Graduate Program Description

Graduate Degree in Speech Language Pathology

The Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology offers students a program of academic and clinical preparation that meets the requirements of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology and requirements for teachers of the speech and language impaired in Illinois schools.

The goal of the program is to prepare highly competent speech-language pathologists who are dedicated to the service of persons from infancy through maturity who have communication disabilities. The ability to communicate effectively is a highly complex human behavior that is critical to the fullness of human life.

This goal is achieved through a curriculum integrating academic rigor, research activities, and clinical practicum designed to:

  • Provide a wide theoretical base for understanding normal development of basic human communication processes as well as the nature, causes, evaluation and treatment of disorders of swallowing and communication, including issues pertaining to culturally diverse populations;
  • Offer opportunities for supervised student clinical practice with persons across the life cycle who are delayed or disordered in the development and use of effective communication and/or who exhibit disorders of swallowing.
  • Develop competence in clinical diagnosis and intervention, interaction with families of communicatively impaired individuals and collaboration with other professionals for effective and efficient team management of persons with multiple needs
  • Foster a value for scientific rigor and a spirit of inquiry among all students; and
  • Empower graduates to function independently as life-long learners.

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Program of Study

The curriculum in communication sciences and disorders is currently undergoing a review and revision in order to maintain compliance with standards for the Certificate of Clinical Competence of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. All university education programs in the discipline are undergoing similar exercises. Outcomes of this review process may result in changes.

I. Core Courses (approximately 25 credits)

CSDIG 500 Clinical Problem Solving: Assessment
CSDIG 501 Clinical Problem Solving: Management
CSDIG 502 Developmental Disorders of Speech
CSDIG 503 Developmental Disorders of Language
CSDIG 505 Aural (Re)Habilitation*
CSDIG 521 Acquired Disorders of Speech
CSDIG 522 Acquired Disorders of Language
CSDIG 551 Dysphagia
CSDIG 594 Introduction to Research
* may have been completed at the undergraduate level

II. Clinical Practica (12 - 13 credits)

CSDIG 510 Practicum in Diagnostics
CSDIG 512 Supervised Practicum in Schools: Student Teaching
CSDIG 513 Supervised Practicum: Medical Setting
CSDIG 514 Audiology Practicum
CSDIG 515 Adv. Practicum SLP I
CSDIG 516 Adv. Practicum SLP II
CSDIG 517 Adv. Practicum SLP III
CSDIG 518 Clinical Supervision

III. Seminars (8 - 10 credits)

CSDIG 530 Seminar in Fluency Disorders
CSDIG 531 Seminar in Voice Disorders
CSDIG 540 Augmentative and Alternative Communication (with lab)
CSDIG 575 Traumatic Brain Injury: Children & Adults
CSDIG 580 Seminar in Aphasia and Related Disorders
CSDIG 581 Multicultural Issues Seminar
CSDIG 582 Seminar in Counseling

IV. Electives

CSDIG 595 Special Topics: _________
CSDIG 596 Independent Study
CSDIG 599 Research Project

V. Workshops**

CSDI 400 Clinical Methods
CSDI 401 Neuroanatomy
CSDI 402 Remediation
**not applicable toward M.S.

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Academic Requirements

The program is currently offered on a full-time basis, which typically involves five semesters including the Summer Semester between the two full academic years. Students may elect longer residencies for the purpose of obtaining additional academic, clinical or research experience.

Approximately 46 semester hours are required for completion of the graduate degree. Courses are chosen in consultation with the student's academic advisor from the core courses, clinical practica, elective courses and other offerings listed in the University's graduate catalog. Additionally, coursework from other Departments and Schools within the University is also available (e.g., Psychology, Education, Nursing).

Successful completion of either comprehensive examinations or thesis research is a requirement of the program.

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Clinical Education

Students completing the graduate degree in speech-language pathology enroll for several different clinical education courses. The overall objective is to provide a range of experiences in the development of entry-level competence for the profession. The specific number of practicum hours in individual courses will vary, however all students will complete the minimum 400 hours of supervised practicum to be eligible for ASHA certification.

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Accreditation

The Graduate Program in Speech-Language Pathology is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

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State of Illinois Certification

Students who wish to satisfy Illinois State Board of Education requirements for the Standard Type 73 Certificate (Speech-Language Impaired) and for state licensure must complete the approved program of general and professional education requirements and pass the Illinois certification Test of Basic Skills as well as the appropriate test of subject matter knowledge. Details concerning Type 73 certification are available from academic advisors.

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Admission Requirements

Applications to Saint Xavier University's Master of Science degree program in Speech-Language Pathology must meet the following specific requirements in addition to the general requirements for admission to graduate study at the University:

  • Completion of an undergraduate major, or equivalent undergraduate course sequence, in speech language pathology. Undergraduate preparation typically includes:
    • Coursework in biological and physical sciences, mathematics, behavioral and social sciences, statistics, linguistics and psycholinguistics.
    • Basic human communication and swallowing processes, including: anatomy and physiology of speech, hearing and swallowing mechanisms; speech and hearing science; phonetics; normal language development; basic audiology; neurological bases of communication and swallowing.
    • Introduction to developmental and acquired communication disorders, basic clinical methods and up to 100 hours of clinical practicum.
  • Scores on the General Section of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0/4.0.
  • Three letters of recommendation from individuals able to comment on the applicant's academic and clinical achievements and potential for successful graduate study.
  • Submission of a writing sample.
  • Faculty interviews are encouraged, although not required.

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Admission Requirements for Non-Majors

An applicant with a major other than in communication sciences and disorders must satisfy minimum prerequisite course work. Several of these courses must be completed before submitting a graduate application, and all must be completed before commencing graduate study. Prerequisite courses are listed below. Courses may be taken at Saint Xavier University or through another program in communication sciences and disorders.

  • CSDI 204 Introduction to Communication Disorders
  • CSDI 205 Phonetics
  • CSDI 206 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing
  • CSDI 207 Introduction to Speech Science
  • CSDI 301 Phonology / Phonological Disorders
  • CSDI 305 Development of Language in the Young Child
  • CSDI 306 Language Disorders in Children
  • CSDI 307 Introduction to Audiology
  • CSDI 309 Neural Bases of Language, Speech, and Swallowing

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Transfer Policy

A maximum of six semester hours of graduate credit may be transferred from other institutions toward the master's degree in speech-language pathology. Petitions regarding additional transfer credit will be considered on an individual basis.

For more information, please call the Graduate Admission Office at (773) 298-3053 or contact Dr. Michael Flahive , Graduate Program Director for Speech-Language Pathology, at (773) 298-3566 or via e-mail at flahive@sxu.edu.

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Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships in the Graduate Speech-Language Pathology Program at Saint Xavier University include a tuition waiver for three semester hours of course work per semester. In return for the tuition waiver, the students will spend up to six hours per week workings as research, tutorial or clinical assistants.

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