Speech-Language Pathology (M.S.)

The mission of the Department of Speech-Language Pathology is to prepare students with a broad knowledge base of human communication and its impairments, competency in clinical service delivery, and a strong foundation in the principles of evidence-based practice. Aligned with the Catholic mission of Seton Hall University and the School of Health and Medical Sciences, students will be prepared to assume servant leadership roles in a global society.

This comprehensive 65-credit, five-semester program includes academic courses, experiential learning opportunities, and clinical practica in speech-language pathology that are intended to provide students with the necessary skills to perform as entry-level practitioners and enable them to grow and adapt to the rapid changes in the profession and the healthcare service delivery system.

Accreditation

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program received full accreditation for an eight-year period by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) effective May 1, 2022 through April 30, 2030. In order for an individual to be eligible to apply for national certification with ASHA, a student must initiate and complete coursework and clinical practicum at a CAA-accredited institution.

Admissions

Applicants must complete an application through the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Admissions Service (CSDCAS); this is located at https://csdcas.liaisoncas.com. Special admissions consideration is given to students enrolled in the dual degree programs: a) Elementary and Special Education, and b) Psychology, at Seton Hall University who do not participate in the CSDCAS process. Further details are available in the undergraduate catalogue.

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.2 on a four-point scale is required for all applicants. Admission to the program is open to individuals who have an undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology or who have completed a minimum of 18 credits of pre-professional coursework in communication sciences and disorders with a grade of “B” or better that must include the six courses listed below.

The Department of Speech-Language Pathology offers the following undergraduate pre-professional courses:

• GMSL 5001 Phonetics 
• GMSL 5003 Language Development
• GMSL 5004 Audiology
• GMSL 5005 Anat - Phys Speech Swall Mech 
• GMSL 5006 Hearing and Speech Science
• GMSL 5007 Introduction to Communication Disorders 

Additionally, per ASHA Certification Standards, applicants must also demonstrate completion of at least one course with a grade of “C” or better in each of the following areas is required for admission:

• Statistics
• Social or Behavioral Science (Typically a course in psychology, sociology, or cultural anthropology)
• Biological Science (Typically a course in biology, general human anatomy, physiology, genetics, or zoology)
• Physical Science (physics or chemistry)

Please note that pre-professional coursework in Speech-Language Pathology cannot be used to fulfill the course requirements in the above-mentioned areas (i.e. statistics, social or behavioral science, biological and physical science). Further, all prerequisite courses must be completed no more than 10 years before the application date. If English is not the native language, a student must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report documenting a paper-based score of 550 or above, a computer-based score of 213 or above, or an Internet-based score of 79 or above. 

The program Admissions Committee, comprised of faculty, determines a candidate’s eligibility for enrollment upon review of all academic transcripts, a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, and documentation reflecting the completion of 25 hours of "guided clinical observation" of a professional holding a certificate of clinical competence (CCC) in Speech-Language Pathology and eligibility for student supervision (Standard V-C). Information regarding the application process may be obtained from the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at (973) 275-2825 or e-mail shms@shu.edu.

Curriculum Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Professional Year I
GMSL 6007	Physiolog-Acoustic Phonetics	3
GMSL 6009	Diagnostic Clinical Principles	2
GMSL 6010	Child Lang Dev and Disorders	4
GMSL 6011	Articulation and Phonology	3
GMSL 6012	School Age Lang Lrn Disorders	3
GMSL 6022	Biomed Ethics-Prof Issues SLP	2
GMSL 6141	Neuroscience	3
GMSL 6518	Acq Disorder Lang-Cog	3
GMSL 6521	Dysphagia	3
GMSL 6522	Pediatric Dysphagia-Procedures	3
GMSL 6523	Fluency Disorders	3
GMSL 6524	Augmentative and Alt Comm	3
GMSL 7001	Aud and Aural Rehab for SLP	3
GMSL 7002	Research Methods I	3
GMSL 7003	Research Methods II *	3
GMSL 7010	Traumatic Brain Injury	3
GMSL 7039	Research Project I (Elective in place of GMSL 7003 Research Methods II)	2
GMSL 7041	Clin Pract-Clin Sem I	3
Professional Year II
GMSL 6013	Adult Neuromotor Disord-Comm	2
GMSL 6525	Voice Disorders	3
GMSL 7013	Craniofacial Disorders	3
GMSL 7040	Research Project II (Elective in place of GMSL 7003 Research Methods II)	1
GMSL 7102	Clinical Practicum/Clin Sem II	2
GMSL 7103	Clinical Externship	5

*

To meet the research requirements of the program, students have the option of enrolling in GMSL 7003 Research Methods II (offered in professional year I) or enrolling in a two course research project sequence [GMSL 7039 Research Project I (offered in professional year I) & GMSL 7040 Research Project II (offered in professional year II)].

Students are required to complete a professional portfolio to satisfy requirements for degree and clinical certification