Accelerated Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology
The accelerated master's degree in speech-language pathology is designed to produce highly skilled clinicians seeking to enter the field. This program enables qualified students to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language-Hearing: Sciences and Disorders and count up to 12 hours of 700-level or above course work in the major completed in Year 4 of study for both the Bachelor’s and M.A. Speech-Language Pathology degrees. The M.A. is completed in the fifth year or beyond.
An accelerated master's degree from KU will, in most circumstances, satisfy the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's certification standards for continuing on to the clinical fellowship year. A certificate of clinical competence in speech-language pathology is awarded upon completion of a successful clinical fellowship.
Admission to Graduate Studies
Admission Requirements
- All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.
Careful course selection and steady progression through the undergraduate career is necessary to ensure all requirements for both degrees may be completed within the approximate 5-year time-frame. All prospective students should discuss their interest in admission to the Accelerated M.A. program with their SPLH advisor and faculty mentor no later than the student’s second year.
Prospective students are eligible to apply to the graduate program in Spring semester of their third year. The following program requirements must be met by this time:
- Major and cumulative GPA of at least 3.00;
- On track to complete all requirements for a BA or BGS degree in SPLH from KU by the end of the Spring semester of the fourth year;
- The following courses must be complete at the time of application: SPLH 161, SPLH 220, SPLH 462, SPLH 463, SPLH 465, SPLH 466, SPLH 568, SPLH 571
Applicants must complete an Application for Graduate Study online following the typical procedures for MA SLP admissions. A full list of the required application materials, including the application deadline, can be found on the Eligibility and Requirements and How to Apply pages our of Department's website.
Non-native speakers of English must meet English proficiency requirements.
Accelerated M.A. Degree Progression Requirements
Upon review of the Application for Admission, SPLH will notify the student of his or her eligibility to begin coursework in the program. Final acceptance to the graduate program will be contingent upon the following:
• Successful completion of all requirements for the bachelor’s degree;
• Grades of B- or above in all SPLH graduate-level coursework taken in Year 4;
• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all coursework completed in Years 1-4;
• A GPA of 3.0 for all graduate coursework completed in Year 4.
Please note that admission to the graduate program through the traditional process is highly competitive. Students applying to the Accelerated M.A. program will be reviewed with other students applying to the M.A. SLP program. Similar criteria will be used to select students for both programs. If a student is not admitted to the Accelerated M.A. program, they are encouraged to meet with their undergraduate advisor to discuss undergraduate activities to pursue in Year 4 to become more competitive and to re-apply to the M.A. SLP program through the traditional process in Year 4.
The course requirements for this accelerated program are fulfilled by a combination of graduate-level courses taken for both undergraduate and graduate credit in Year 4, and graduate credit courses taken in Year 5 (and beyond). Numerous graduate-level courses are regularly offered that fulfill distribution requirements for both the Bachelor’s and M.A. degrees.
The student must be approved to begin coursework toward the Accelerated M.A. program prior to enrolling in any 700 level or above courses that are to count for both undergraduate and graduate credit.
Requirements for the B.A. or B.G.S. Major
Please follow this link for the degree requirements for the B.A. or B.G.S. Major.
During the Senior Year (Year 4), the student must take the following SPLH courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses in Year 4 to prepare for the MA Degree: | ||
| SPLH 860 | Evaluation of Speech and Language | 2 |
| SPLH 862 | Clinical Processes and Counseling in Speech-Language Pathology | 1 |
| SPLH 864 | Advanced Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology | 4 |
| SPLH 700+ level basic electives, as defined by the MA SLP handbook | 4 | |
| SPLH 588 | Multicultural Considerations in Speech-Language-Hearing I | 1 |
| SPLH 889 | Multicultural Considerations in Speech-Language-Hearing II | 1 |
| Total Hours | 13 | |
Of these courses, taken in the fall and spring term of year 4, 12 credit hours will count toward the master’s degree and the 120 hour requirement for the undergraduate degree.
SPLH 889 does not count towards the 700+ level basic elective credits.
Requirements for the M.A. Degree:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Course Work Counting Towards M.A. (Year 4) | 12 | |
| Required Graduate Experiences for Breadth *hours listed indicates the maximum | ||
| SPLH 862 | Clinical Processes and Counseling in Speech-Language Pathology 1 | 2 |
| SPLH 864 | Advanced Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology | 6 |
| SPLH 868 | Professional Issues 1 | 2 |
| SPLH Electives (6 seminars, 2 credit hours each) | 12 | |
| Required Graduate Experiences for Depth | ||
| SPLH 866 | Field Study in Speech-Language Pathology 1 | 10 |
| Research experience (thesis or nonthesis option) | 3 | |
| Advanced electives (SPLH, outside department, or thesis) | 4 | |
| Total Hours | 51 | |
1 This course is taken twice.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Elective Options | ||
| Speech Perception | ||
| Foundations of Early Intervention | ||
| Infants and Toddler with Significant Needs | ||
| Examining Global Perspectives in Speech-Language-Hearing: ______ | ||
| Seminar in: _____ | ||
| Speech Sound Disorders: Pediatrics | ||
| Speech Disorders: Adults | ||
| Fluency Disorders | ||
| Phonatory Disorders | ||
| Communication in Autism | ||
| Dysphagia | ||
| Dysphagia Treatment in Adults | ||
| Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Literacy | ||
| Introduction to Augmentative and Alternative Communication Technologies | ||
| Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Schools | ||
| Communication of Infants and Toddlers: Early Intervention Supports and Services | ||
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Language Disorders of Children: Preschool | ||
| Language Disorders of Children: School Age | ||
| Language Disorders of Adults | ||
| Language Disorders of Special Populations | ||
| Cognitive-Linguistic Disorders of Adults | ||
| Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities | ||
| Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Adult Acquired Disorders | ||
| Reading Disorders | ||
| Bilingual Child Speech-Language Assessment and Intervention | ||
| Bilingual Speech-Language Pathology: Practice and Research | ||
| Independent Study in Problems of Speech, Language, and Hearing | ||
Students should consult their faculty advisor to determine elective coursework selection.
Progression Requirements
Given the accelerated nature of this program, each student’s progress will be closely monitored at various points during the program:
- Upon approval to begin coursework toward the Accelerated M.A. track, the student must meet with their assigned SPLH faculty mentor to plan the final year of undergraduate study (Year 4). Performance in graduate coursework during Year 4 must meet the academic standing and student performance expectations outlined in the MA SLP handbook or the consequences detailed in the handbook will be enacted (e.g., remediation plan created).
- In the final semester of undergraduate work and prior to being formally admitted, the student must meet with their assigned SPLH faculty mentor to review the student’s performance in SPLH courses. The student must earn a grade of “B-” or better in these courses and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for admission to the master’s program. If these conditions are not met, then the following actions are possible.
- For grade(s) of C+ or C: Students may be admitted with monitoring by the Advising Committee;
- For grade(s) of C-, D, F: Students may be admitted with monitoring by the Advising Committee and will need to re-take the course(s) because grades below C cannot count towards graduate requirements;
- For students that fail to meet progression criteria in year four, the program may deny formal admission to the graduate program
- During Year 5 (and beyond), performance must meet the academic standing and student performance expectations outlined in the MA SLP handbook or the consequences detailed in the handbook will be enacted (e.g., remediation plan created).
- If the baccalaureate degree is not completed at the end of Year 4, the student will not be permitted to enroll in courses for graduate credit toward the master’s degree until the baccalaureate degree has been conferred.
- Students should complete all requirements for the Accelerated M.A. within 1-1.5 years of receiving the bachelor’s degree. If unforeseen circumstances prevent the timely completion of the master’s degree, the student must consult with their graduate advisor to develop an alternative plan for completion\
Other Requirements:
- Complete a formative assessment in the 3rd semester in the Masters program. This formative assessment is in the form of a mid-program review with their advisor.
Summative (or optional Thesis) Examination
- Students must pass the oral summative exam (including the thesis defense if applicable). Potential outcomes include honors, pass, revision, or fail. Please see the student handbook for criteria on revised exams. If an outcome is recorded as a fail, a student may re-take the exam. If a student fails the exam twice, the program will consider the student as making unsatisfactory progress and unable to continue in the program.
- If students complete an optional thesis as part of their summative exam, students must enroll in a minimum of 4 thesis credits (SPLH 899). These thesis credits can count towards the required research requirement.
A sample 4-year plan for an Accelerated BA/MA degree in Speech-Language Pathology can be found here: Accelerated BA/MA degree in Speech-Language Pathology, or by using the left-side navigation.
A sample 4-year plan for an Accelerated BGS/MA degree in Speech-Language Pathology can be found here: Accelerated BGS/MA degree in Speech-Language Pathology, or by using the left-side navigation.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Critical Thinking Knowledge / Skill Levels:
- Level 1: Develop a disposition to think critically – engage in skepticism, judgement and free thinking.
- Level 2: Draw judicious conclusions, justify results based on logic drawn from a range of information.
- Level 3: Relate issues (e.g., current events) to the academic field and larger contexts.
- Level 4: Engage in abstract reasoning, problem solving, questioning and understanding, and apply these skills to basic science and clinical scenarios.
- Basic Science and Skills in Speech, Language, Hearing Knowledge / Skill Levels:
- Level 1: Identify core concepts in field (e.g., what is a sound wave?)
- Level 2: Recognize core concepts in practical scenarios.
- Level 3: Apply concepts within a class to untaught but related content within the same class. For example, applies core principle from early in class in subsequent opportunities.
- Level 4: Generalize and integrate skills and information across SPLH classes (e.g., integrates information from Hearing science into Intro to Audiology; Frequency from SPLH 220 and its role in Hearing Science and Speech Science; applies concepts of reliability taught in research methods to data collection in clinical practice).
- Written and verbal communication on the principles and practices of communication sciences, assessment, and intervention Knowledge / Skill Levels:
- Level 1: Demonstrate interpersonal skills that reflect respect for all individuals.
- Level 2: Basic written communication on the principles and practices of communication sciences.
- Level 3: Basic written and verbal communication that clearly communicates to others including stakeholders (other professionals and community members).
- Level 4: Use effective and persuasive written and verbal communication to inform audiences about research and clinical practices.
- Knowledge / Skill Levels:
- Level 1: Identify sources of information for Speech, Language, and Hearing, such as scholars, organizations (ASHA) who might produce relevant material text, and whether obtainable from resources available to students.
- Level 2: Demonstrate ability to find primary sources on Speech, Language, and Hearing research (e.g., ASHA portal evidence maps, JSLHR, AJSLP).
- Level 3: Implement search procedures to identify EBP in a variety of sources including research and clinical practices.
- Level 4: Manage search processes and results effectively. Collect and evaluate information/evidence regarding clinical practices and/or research questions and persist in the face of challenges. Know when they have enough information to complete their information task.