Graduate Catalog 2024-2025

Speech-Language Pathology, Master of Science (0466)

Department website: http://www.wku.edu/communicationdisorders/


Program Coordinator

Kimberly J. Green, kimberly.green@wku.edu, (270) 745-4303

This program is designed to prepare speech-language pathologists to meet the needs of those presenting with communication delays, differences, and/or disorders in a range of settings including hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing facilities, or schools. Graduates will meet the academic and clinical requirements of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association, leading to national certification and state licensure.  The speech-language pathology program is accredited by the Council of Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology.

Program Admission

Applicants to the master's degree program in speech-language pathology must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution in the profession, OR outside of the profession and the following courses:
    1. Normal Speech & Language Development
    2. Science of Speech & Hearing
    3. Phonetics
    4. Language Disorders
    5. Articulation Disorders
    6. Speech Anatomy & Physiology
    7. Audiology
    8. Diagnostic or Assessment Procedures

      The degree and/or prerequisite course(s) in communication sciences and disorders must be completed, in progress, or on the applicant's undergraduate plan of study when applying to the program.

  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 for the last degree earned or the degree in progress
  • Clinical observation through a university program (25 hours of clinical observation supervised by a certified speech-language pathologist or audiologist) is preferred but not required
  • The following prerequisite courses in basic sciences must be completed, in progress, or on the applicant's undergraduate plan of study when applying to the program:
    1. Biological Science (science of living things such as biology, human anatomy)
    2. Physics or Chemistry
    3. Social Science (psychology, sociology, anthropology)
    4. Statistics

      All prerequisite or basic science courses must be completed before beginning the graduate program.

  • Essential Functions: Students must enter the program with a minimum level of ability in specific areas termed essential functions. Students must be able to meet minimum essential skills with or without reasonable accommodation during their internship or externship experience.

The application process is two-fold: applicants apply to both WKU Graduate Studies and the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS)

Applicants must submit the following to WKU Graduate Studies:

  1. Application & fee per WKU Graduate Studies
  2. Send official transcripts from all college, university, and professional coursework

Applicants must submit the following to CSDCAS:

  1. Written Statement of Purpose/Goals - This must be no more than 1 page typed, using a 12-point Times New Roman font, and double-spaced. The applicant’s name and the date on which the statement was written should be noted at the top. Visit www.wku.edu/communicationdisorders for designated topic when applying.
  2. Three (3) letters of recommendation
  3. Official transcripts from all colleges attended.
  4. A short video presentation that will assess interpersonal communication. Visit www.wku.edu/commmunicationdisorders for the designated topic when applying.

Applications to the speech-language pathology graduate program will be ranked based on scores in the following areas:

  • Cumulative GPA
  • Statement of purpose/goals essay
  • Interpersonal communication

Accreditation standards require that the clinical education component of the curriculum provide students with access to a client/patient base that is sufficient to achieve stated mission and goals and includes a variety of clinical settings, client/patient populations, and age groups. Therefore, this department reserves the right to limit enrollment in geographical areas where there are known issues in obtaining sufficient and appropriate clinical sites for students. Check www.wku.edu/communicationdisorders for further information before applying to the program.

Any academic deficiencies required to meet certification requirements of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association must be completed. Check www.wku.edu/communicationdisorders for further information before applying to the program.

Graduate Studies Admission

Please refer to the admission section of this catalog for Graduate Studies admission requirements.

Program Requirements (60 hours)

Sixty semester hours are required for both the thesis and non-thesis option. The research tool requirement (3 hours) may be met by successful completion of SLP 500 Research Methodology in Communication Disorders (or equivalent). Additionally, the student must complete at least 400 clock hours of clinical experience by graduation.

Summative evaluations are required by WKU Graduate Studies and our accrediting agency. Graduate Students in Speech-Language Pathology can fulfill the summative evaluation requirement by successful completion of one of the following: 1) passing a comprehensive examination; or, 2) passing a master’s thesis defense. Students must pass the comprehensive examination or pass their thesis defense in the final semester of enrollment prior to graduation according to the deadline set by graduate studies. 

In order to protect client populations, students will be required to undergo criminal background checks and provide proof of a recent physical examination, professional liability insurance, and negative TB test prior to beginning any clinical experiences, and these must be updated annually. Some clinical externship placements may require students to undergo drug testing and submit proof of health insurance, CPR training, and other immunizations prior to beginning off campus experiences. Additionally, there may be certifications, training seminars, or other requirements specified by an institution that a student must meet in order to be eligible for training at an educational or health care institution. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all University and/or institutional requirements are met as a condition of participating in clinical experiences. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all institutional and/or facility requirements are met as a condition of participating in the on and off-campus experiences; students may be responsible in part or in full for any costs incurred to meet such requirements. Students are also responsible for transportation to and from off-campus experiences.

Required Courses
SLP 500Research Methodology in Communication Sciences and Disorders3
SLP 501Early Intervention in Speech-Language Pathology3
SLP 502Motor Speech Disorders3
SLP 504Child Language Disorders3
SLP 506Fluency Disorders3
SLP 507Aphasia3
SLP 508Voice Disorders3
SLP 511Neurological Foundations for Speech Language Pathology3
SLP 519Social and Cultural Foundations in SLP3
SLP 512Speech Sound Disorders3
SLP 513Cognitive-Communication Disorders3
SLP 514Dysphagia3
SLP 515Rehabilitation Audiology3
SLP 579Seminar in Professional Issues1
Select one of the following:2
SLP 590
Clinical Internship (repeated for 2 hours)
SLP 590
& SLP 588
Clinical Internship
and Clinical Methods in Speech-Language Pathology
SLP 591Clinical Externship6
Electives
Students must select 12 hours of coursework from the SLP discipline or as approved by their academic advisor. 112
Total Hours60
1

SLP 518 must be taken as an elective if the undergraduate equivalent has not been completed.