The Master of Science program in speech language pathology provides training for individuals who wish to do clinical work in speech language pathology. Graduates of the MS program meet all academic and practicum requirements for clinical certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and for licensure by the State of Iowa. Students preparing for clinical positions in public schools must meet school licensure or certification requirements of the states in which they plan to work.

Programs designed to lead to professional licensure are subject to federal regulations regarding informational disclosures. Please see Professional Licensure Disclosures by Program for further information.

Learning Outcomes

Graduating MS students in speech language pathology will:

• demonstrate knowledge and skills specified in the Knowledge and Skills Acquisition (KASA) competencies for speech-language pathology professions; 
• use critical thinking skills to apply theory and knowledge to clinical decision making to provide patient-centered care;
• use evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence to make clinical decisions regarding the diagnosis and treatment of persons with communication disorders; and
• adhere to the ASHA Code of Ethics, acting in an ethical and professional manner while providing patient-centered care.

The Master of Science in speech language pathology requires a minimum of 53 s.h. of graduate credit, which may include approved graduate transfer credit. Students must maintain a Graduate College program grade-point average of 3.00. The program prepares clinicians to function independently in a variety of clinical settings. The program is designed to ensure that upon graduation, a student will meet the requirements for immediate professional employment. A typical program takes two calendar years to complete.

Candidates for the MS are not required to complete a thesis, although all interested students are encouraged to do so.

The MS in speech language pathology requires the following coursework.

Core Courses

Practicum and Outplacement

Students must complete at least 17 s.h. of practicum and outplacement registration sufficient to meet supervised, direct clinical experience requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Iowa license, and to provide broad, supervised practicum experience.

Practicum and outplacement courses may be repeated.

Electives

All nonthesis students preparing to be speech language pathologists must earn a minimum of 6 s.h. from the following electives. Thesis students earn a minimum of 2 s.h. from the following, plus 4 s.h. in CSD:7590 Research. Students may select courses not listed here with their advisor's permission.

Professional Licensure

State Licensure

A number of states, including Iowa, require a state license in speech language pathology or audiology. Students who meet the requirements listed for the MS in speech language pathology also meet the academic requirements for license in Iowa as well as most other states. For more information, visit Iowa Licensing Requirements for Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists on the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website.

Public School Licensure

Students preparing for clinical positions in public schools typically must meet school licensure or certification requirements of the states in which they plan to work. The following criteria meet the requirements for endorsement as speech language pathologists in Iowa and most other states:

• a master's degree with a professional emphasis in speech language pathology or the equivalent; and
• completion of coursework described in School Speech Language Pathologist Licensure Preparation/Added Endorsement Program K–12 on the College of Education website.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website.

Admission to the program is competitive; applicants' credentials are considered in relation to those of others in the applicant pool and a limited number of individuals are admitted to each program. Applicants whose undergraduate grade-point average is below 3.30 are rarely admitted.

The deadline for application is Jan. 15. All applications to the MS program must be submitted through the Central Application Service for Communication Science and Disorders (CSDCAS) and to the graduate program at the University of Iowa. 

For detailed information regarding the evaluation of applicants, application materials and requirements, and other matters, see Graduate Programs on the department's website.

MS students usually have a background of undergraduate courses in speech and hearing science, psychology of language, and human behavior that is equivalent to an undergraduate major in speech and hearing science at the University of Iowa.

Prerequisite Coursework

Before registering for the program, entering MS students receive descriptive materials about basic core science courses considered to be required preparation for the MS and required MS clinical core courses for which the department may accept comparable courses taken at the undergraduate level. Decisions about incorporating background coursework in these areas are made by the faculty advisor in consultation with the student and the instructors of the basic science or clinical core courses. Entering students must have completed the following courses or their equivalents.

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders provides excellent preparation for a career as a speech language pathologist or audiologist. There continues to be a strong demand for professionals in these fields, and both speech pathology and audiology rank highly in "best job" surveys.

Sample Plan of Study

Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.

Speech Language Pathology, MS

a

Students must complete specific requirements in the University of Iowa Graduate College after program admission. Refer to the Graduate College website and the Manual of Rules and Regulations for more information.

b

Graduate College program GPA is comprised of all courses that are approved degree requirements. If a student takes more than the minimum required number of semester hours to complete the degree, but all courses taken are eligible to count toward the degree, those courses will be included in the Graduate College program GPA.

c

Complete at least 12 s.h. total of practicum credit.

d

Complete a total of at least 5 s.h. from CSD:5304, CSD:5305, CSD:5306, CSD:5307.

e

See the General Catalog for list of approved courses.