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Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology (SPLP)

Students who enter the graduate program in Speech-language Pathology are trained to work in a variety of settings with children and adults. Students seeking Teacher Certification in addition to the Master’s degree should see a graduate adviser for additional teacher certification requirements. Those who do not have undergraduate degrees in Speech-Language Pathology must complete the undergraduate deficiencies. Students must consult a graduate adviser in Speech-Language pathology before  enrolling in major courses. Admission to this program is competitive.

Model
Eastern Michigan University’s advanced professional education programs develop leaders who demonstrate reflective thought and scholarship within the context of a diverse society. In addition, the master’s-level programs in the Department of Special Education produce professionals with the comprehensive knowledge, skills and attitudes to deliver a continuum of habilitative/rehabilitative services to persons with special needs, and to their families, within a diverse society.

Master’s Degree Program

Admission Requirements
All students applying to the speech-language pathology master’s program must:

  1. Have a minimum 3.0 GPA in the undergraduate major, and an overall GPA of 3.0;
  2. Submit two letters of recommendation from faculty in the undergraduate major areas of study and/or a clinical supervisor. For those students without an undergraduate major in speech-language pathology, letters may be submitted from a professor in the undergraduate major and/or from a professional employer;
  3. Submit acceptable Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Contact the speech-language pathology program coordinator for current score requirements or visit the program web site at www.emich.edu/coe/sped/slp/index.html;
  4. Complete an on-line application which requires (a) a personal statement and (b) the “Disciplinary Form” at www.emich.edu/admissions/forms_library/general_all_students/disciplinary.pdf. This is a requirement of the College of Education and should be completed even if the student is not seeking teaching endorsement;
  5. Complete and pass the MTTC Basic Skills Test; see www.mttc.nesinc.com for additional information. This may be postponed until after the applicant has been admitted to the program. All students admitted to the graduate program must take this test, even those not seeking teacher endorsement, since it is a requirement for the College of Education.

International students applying to the speech-language pathology master’s program must also: submit acceptable scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) and/or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) demonstrating adequate English proficiency. Contact the speech-language pathology program coordinator for current score requirements or visit the program web site at www.emich.edu/coe/sped/slp/index.html.

Program Requirements
The program requirements for attaining a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology differ in some aspects from those of the Graduate School in that:

  1. Only six hours of graduate transfer credit will be accepted;
  2. All candidates must meet the clinical and academic requirements for certification of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) prior to receiving their degrees;
  3. All candidates must complete a minimum of 48 hours of approved graduate credit. Only 6 hours of transfer credit may be counted toward the 48 hours, with adviser approval;
  4. All candidates must pass major courses with a grade of B- or better and clinical courses with a B or better;
  5. All candidates must be recommended by the Speech-Language Pathology faculty for continuance in the program. This is to be done upon completion of 12-15 hours of course work in the program. The committee will consider GPA, faculty recommendations and demonstrated competence in academic and clinical work. Students must demonstrate behaviors that indicate stability, maturity, understanding and aptitude as judged necessary for predicted success as a speech-language pathologist.

Exit Criteria
To be eligible for graduation and receipt of the Master’s degree, the student must:

  1. Complete a capstone experience in SPSI694 Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology in their last semester in the program;
  2. Complete required course work, clinical practica and internships as described;
  3. Submit a completed ASHA application to the adviser; and
  4. Submit copies of all clinical practica logs to the adviser.

Endorsement Program

Admission Requirements

  1. The student applying for an endorsement in specific special education areas must meet the admissions requirements specified under the Master of Arts degree;
  2. Student must submit documentation of passing scores on the Michigan Test of Teacher Certification (MTTC-Basic Skills); and
  3. Students must be admitted to the Department of Special Education prior to taking 400- and graduate-level requirements.

Curriculum

The following courses are offered to students for completion of the master’s degree program and are considered to be a standard program of study. Students who transfer from other universities should consult their academic adviser concerning equivalencies.

Required Courses in Speech-Language Pathology: 48 hours

Program Total: 48

Curriculum

Courses Required for a Teaching Subject Major/Minor

Students may elect to pursue teaching certification; however, this is optional. Students choosing to do so must complete a teaching subject major or minor (20 to 24 hours). See the undergraduate catalog for approved minors. Note: This is a requirement if the student has not already completed a major or minor appropriate to the level of certificate sought during completion of the bachelor’s degree.

Courses required for teacher certification: 10 hours

Elementary: 16-17 hours

One course from the following:

Secondary: 9 hours

  • Methods course in teaching subject area (3 hrs)

Courses Required for Endorsement:

Students must complete all special education core courses and course requirements for the specific program area (HI, EI, CI, POHI or VI) as listed in the following section regarding endorsement.

Courses in General Education:

Undergraduate transcripts will be reviewed to determine completion of hours to be credited toward meeting a required 40 hours of general or liberal education. Additional course work may be necessary to meet this 40-hour requirement.

Endorsement/Approval Sequence

Certified teachers wishing to qualify for teaching in an area of special education may enroll in an endorsement sequence at the graduate level. (Those seeking both teacher certification and endorsement see the “Special Education Master’s Program with Teacher Certification [SEM-T]” section, which follows.) The first endorsement sequence for a teacher holding non-special education teaching credentials includes a combination of graduate and undergraduate courses. The completion of the endorsement sequence will permit a student to teach in a specific area of disability in grades K-12. Each endorsement sequence accommodates the requirements established by the Michigan Department of Education.

Endorsements are available for Teachers of Students with Emotional Impairment, Teachers of Students with Cognitive Impairment, Teachers of Students with Hearing Impairment, Teachers of Students with Physical Impairment and Other Health Impairment, and Teachers of Students with Visual Impairment. Endorsements are also available in the areas of Learning Disabilities (see program description), and Speech and Language Pathology, only as part of a master’s degree program.

Approval sequences are available in the areas of Supervisor of Special Education and Director of Special Education, and for Teachers of Physical Education for Students with Disabilities as well as Early Childhood Special Education Teachers. Course work in other departments (Educational Leadership; Teacher Education) is typically involved in completing these sequences.

Students must be free from any probation, administrative or academic, before an internship or practicum experience is approved. It is important for students to realize that the endorsement/approval sequence is independent of a degree program. The minimum degree requirements do not guarantee endorsement/approval, and the meeting of endorsement standards should not be construed as the completion of degree requirements.

Nine hours of approved 400-level courses may be upgraded and credited toward a master’s degree with adviser approval; otherwise, all undergraduate courses listed in endorsement sequences are considered undergraduate deficiencies and are not credited toward graduate degrees.

Undergraduate Courses for Graduate Credit: Special Education

The following courses may be elected for graduate credit. A maximum of nine hours of approved 400-level course work may be permitted in the earning of any graduate degree.

If you intend to enroll in any of the following undergraduate courses for graduate credit, you must submit a request form to the Graduate School to receive permission before enrolling in the course; otherwise, you will receive undergraduate credit.

Note:

*Students complete only two of three internships, either SPSI 687 and 688 OR SPSI 687 and 689.

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