Graduate Program
The master's program (M.S.) in speech-language pathology at Harding 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 (ASHA), 2200 Research Boulevard #310, Rockville, Maryland 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. Candidacy is a "pre-accreditation" status with the CAA, awarded to developing or emerging programs for a maximum period of five years.
The Speech-Language Pathology program is part of the College of Allied Health and offers a Master of Science (M.S.) in Speech-Language Pathology degree. The curriculum is an intensive five-semester program with a focus on the entire scope of practice as delineated by ASHA. It consists of both didactic and clinical components.
Upon completion of this program a student will be eligible to sit for the national certifying exam (PRAXIS II) administered by the Educational Testing Service. Students will also be elgible to apply for membership in ASHA.
Admission Requirements
The minimal admission requirements (checklist available) for the Master of Science program in speech-language pathology are as follows:
- completed application form
- academic transcript indicating an earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
- 3.0 GPA on undergraduate academic courses*
- GRE score* (900 combined on previously administered GRE, current administration scores currently being determined)
- three Graduate School Readiness Scales (with accompanying releases)
- written statement of professional goals
- $40 application fee
The deadline for applications is March 1 of the spring semester prior to fall enrollment.
*Please note that meeting minimal admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program!
Degree Requirements
- completion of the M.S. degree in Speech-Language Pathology curriculum (totaling 59 semester hours) with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and no grade lower than a "C"
- completion of 400 clinical hours with 350 completed at the graduate level (25 hours of clinical observation may be included in the total 400 hours)
- satisfactory evaluation on each clinical experience
- completion of the Knowledge and Skills Acquisition (KASA) form with each competency marked as acquired and the signature of the graduate program director
- a minimum grade of "C" on the thesis/capstone project
- passing score on the comprehensive examination
- satisfactory evidence of good interpersonal relations and ethical professional conduct
Curriculum
(This tentative plan is to be used with the assistance of your advisor. For a detailed description of each class see the Courses and Syllabi section.)
FALL- SEMESTER I (13 hours academic credit)
CSD 611 - Birth to 5 (5 hrs)
CSD 619 - Clinical I (3 hrs)
CSD 637 - Writing/Speaking (1 hr)
CSD 642 - Neurology (3 hrs)
CSD 648 - Counseling (1 hr)
SPRING - SEMESTER II (13 hrs academic credit)
CSD 614 - Adult (5 hrs)
CSD 623 - Adolescent (5 hrs)
CSD 629 - Clinical II (3 hrs)
SUMMER I - SEMESTER IIIa (6 hrs academic credit)
CSD 632 - Multicultural (1 hr)
CSD 639 - Clinic III (5 hrs)
SUMMER II - SEMESTER IIIb (4 hrs academic credit)
CSD 634 - Research Design (3 hrs)
CSD 635 - Communication Modes (1 hr)
FALL - SEMESTER IV (12 hrs academic credit)
CSD 622 - School Age (5 hrs)
CSD 643 - Dysphagia (2 hrs)
CSD 646 - Fluency (2 hrs)
CSD 649 - Clinical IV (3 hrs)
SPRING - SEMESTER V (11 hrs academic cerdit)
CSD 651 - Capstone (3 hrs)
CSD 655 - Literacy (2 hrs)
CSD 657 - Ethics (2 hrs)
CSD 658 - Special Topics (1 hr)
CSD 659 - Clinical V (3 hrs)
Program Total = 59 academic hours
Additional Information & Forms (links)
Graduate School Readiness Scale and accompaning Release