Master of Arts (MA)

Academic, clinical, and research education for the MA degree in communication sciences and disorders prepares the student to meet the requirements of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for the Clinical Certificate of Competence (CCC-SLP). The mission of the degree program is to prepare highly qualified speech-language pathologists to function with competence in the many medical/clinical, rehabilitative, private practice, and public school settings.

Graduate students complete their degree program according to academic requirements in effect at the time their plan of study is filed with the Graduate School. The MA program in speech-language pathology requires a minimum of 68-69 credit hours, plus 3-6 hours of tool subjects. The courses and practicum experiences required may vary depending upon the educational background the student brings to the master's degree program.

Curriculum

Core Courses (37 credit hours)
CSD 705 Counseling in Communication Disorders
CSD 710 Autism Spectrum Disorders
CSD 800 Research Methods
CSD 809 Language/Literacy for Young Children: Assessment & Intervention
CSD 810 Motor Speech Disorders
CSD 811 Dysphagia
CSD 812 Aphasia, Right Hemisphere Disorders and Dementia
CSD 814 Applied Phonology
CSD 815 Augmentative and Alternative Communication
CSD 816 Language and Literacy for School-Age and Adolescents
CSD 817 Voice Disorders
CSD 818 Fluency Disorders
CSD 819 Traumatic Brain Injury

Practica (28 credit hours)
CSD 655 Graduate Methods and Practicum in Auditory Assessment-SLP
CSD 821 Educational Settings Practicum
CSD 822 General Clinic Practicum
CSD 823 Medical Settings Practicum
CSD 824 External Placement Practicum (optional)
CSD 830 Kaleidoscope Preschool Practicum (optional)

Non-Thesis Option (3 credit hours)
CSD 891 Non-Thesis Research
CSD 892 Presentation of Research

Thesis Option (4 credit hours)
CSD 895 Thesis Research
CSD 899 Thesis

Tool Subjects (3-6 credit hours)
CSD 800 Research Methods
CESP 704 Introduction to Educational Statistics 

Prerequisite Coursework

All students seeking admittance to the MA program are required to have completed foundational coursework in this field, or its equivalent, prior to starting the graduate program. Coursework in biological sciences, physical sciences, social/behavioral sciences, and mathematics is also required to meet ASHA certification and Kansas licensure requirements.

If prerequisite coursework is in progress, applications to the MA program may be submitted after one semester of the prerequisites are completed. Taking prerequisite coursework, however, does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Interested students who are not currently admitted to WSU should contact the Office of Admissions.

Prerequisites (41 credit hours)
CSD 210 or PHYS 210 Physics of Sound
CSD 251 Audiology Development & Disorders
CSD 301 Basic Anatomy & Physiology of Speech Mechanisms
CSD 302 Basic Anatomy & Physiology of Hearing Mechanisms
CSD 304+304L Early Language Development & Lab
CSD 306+306L Applied Phonetics & Lab
CSD 416+417 Intro to Language Disorders & Lab
CSD 425 Introduction to Clinical Processes
CSD 514+515 Speech-Sound Disorders & Lab
CSD 517 Communication in Aging
CSD 519+521 Genetics and Organic Syndromes & Lab
CSD 605 Neuroscience of Speech and Language: Basic Processes
CSD 706 Acoustic and Perceptual Phonetics
CSD 764 Aural Rehabilitation