SLP 570 | Introduction to Research & Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| SLP 600 | Autism, AAC, & Severe Disabilities of Communication | 3 |
| SLP 601 | Practicum Seminar V: Team-Based Practice in School Settings | 1 |
| SLP 602 | Student Teaching | 6-9 |
Spring Semester II (10–16 credits)
SLP 690: Required for SLP program Spring Semester II
SLP 507, SLP 508, SLP 601, SLP 602 are also required and will be completed during the Fall or Spring of the second year, depending on the Cohort assignment.
Every graduate student is required to complete ONE of the electives offered during the fall or spring semesters of the final year of graduate study:
SLP 525, SLP 610, or SLP 680.
Cohort I
Students assigned to Cohort I will complete the following courses during Spring Semester II:
| SLP 601 | Practicum Seminar V: Team-Based Practice in School Settings | 1 |
| SLP 602 | Student Teaching | 6-9 |
| SLP 690 | Speech-Language Pathology Capstone | 3 |
Cohort II
Students assigned to Cohort II will complete the following courses in Spring Semester II:
| SLP 507 | Practicum Seminar IV: Advanced Clinical Topics | 1 |
| SLP 508 | Clinical Practicum IV | 6 |
| SLP 690 | Speech-Language Pathology Capstone | 3 |
ELECTIVE Summer Semester II (3–6 credits)-Specialty Certificate Option
Elective second summer coursework may be taken to complete a Specialty Certificate option. This term is not required for the Master’s degree. Specialty certificates are not recognized by state or national agencies. Students may elect to pursue them in order to enhance their ability to practice in a preferred area. Students may elect to complete a Specialty Certificate during a second Summer Semester in one of the following areas:
Autism Spectrum Disorders Specialty Certificate Option
This specialty certificate is offered in collaboration with the Farrington College of Education. The specialization will focus on learning strategies for collaborating with special education and other professionals in the education of students on the autism spectrum. The education of students with autism spectrum disorder is a high priority within school and rehabilitation settings and practitioners with advanced levels of knowledge and experience are in short supply. It should be noted that this certificate will not qualify candidates for state educator certification as they are not completing approved planned programs, nor can these candidates use these courses for purposes of cross-endorsing from SLP to another endorsement (e.g., TESOL [#111], remedial reading [#102] or the comprehensive special education endorsement [#165]. Students pursuing this elective specialization will follow the curriculum sequence below, in addition to the standard Master’s Degree curriculum:
Fall: SLP 525: Topics in Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
Spring: SLP 680: Education of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Summer: SLP 611: Advanced Topics in Speech-Language Pathology
Summer: SLP 509: Specialty practicum VI
| SLP 509 | Specialty Practicum VI | 1-3 |
| SLP 525 | Topics in Cultural & Linguistic Diversity | 3 |
| SLP 611 | Special Topics in Communication Disorders | 3 |
| SLP 680 | Education of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders | 3 |
Dual Language Learners-Literacy Specialty Certificate Option
This specialty certificate is offered in collaboration with the Farrington College of Education. The specialization will focus on teaching methods for students from cultural and linguistically different backgrounds, and ensuring their success in literacy acquisition. The education of Dual Language Learners is a high priority within school settings and practitioners with advanced levels of knowledge and experience in working with English Language Learners are in short supply. It should be noted that this certificate will not qualify candidates for state educator certification as they are not completing approved planned programs, nor can these candidates use these courses for purposes of cross-endorsing from SLP to another endorsement (e.g., TESOL [#111], remedial reading [#102] or the comprehensive special education endorsement [#165]. Students pursuing this specialization will follow the curriculum sequence below, in addition to the standard Master’s Degree curriculum:
Fall: SLP 525: Topics in Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
Spring: EDR 505 OR 507: Success in Reading (Primary or Intermediate grades)
Summer: EDR 525 Teaching Students from Multicultural Backgrounds
SLP 509: Specialty Practicum
| EDR 505 | Early Reading & Language Arts Success(PK-3) | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| EDR 525 | Methods: Teaching Second Language Learners | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SLP 509 | Specialty Practicum VI | 1-3 |
| SLP 525 | Topics in Cultural & Linguistic Diversity | 3 |
Medical Speech-Language Pathology Specialty Certificate Option
This specialty is designed to provide students with knowledge and skills for addressing the needs of clients with communication disorders in acute care and medical rehabilitation settings. Students pursuing this specialization will follow the curriculum sequence below, in addition to the standard Master’s Degree curriculum:
Fall: SLP 525: Topics in Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
Spring: SLP 610: Adult Medical Speech-Language Pathology
Summer: SLP 699: Pediatric Medical Speech-Language Pathology
SLP 509: Specialty Practicum
| SLP 509 | Specialty Practicum VI | 1-3 |
| SLP 525 | Topics in Cultural & Linguistic Diversity | 3 |
| SLP 610 | Medical Speech-Language Pathology | 3 |
| SLP 699 | Advanced Topics in Communication Disorders | 3 |