Program Overview

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Communication Sciences and Disorders (MA) - Accelerated BS to MA Track

The Communication Sciences and Disorders MA program is intended for those interested in working with children and adults who have communication disorders. The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers an Accelerated BS to MA Track for highly qualified UCF undergraduate majors in communication sciences and disorders that enables them to complete a master's degree in one less semester than students in the Traditional program.

Program Overview

The program is offered face-to-face on the Orlando campus. The Communication Sciences and Disorders program strives to educate students to become successful practitioners in the field of speech-language pathology. To that end, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Code of Ethics is reinforced throughout the academic curriculum. Violations of the ASHA Code of Ethics are grounds for academic sanctions or dismissal from the program.

Track Prerequisites

To be certified to practice by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), all applicants must have transcript credit, which could include course work, advanced placement, CLEP, or examination equivalency, for each of the following areas at the undergraduate level:

• Biological sciences
• Physical sciences
• Social/behavioral sciences
• Statistics
  • Courses must be taken outside the discipline.
  • Courses other than statistics may consist of any number of credits.
  • Statistics course must be at least 3 credit hours and may be at the undergraduate or graduate level.
  • Courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

39 Total Credits

• Complete the following:
  • SPA6204 - Articulation/Phonological Dis (3)
  • SPA6211 - Voice and Upper Airway Disorders (3)
  • SPA6225C - Fluency Disorders (3)
  • SPA6236 - Motor Speech Disorders in Adults and Children (3)
  • SPA6327 - Aural Habilitation Rehab (3)
  • SPA6410 - Aphasia and Related Disorders (3)
  • SPA6474 - Assessment and Management of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations (3)
  • SPA6559 - Augmentative and Alternative Communication (3)
  • SPA6565 - Feeding and Swallowing Disorders (3)
  • SPA6805 - Research in Communicative Disorders (3)
  • SPA6417 - Management of Acquired Cognitive/Communication Disorders Across the Lifespan (3)
  • SPA6403 - Language Disorders: School-Age through Adolescence (3)
  • SPA6402 - Language Disorders: Birth to 5 Years (3)

Clinical Practice

24 Total Credits

• Complete all of the following:
  • SPA6551 - Foundations of Clinical Practice: Level I (1)
  • SPA6503 - Foundations of Clinical Practice Level II (1)
  • SPA6503L - Found Clinic Practice-II APP (1)
  • SPA6553L - Clinical Practice in Differential Diagnosis in Speech and Language Pathology (1)
  • SPA6563L - Clinical Practice and Instrumental Diagnostics in Individuals with Dysphagia (1)
  • SPA6942L - Found Clinic Practice-III APP (1)
  • SPA6943 - Advanced Clinical Practice Seminar (1)
• Earn at least 2 credits from the following types of courses: Students will repeat SPA 6503L and SPA 6942L twice.
• Earn at least 14 credits from the following types of courses: SPA 6946 - Clinical Practice

Thesis/Nonthesis Option

9 Total Credits

• Complete 1 of the following:
  • Thesis Option:
    • Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: SPA 6971 - Thesis
    • Earn at least 3 credits from the following types of courses: Select one 3 credit hour elective course in consultation with Faculty Advisor.
  • Nonthesis Option:
    • Earn at least 9 credits from the following types of courses: Students will work with Faculty advisor to choose 3 electives to complete this requirement.

Comprehensive Assessment and Clinical Documentation

0 Total Credits

• In addition to the coursework and supervised clinical clock hour requirements listed above, satisfactory completion of a School Comprehensive Assessment and submission of final clinical documentation, including demonstration of clinical competence and professionalism, are required for completion of the master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Grand Total Credits

72

Application Requirements

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans.

Financial Information

For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances.

Fellowship Information

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies.

Equipment Fee

Students in the Communication Sciences and Disorders MA Program pay a $90 equipment fee each semester they are enrolled.

Additional Program Cost

The program requires students to pay additional fees for the required background checks, clinic uniform, and registration for the academic/clinical competencies tracking system. In addition, some courses have Material and Supply fees that are charged in the semester the course is taken.

Sample Plan of Study for the Traditional Program

The Accelerated BS to MA program requires a prescribed sequence of academic and clinical courses which may vary according to the semester of entry. The following is a sample plan of study.

• Semester 1 (16 credit hours) - typically completed as an undergraduate student
  • SPA 6204 - Articulation/Phonological Dis (3 Credit Hours)
  • SPA 6404 - Language Disorders: Birth to 5 Years (3 Credit Hours)
  • SPA 6410 - Aphasia and Related Disorders (3 Credit Hours)
  • SPA 6417 - Management of Acquired Cognitive/Communication Disorders Across the Lifespan (3 Credit Hours)
  • SPA 6551 - Foundations of Clinical Practice: Level I (1 Credit Hour)
  • SPA 6805 - Research in Communicative Disorders (3 Credit Hours)
• Semester 2 (12 Credit Hours)
  • SPA 6225C - Fluency Disorders (3 Credit Hours)
  • SPA 6403 - Language Disorders: School-Age through Adolescence (3 Credit Hours)
  • SPA 6503 - Foundations of Clinical Practice Level II (1 Credit Hour)
  • SPA 6503L - Found Clinic Practice-II APP (1 Credit Hour (X 2))
  • SPA 6559 - Augmentative and Alternative Communication (3 Credit Hours)
• Semester 3 (13 Credit Hours)
  • SPA 6327 - Aural Habilitation Rehab (3 Credit Hours)
  • SPA 6236 - Motor Speech Disorders in Adults and Children (3 Credit Hours)
  • SPA 6553L - Clinical Practice in Differential Diagnosis in Speech and Language Pathology (1 Credit Hour)
  • SPA 6565 - Feeding and Swallowing Disorders (3 Credit Hours)
  • SPA 6942 - Foundations of Clinical Practice: Level III (1 Credit Hour)
  • SPA 6942L - Found Clinic Practice-III APP (1 Credit Hour (X 2))
• Semester 4
  • SPA 6211 - Voice Disorders (3 Credit Hours)
  • SPA 6474 - Assessment and Management of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations (3 Credit Hours)
  • SPA 6563L - Clinical Practice and Instrumental Diagnostics in Individuals with Dysphagia (1 Credit Hour)
  • SPA 6943 - Clinical Practice (1 Credit Hour)
  • SPA 6946 - Clinical Practice*
  • Elective (3 Credit Hours)*
• Semester 5
  • SPA 6946 - Clinical Practice*
  • Elective (3 Credit Hours)*
  • Elective (3 Credit Hours)*
• Semester 6
  • SPA 6946 - Clinical Practice*
  • Elective (3 Credit Hours)*

*A total of 14 credit hours of SPA 6946 Clinical Practice is required. Electives are selected in consultation with the clinical and academic advisors and may be completed in the fourth, fifth and/or sixth semester depending on the clinical placement credit hours each semester.