Speech-Language Pathology

PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND PROFESSOR: Anthony P. Salvatore

E-mail: splp@utep.edu

Phone: (915) 747-7250

The Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech, Language, Hearing Association. Students who successfully complete the master's fulfill academic course work and clinical practicum requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence and the Texas License in Speech-Language Pathology.

Admission Requirements

1. Bachelor�s degree from an accredited U.S. institution or equivalent degree at a foreign institution

2. Minimum of 21 semester hours of upper-division undergraduate courses related to communication disorders

3. GPA of 3.0 in upper-division preparatory SPLP undergraduate courses

4. GRE score of 500 Verbal and 500 Analytical and a 550 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) from international applicants

5. A GPA higher than 3.0 may offset GRE scores lower than the specified minimums and GRE scores higher than the specified minimums may offset a GPA lower than 3.0 for unconditional acceptance into Graduate School. Admission is competitive. The number admitted each semester is dependent on available program resources.

MS Degree Requirements

Majors in Speech-Language Pathology Must Complete

1. A minimum of 54 required semester hours.

2. A minimum of 350 clock hours of supervised clinical practicum is required. In addition, 25 clock hours of supervised clinical observation must be completed prior to beginning the initial practicum experience.

Comprehensive written and oral examinations are required for students who choose not to write a thesis. Students who write a thesis are required to defend the thesis in an oral examination. Students who choose to write a thesis must enroll in SPLP 5398 and 5399.

Grade Criteria

1. A "D" or "F" grade in any graduate course will result in immediate dismissal from the graduate program and no reconsideration of the student for readmission will be taken.

 

 

2. No more than 2 "C" grades will be permitted. A third "C" grade will lead to

immediate dismissal from the graduate program and no reconsideration of the

student for readmission will be taken. If a "C" grade is earned, it must be matched

with an "A" grade in a course within the program�s required SPLP courses and

this must be accomplished the semester (Fall/Spring/Summer) immediately

following the semester the "C" was earned.

Required Courses (54 hours)

SPLP 5300 Aural Rehabilitation

SPLP 5320 Research Design in Communication Disorders

SPLP 5330 Differential Diagnosis of Communication Disorders

SPLP 5359 Fluency Disorders

SPLP 5360 Aphasia and Related Disorders

SPLP 5362 Language Disorders in School-Aged Children

SPLP 5363 Phonatory Disorders of Voice

SPLP 5364 Motor Speech Disorders

SPLP 5365 Advanced Audiology

SPLP 5370 Dysphagia

SPLP 5375 Articulation in Phonological Disorders

SPLP 5376 Multicultural Issues

SPLP 5377 Treatment Efficacy

SPLP 5369 Graduate Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology, University Clinic

SPLP 5379 Graduate Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology, School Setting

SPLP 5389 Graduate Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology, Hospital/Agency

Electives

SPLP 5310 Gerontology and Communication Disorders

SPLP 5367 Conservation of Hearing

SPLP 5372 Problems and Projects in Speech-Language Pathology

SPLP 5373 Advanced Clinical Practicum in Audiology

SPLP 5374 Problems and Projects in Audiology

SPLP 5398 Thesis

SPLP 5399 Thesis

Out-of-department graduate electives must be approved by the graduate advisor.

Recommended Sequence

First Year

Fall: SPLP 5320, 5330, 5362, 5369 12 semester hours

Spring: SPLP 5359, 5360, 5369, 5376 12 semester hours

Summer: SPLP 5369, 5375 6 semester hours

 

 

 

Second Year

Fall: SPLP 5364, 5365, 5370, 5379, or 5389 12 semester hours

Spring: SPLP 5300, 5363, 5377, 5379, or 5389 12 semester hours

Summer: SPLP 5379 or 5389 (if necessary) 3 semester hours

54 TOTAL

For Undergraduate and Graduate Students

SPLP 4312 Neural Bases of Speech and Language (3-0)

 

For Graduate Students Only

Speech-Language Pathology (SPLP)

5300 Aural Rehabilitation (3-0)

Clinical aspects of habilitation and/or rehabilitation programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adults. Prerequisite: SPLP 4309 or equivalent introductory course in audiology or audiometry.

5310 Gerontology and Communication Disorders (3-0)

A description of the sociological, psychological, medical, and educational aspects of adult development and aging as they relate to communication processes and disorders.

5320 Research Design in Communication Disorders (3-0)

Typical and single-subject designs utilized in the research of speech, hearing, and language disorders.

5330 Differential Diagnosis of Communication Disorders (3-0)

Selection, application, and interpretation of formal and informal assessment procedures for the diagnosis and description of speech and language disorders. Topics include multicultural issues related to the diagnosis of communication.

5359 Fluency Disorders (3-0)

Theoretical foundations, diagnosis, and treatment of fluency disorders in children and adults.

5360 Aphasia and Related Disorders (3-0)

Study of the etiology, symptomatology, diagnosis, and treatment of aphasia and related neurogenic disorders including traumatic brain injury, right hemisphere syndrome, and dementia. Bilingual aspects of aphasia are discussed.

 

 

5362 Language Disorders in School-Aged Children (3-0)

Theoretical influences, diagnosis, and intervention for language impairments in school-aged populations including aspects of both spoken and written language. Topics include multicultural issues related to language disorders in this population.

5363 Phonatory Disorders of Voice (3-0)

Perceptual and instrumental identification of organic and functional phonatory voice disorders in children and adults.

5364 Motor Speech Disorders (3-0)

Study of the dysarthrias, apraxia of speech, and dysphagia. Prerequisite: SPLP 4312.

5365 Advanced Audiology (3-0)

Procedures utilized in diagnostic audiology to describe the type, degree, and, whenever possible, the site of auditory dysfunction.

5367 Conservation of Hearing (3-0)

Current laws and procedures leading to effective programs in the conservation of hearing for all age groups.

5369 Graduate Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology, University Clinic (3-0)

Supervised clinical practicum in providing services for individuals who are speech and language impaired at the University Clinic. University practicum during some semesters includes participation in off-campus sites. Enrollment is limited. May be repeated one time for elective credit. Liability insurance and TB clearance required. Course fee required. Prerequisites: 21 semester hours of upper-division undergraduate course work in communication disorders and proficient use of Standard American Oral English.

  1. Dysphagia (3-0)

This course provides the student with information regarding normal and disordered

swallowing. Anatomy, physiology, and neurology of deglutition will be presented,

followed by discussion of appropriate assessment procedures and treatment protocols.

Dysphagia and its relation to motor speech disorders will be discussed.

5372 Problems and Projects in Speech-Language Pathology (3-0)

Special projects under faculty supervision. May be repeated for credit with a change in area of emphasis.

5373 Advanced Clinical Practicum in Audiology (3-0)

Supervised clinical practicum in providing audiological services. Enrollment is limited. Liability insurance and TB clearance required. Prerequisite: SPLP 5365. Course fee required.

 

 

5374 Problems and Projects in Audiology (3-0)

Special projects under faculty supervision. May be taken more than once with a change in area of emphasis.
  1. Articulation and Phonological Disorders (3-0)

    2. This course will address theory and research on phonological development and disorders.

    Data sampling, analysis procedures, and interaction techniques will be emphasized.

  2. Multicultural/Multilingual Issues in Communication Disorders: an Hispanic Focus

(3-0)

This course will promote students� awareness of cultural and language variables that will influence provision of services to clients and families of bilingual Spanish/English and monolingual Spanish speakers, particularly along the U.S./Mexico border. Students will review the emerging literature on normal language development of Spanish-speaking children who live in the U.S., on bilingualism, language loss, and cultural factors that can influence diagnosis, treatment, and counseling for fluency, voice, swallowing disorders, and hearing loss. Prerequisite: Department approval.
  1. Treatment Efficacy in Communication Disorders (3-0)

This course reviews the theoretical and procedural issues involved in the assessment of treatment efficacy. The value and use of single-subject treatment designs will be emphasized. Models of patient care and their impact on efficacious treatment will be examined.
  1. Graduate Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology, School Setting (0-0-3)

Supervised clinical practicum in providing services to the speech and language impaired in school settings. Offered Fall and Spring semesters only. Enrollment is limited. Liability insurance and TB clearance are required. Prerequisites: 50 clock hours of supervised practicum; SPLP 5369 with a grade of "B" or better, SPLP 5330, and SPLP 5362.

5389 Graduate Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology, Hospital/Agency (0-0-3)

Supervised clinical practicum in providing services to the speech and language impaired in hospitals and/or agencies. Enrollment is limited. Liability insurance, TB clearance required, and CPR certification are required. Prerequisites: 50 clock hours of supervised practicum; SPLP 5369 with a grade of "B" or better, SPLP 5330, SPLP 5360, and SPLP 5364.

5398 Thesis (0-0-3)

Initial work on the thesis.

5399 Thesis (0-0-3)

Continuous enrollment required while work on the thesis continues. Prerequisite: SPLP 5398.