Speech-Language Pathology, MS

Program code: SPLP-MS

The IUP Master of Science (MS) degree program in Speech-Language Pathology is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

The MS curriculum combined with an undergraduate degree in communication disorders meets the academic and clinical requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA, Pennsylvania Licensure in Speech-Language Pathology, and Educational Specialist Certification by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree in communication disorders must complete the necessary prerequisites before applying for graduate admission.

Admission Criteria

Admission Policy: The Graduate Admissions Committee will review applicants for admission who provide 1) GRE scores, 2) an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, 3) prerequisite coursework, 4) two letters of recommendation, 5) a goal statement, and 6) an interview with the program’s admissions committee. Applicants must also meet the program’s technical standards and professional dispositions.

Essential undergraduate courses with a letter grade of “C” or below will not be accepted as prerequisites for graduate study and considered as a course deficiency. Documentation of 25 hours of supervised observation and state and federal clearances must be completed prior to beginning the master’s program.

In addition to the stated application requirements, applicants who are non-native English speakers must submit TOEFL or IELTS test scores taken within the past year. To demonstrate proficiency, applicants must submit a minimum score of 600 paper-based TOEFL, 100 internet-based (iBT), or 7.0 IELTS. International students with an undergraduate degree from an American university do not have to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Similarly, students from countries where English is a dominant language are not required to submit scores (see https://www.iup.edu/admissions/international/undergraduate-requirements/countries-not-requiring-english-proficiency-test-scores/). Observation hours and clinical practicum completed in another country will be accepted only if they have been supervised by a speech-language pathologist who holds the appropriate certification from ASHA.

Retention in the Program

In order to remain in good standing, students in the SPLP program must meet the following criteria:

1. A grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 is considered the minimum level of academic performance for all SPLP graduate students.
2. Clinical practicum courses must be completed with a grade of “B” or higher to meet the requirements for graduation. Furthermore, the practicum hours in clinical courses with a grade of “C” or lower will not apply to ASHA certification or state licensure requirements.
3. An overall clinical practicum grade of “B” or better must be obtained in the two clinics immediately prior to participating in an externship. If a grade of “C” or lower is earned in any of these semesters, it will delay and may preclude an externship placement.
4. The SLP-MS program requires that students repeat any course that resulted in a final grade of F, because all coursework is required for certification and licensure in the field. The IUP SGSR Repeat Policy will be enforced. Students with a grade of F in a course will not be approved for externship placement until they repeat the course and achieve a C or better grade. See below for policies regarding externship placement.
5. Only two courses may be repeated, and only one time.  Only one clinic may be repeated, and only one time.
6. No person will be granted a degree who has more than one “C” grade in graduate courses in Speech-Language Pathology, regardless of the number of credits for the course.
7. Students must demonstrate all the Technical Standards and Professional Dispositions.

Students who fail to meet these criteria will be placed on academic and/or clinical probation and will have a remediation plan to address deficiencies. The graduate faculty will review the status of each student on probation at the end of each semester or on the timeline outlined in the remediation plan. A student who fails to obtain at least a 3.25 cumulative average by the end of the probationary semester will be dismissed from the program.

National Examination

Prior to receiving their degree, students must pass the National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology and provide evidence of the attempt to the graduate coordinator. The examination should be taken during the last semester of enrollment. If a student does not attain a passing score prior to graduation, the student must pass comprehensive examination questions determined by areas of weakness on the National Examination.

Program Requirements

Candidates for the Master of Science degree must meet the academic and practicum requirements for the Certificate for Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology awarded by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. A total of 51 credits are required for the degree.