Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

The master's education program in speech-language pathology at Worcester State University is accredited 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, Maryland 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. This program is designed to provide a high-caliber academic and clinical program for the preparation of speech-language pathologists. The program prepares students for positions in public schools, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, speech and hearing clinics, special-care facilities, and private practice. The program is also approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Admission is considered for the fall semester only.

Monthly information sessions, held between August and May, are led by the graduate program coordinator and give you an opportunity to learn more about the program, including the prerequisites. Due to the large number of requests, we are not able to arrange individual meetings with prospective graduate students outside of these monthly sessions. You are welcome to bring your transcripts to the information session for review by the graduate program coordinator.

Application deadline is February 1 for the fall semester. 

I. Admission Requirements:
A. Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or  university.
B. Candidates for admission are required to submit a completed application which is available online. Requirements and procedures for admission to graduate studies are specified on the application form. The applicant must comply with these requirements and procedures.
C. Candidates must submit official transcripts from all undergraduate programs that were part of the bachelor’s degree and all programs where any prerequisite courses were taken, including Worcester State University.
D. Candidates applying for admission must have taken or currently be enrolled in the following prerequisite courses at the time of application for the master’s degree program:

• Three (3) credit hours in biological sciences*
• Three (3) credit hours in physical science*
• Three (3) credit hours in mathematics*
• Three (3) credit hours in statistics*
• Six (6) credit hours in the behavioral and/or social sciences* (a course in Developmental Psychology / Child Growth and Development must be included)
• Twelve (12) credit hours in basic human communication processes that include: anatomy of the speech & hearing mechanism, phonetics, normal development of speech and language, speech science, and hearing science**
• Biological Science must be human and/or animal biology. Physical Science may be either physics or chemistry. Courses covering physics and/or chemistry but not explicitly named as such may be used to fulfill the physical science requirement subject to graduate coordinator approval. 

* 12 of the required 18 credits must be completed at the time of application, and ifaccepted to the program the remaining credits must be completed by August 31.These courses must have been completed within the past 15 years.

** The majority (>50%) of coursework in basic human communication must be  completed at the time of application, and if accepted to the program the remaining  credits must be completed by May 31. These courses must have been complete  within the past 7 years.

E. Applicants must submit scores from the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) and the TOEFL (if the student’s academic background is not in English).

Students completing prerequisites at the time of application must provide evidence of enrollment. Prerequisites may be taken at WSU in the evening as a non-matriculated student or as a day student. Please contact the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education for enrollment information. Day students must complete an “undergraduate non-degree” application. Please contact the undergraduate admissions office for additional details at 508-929-8040.

F. Applicants must submit a completed copy of the Speech Language Pathology Application Cover Sheet with their application items.

1. The minimum requirement for a master’s degree in speech-language pathology is  fifty-five (55) semester hours of credit.
2. A maximum of six (6) graduate credits of “B” or above taken within two (2) years of the  term of admission, at a CAA accredited institution, may be accepted toward the graduate degree.
3. Courses are taught in the afternoon, late afternoon and evening. A maximum load is  four courses per semester and takes at least two full years including summers to  complete. A three course per semester load takes two and one-half years to complete. A two course per semester program would take at least three and one-half years. A grade  point average of 3.0 is required to remain in the program and to earn the degree. Courses with a grade of C+ or below must be repeated.
4. All work for the degree must be completed within a period of six years.
5. The Dean of Graduate Studies reserves the right to periodically review the performance of graduate students in accordance with the academic standards of the Graduate Program and of Worcester State University.

III. Curriculum Requirements for a Master of Science Degree in Speech-Language Pathology

• CD 901 Introduction to Graduate and Clinical Skills (summer) 2 credits
• CD 920 Articulation & Phonological Disorders (fall) 3 credits
• CD 921 Language Disorders in Children (fall) 3 credits
• CD 922 Language Disorders in Adults (spring) 3 credits
• CD 923 Fluency Disorders (fall) 3 credits
• CD 924 Voice Disorders (summer) 3 credits
• CD 925 Motor Speech Disorders (fall) 3 credits
• CD 926 Reading and Writing Disabilities (summer) 2 credits
• CD 927 Audiology (fall) 3 credits
• CD 928 Aural Rehabilitation (spring) 3 credits
• CD 929 Dysphagia (spring) 3 credits
• CD 940 Evaluation & Diagnosis in Speech-Language Pathology (spring) 3 credits
• CD 946 Organization of S/L Programs in Schools (summer) 1 credit
• CD 947 Augmentative/Alternative Communication (summer) 1 credit
• CD 950 Cognitive Aspects of Communication (summer) 2 credits
• CD 980 Research in Communication Sciences & Disorders (spring) 3 credits
• CD 987 Selected Topics in Communication Sciences & Disorders – take two topics for one credit each (summer or spring) 2 credits
• CD 990 Speech-Language-Hearing Practicum: College Clinic (spring, summer, fall): (A minimum of 2 semesters is required in the WSU Speech-Language- Hearing Clinic) 3 credits each time
• CD 991 Speech-Language-Hearing Practicum: Externships. (A minimum of 2 semesters is required in externships) 3 credits each time.

B. Clinical Clock Hours:
In addition to academic coursework, students are required to complete 25 hours of observation of clinical work and 375 live hours of participation in diagnostic/therapeutic work in three distinctly different clinical settings. Observation hours and 50 of the live hours may be transferred from the undergraduate level. HIPAA training and certification for our students is provided by HIPAA EXAMS, Inc.

C. Written Comprehensive Examination:
Students will be expected to submit a passing score from the NESPA examination in Speech-Language Pathology and complete a departmental comprehensive examination.                

Graduate students may join the WSU chapter of National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association.