Campus MS Speech-Language Pathology

Program Description

Upon completion of our program graduates will be prepared to become a certified speech-language pathologist, able to assess and treat infants, children, and adults with acquired or developmental speech, language, and/or swallowing disorders. Our program is fully accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and meets the clinical and academic standards for Certification of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) by ASHA and licensure requirements in Montana and many other states.

We are committed to providing students with high-caliber academic and clinical training experiences with a focus on inter-professional education and research. Our goal is to prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide effective speech-language pathology services for diverse populations in all relevant environments. 

Degree options:

  • Thesis Option: 71 total graduate credits (35 graduate program course credits, 30 practicum credits, and a minimum of 6 thesis credits; may require an additional semester)
  • Non-thesis Option: 65-68 total graduate credits (32-35 graduate program course credits, 30 practicum credits, and 3 capstone/portfolio project credits)

Required Academic Coursework

  • 32 credits of graduate program courses, a majority of which focus on developmental and acquired communication and swallowing disorders.
  • Either a graduate thesis (6 credits) or graduate non-thesis portfolio project (3 credits option).
  • Permission may be requested from the graduate advisor to complete the required elective as a graduate course from another department. Some students will have multiple electives if there is a need to complete multiple undergraduate or Standard IV area requirements (not completed prior to graduate school) such as CSD UG 450 Intro to Aural (Ear) Rehabilitation in order to be eligible for ASHA certification.

Required Clinical Education Coursework and Credits

Clinical education coursework includes (See Clinical Education website):

  • 30 credits of clinical practicum–includes specialty clinics and direct experiences across multiple settings (see clinical education coursework).
  • Working with children and adults with developmental/acquired/swallowing 3 practicum levels that develop clinical skill and competency across multiple sites.
  • A minimum of 375 supervised clock hours (25 hours of guided observation must be completed before beginning clinical practicum).

  Graduate students have the opportunity to:

  • Work closely with ASHA-certified faculty/supervisors.
  • Engage in extensive experience and specialized training in various aspects of speech, language, literacy, swallowing, and hearing.

Program Delivery Options

   On-Campus Students

  • Follow a traditional classroom structure by attending courses face-to-face on the UM campus
  • Practica are completed every semester throughout the graduate program and begin as a clinical practicum in the University of Montana's RiteCare Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic their first semester in the graduate program.
  • Subsequent off-campus practica (typically after the first two semesters of graduate school) take place in off-campus sites (and can be arranged throughout the state and country)
  • Will complete the degree in a minimum of 4 semesters and 1 summer term.
  • Part-time options are available

   Distance Students

  • Participate synchronously in all academic courses with students on campus via web-broadcasting
  • Begin clinical practicum at the University of Montana's RiteCare Clinic on the University of Montana campus in the summer term following two semesters of academic study
  • Practica continue throughout the remainder of the graduate program in off-campus sites (and can be arranged throughout the state and country)
  • Are able to complete the program in a minimum of 4 semesters and 2 summer terms

Curriculum Options

On-Campus Curriculum Option

*Students will be placed in 1 of 2 plans of study. Students in plan of study 1 will have an emphasis on developmental disorders and take SLP 560 during year 1. Students in plan of study 2 will have an emphasis on acquired disorders and take SLP 530 during year 1. 

Graduate Level Courses: Course, course title, corequisites and prerequisites (in parentheses), and credits

Course
(SLP)

Title / Requirements
Cr. Course
(SLP)
Title / Requirements Cr.
CAMPUS YEAR #1
AUTUMN SEMESTER

CAMPUS YEAR #1
SPRING SEMESTER

560 Language Assessment and Intervention for School Age Language 3 520 Speech Sound disorders 3
591 (ST)/ 535  Motor Speech Disorders

3

545 Social Communication Skills, Behavior, and Neurodiversity 2
565 Aphasia  3 640 Swallowing Disorders 3
550 Language Assessment and Intervention for Children Infants Through Preschool 3 570 (B) Clinical Processes of Prof Practice I 1
570 (A) Clinical Processes of Prof Practice I 1 571 Applied Clinic II 3
571 Applied Clinic I 3 566 Cognition 3
           
CAMPUS YEAR #1
SUMMER TERM
576 Advanced Applied Clinic II 6      
           
           
CAMPUS YEAR #2
AUTUMN SEMESTER
CAMPUS YEAR #2
SPRING SEMESTER
591(ST)/530 Voice & Resonance Disorders 3 675 Clinical Externship/Advanced Practicum 12
546 Augmentative and Alternative Communication 1 688 or
699
MS Capstone/Portfolio-or-
Thesis (6 credits total)
3 or
1-3 (total of 6)
575 Advanced Clinical Processess in Professional Practice II 1      
576 Advanced Applied Clinic II 6      
600 Research Methods 3      
540 Fluency Disorders 2      
           

Course Descriptions

For descriptions of all School of Speech, Language, Hearing, and Occupational Sciences courses, please access current University catalog entries.

SLP Graduate Program Prerequisites

Students enter the University of Montana Master’s degree program with 1) an undergraduate degree with a communicative sciences and disorders (CSD) undergraduate major, or 2) an undergraduate degree in a non-CSD area with the additional completion of leveling CSD leveling courses. The CSD prerequisite courses include the following (full descriptions found in the UM Course Catalog):

  • CSD 205 Clinical Application & Observations in SLP & Audiology 
  • CSD 210 Speech & Lang Development
  • CSD 222 Intro to Audiology
  • CSD 265 Developmental Speech & language Disorders and Treatment
  • CSD 320 Phonological Development & Phonetics
  • CSD 330 Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech & Swallowing Mechanisms
  • CSD 331 Neurological Bases of Communication & Swallowing Disorders
  • CSD 365 Acquired Communication & Swallowing Disorders
  • CSD 420 Speech and Hearing Science
  • CSD 450 Intro to Aural (Ear) Rehabilitation

ASHA Standard IV-A Course Requirements

In addition to the required CSD courses, in order to apply for SLP Certification the American Speech Language Hearing Association Requires student to complete Prerequisite Courses in the Content Areas of 1) physical science (physics or chemistry), 2) biological science, 3) social/behavioral science, 4) statistics, and 5) multicultural diversity. Thus the following general undergraduate-level courses are prerequisites and described as follows:

  • Physical Science: Physics or chemistry.
  • Biological Science:  Science of living things (human or animal):  biology, general anatomy & physiology, neuroanatomy & neurophysiology, human genetics, or veterinary science (must be non-CSD courses)
  • Social/Behavioral Science: Psychology, sociology, anthropology, or public health.
  • Statistics: Prerequisite for SLP 600: Research Methods.  One stand-alone course is required.  UM’s graduate Research Methods CSD course does not count for stats. Psychology, Math, or Social stats; stats also meets the previous math course category.

*Advanced placement, CLEP, or exam of equivalency may be used, but transcripts must be provided.

Prior to the start of graduate school, the Graduate Advisor will review each student’s undergraduate CSD or leveling work to determine whether all prerequisite courses are completed prior to the start of graduate school. If some coursework is not completed in a student’s undergraduate or leveling training prior to the start of graduate school, then the Graduate Advisor will work with a student to determine how best to integrate the required courses into each student’s Plan of Study. Typically, students will take a course as an elective during their graduate studies and careful planning will be made to ensure a prerequisite course or courses are taken prior to/or concurrently with accompanying graduate coursework that requires associated foundational knowledge. It should be noted, however, if a student has a significant amount of prerequisite coursework that is not completed in an undergraduate and/or leveling post-baccalaureate studies, additional semester(s) of coursework may need to be completed and related extended plans of study may be required for full training completion.

Applying to the SLP Graduate Program

Applicants to the program must meet the admission requirements of the University of Montana Graduate School and the School of Speech, Language, Hearing, and Occupational Sciences. Acceptance criteria include grade point average, GRE scores, letters of recommendations, written essays, and other activities related to the field. Every attempt is made to assess the special strengths that the applicant might bring to the program. 

Scholarships and Assistantships

Scholarships and assistantships are available each year through an internal department application process.  The application time periods vary throughout the year.Scholarship opportunities will be posted to the SLHOS school page (see Graduate Application Process-->Grad Student Scholarship Application Process). Information about assistantship opportunities will be made available at the appropriate time.

Funding, Tuition and Estimated Cost

  • Financial Aid and Tuition Resources:  for information about other financial aid resources and tuition, please refer to the University of Montana Graduate School under Tuition and Funding and Graduate Cost of Attendance (COA). Additional resources, Business Services and Financial Aid
  • Estimated Program Cost:  In addition to the program cost delineated in the university tuition and fees table, students in the graduate SLP program pay an additional yearly student tuition for expenses related to accreditation requirements of intensive clinical training. The annual program-specific-tuition of approximately $7,004 per year.  This fee is divided between the fall and spring semester each year you are in the program.  The average length of the program is 2 years.  In accordance with Board of Regents standards and tuition and fees may be subject to change in a given year.  

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