Graduate Programs in Speech and Hearing Science Lamar University programs in audiology and in speech-language pathology hold national accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Master of Science (M.S.) in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) students completing a master’s degree in speech-language pathology typically meet the national certification standards of ASHA as well as requirements for state licensure. SLP M.S. graduates who meet ASHA certification and state licensure standards are considered eligible for employment as speech-language pathologists. Depending on the student’s undergraduate program of study, the typical 54-semester-hour master’s degree may need to be expanded to accommodate ASHA certification and state licensure requirements. SLP M.S. students must complete a minimum of 375 hours of supervised clinical practicum.

Graduates may apply to ASHA for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in SLP. This national certification requires the completion of specified course work and clinical practice. Students seeking ASHA certification should obtain a copy of ASHA regulations from a faculty advisor early in their training program. M.S. SLP students are required to take comprehensive exams during their final semester. Further, ASHA standards mandate the passing of a national qualifying board examination (ETS Praxis) for prospective speech-language pathologists. Master’s students typically take this examination during their final semester.

Students satisfy the summative assessment requirement by one of three routes: comprehensive examinations, the thesis option (SPHS 5390 and SPHS 5391), or a faculty-mentored guided research project comprising a written manuscript and an oral presentation evaluated by an internal research committee. All students additionally present and facilitate one grand rounds discussion and attend four grand rounds seminars during the final two semesters.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
SPHS 5301	Aphasia & Neurogenic Disorders	3
SPHS 5302	Stuttering	3
SPHS 5303	Voice Disorders and Cleft Palate	3
SPHS 5304	Language Based Disorders of School Aged Children	3
SPHS 5306	Language Disorders of Young Children	3
SPHS 5307	Articulation Disorders	3
SPHS 5309	Advanced Clinical Practicum 1	21
SPHS 5310	Swallowing Disorders	3
SPHS 5321	Research in Communication Disorders	3
SPHS 5326	Motor Speech Disorders	3
SPHS 5350	Individual Study (/Elective)	3
or SPHS 5344	Cultural Variation: Adv Topics
or SPHS 6352	Aural Rehabiliation
SPHS 5346	Cog-Comm Disorders	3
Total Hours		54

¹

Students will complete SPHS 5309 Advanced Clinical Practicum a combined 7 times.

²

Students who have not taken Aural Rehabilitation or Cultural Variation in the undergraduate must do so at the graduate level.  If both courses were completed in the undergraduate, an SPHS 5350 elective course may be taken.

In lieu of comprehensive exams, students may complete a thesis option. For this option, students must complete both SPHS 5390 Thesis and SPHS 5391 Thesis for the required 6 credits.

Leveling Courses

(If Needed)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
SPHS 2370	Phonetics	3
SPHS 3310	Language Acquisition	3
SPHS 3314	Speech and Hearing Science	3
SPHS 3318	Speech Anatomy & Physiology	3
SPHS 4332	Neurology	3
SPHS 4334	Audiology I	3
SPHS 4342	Audiologic Rehabilitation	3
Four courses are required from the following areas:
Biology (Life Sciences preferred)		3
Chemistry or Physics		3
Social Science (i.e., Sociology or Psychology)		3
Statistics		3
Total Hours		33