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Master of Science Program

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD)

The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in speech-language pathology at the University of Central Arkansas is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Undergraduate and Master’s programs of CSD is the preparation of professionals qualified to provide independent professional diagnostic and therapy services to individuals with a wide range of communication and swallowing needs in a variety of settings.

Program Overview

The CSD M.S. program is a 6-semester (fall, spring, summer) program. Graduates from the program earn a Master of Science degree and meet academic and clinical practicum standards for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in Speech-Language Pathology granted by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Speech-Language Pathology license issued by the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

Eligibility and Admission to the Program

Admission to the M.S. Program in Communication Sciences and Disorders is competitive, selective, and limited. Admission is granted without regard to gender, race or color, ethnicity, religion, spiritual beliefs, national origin, age, familial status, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, disability, political beliefs, intellectual perspective, genetic information, military status, or other factors irrelevant to participation in this program.

Eligibility Criteria

• A Bachelor’s Degree must be completed prior to enrolling but can be in related fields.
• Students must have completed at least one undergraduate level course in each of the following areas with a grade of “C” or better:
  • Biological Science (Human or Animal)
  • Physical Science (Physics or Chemistry)
  • Statistics
  • Behavioral/Social Science
• Students must have completed undergraduate courses in basic human communication processes and the nature of speech, language, swallowing and hearing disorders as well as courses in the following areas:
  • Phonetics
  • Normal speech and language development
  • Anatomy and physiology of the speech mechanism
  • Speech and hearing science
  • Clinical methods
  • Audiology
  • Research
  • Cognition
  • Cultural diversity

Application Process

Applications to the M.S. Program in Communication Sciences and Disorders are administered through the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service for Clinical Education in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology.

Application Requirements

• An official transcript from EACH college from which you have received course credit
• Letters of recommendation: minimum of three, maximum of four
• A personal statement
• Additional information required for the CSDCAS application (volunteer work, honors, employment, etc.)

Graduate Degree Requirements

Each fall a new group of students begin the UCA graduate program. Completion of the Master’s degree requires six consecutive semesters of full time enrollment. Students must complete a minimum of 54 semester-credit-hours of academic and clinical courses including 40 semester-credit-hours of academic study and 14 semester-credit-hours of clinical practicum.

Clinical Practicum

Students enroll in Clinical Practicum each semester. This supervised practicum will include experiences with patient/client populations across the life span and from culturally/linguistically diverse backgrounds. A total of 400 clinical practicum hours must be accrued with a minimum of 325 at the graduate level.

M.S. Thesis Option

Students who choose to complete a thesis enroll in 6 hours of thesis credit (6V36 Thesis). The thesis option does not require the student to take more than the 54 required credit hours.

Retention

Once admitted, a student’s progress in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program is reviewed each semester. To remain in good standing:

• The student must maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0.
• The student is expected to have acquired the knowledge and skills delineated by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) that are necessary for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC).
• The student is expected to exhibit specific professional behaviors.
• Students are evaluated with both formative and summative assessments to ensure they are achieving the skills required for certification and licensure.

Student Support Services

CSD students are fully supported in their program through departmental advising, assistance from support staff, and direct connection with instructors. CSD students are also supported through various campus offices and resources.