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Program Coordinator: Dr. Linda Larrivee, CCC-SLP
508-929-8109
email: llarrivee@worcester.edu
Worcester State College offers a graduate program leading
to a Master’s Degree in Speech/ Language Pathology. This
program is designed to provide a high caliber clinical program
for the preparation of speech/language pathologists. The program
prepares students for positions in public school speech-language
therapy programs, rehabilitation centers, hospital speech
and hearing clinics, nursing homes, special-care facilities,
centers for the hard of hearing, and private practice. The
graduate program is accredited by the Council on Academic
Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association. The program is also approved by the Massachusetts
Bureau of Teacher Certification. Application forms may be
obtained from the Graduate Office, Worcester State College,
486 Chandler Street, Worcester, MA 01602-2597 or by calling
Graduate Admissions 508-929-8120. Admission is considered
for the fall semester only.
APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 1 for the Fall semester.
I. Admission Requirements:
A. Graduates who possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited
college or university are eligible for admission to Graduate
Studies.
B. Candidates for admission are required to submit a completed
authorized application form which is available at the Graduate
Office at Worcester State College. Requirements and procedures
for admission to Graduate Studies are specified on the application
form. The applicant must comply with these requirements and
procedures.
C. Candidates must submit official transcripts from all undergraduate
programs which were part of the bachelor’s degree and
all programs where any prerequisite courses were taken, including
Worcester State College.
D. Candidates applying for admission must have taken or currently
be enrolled in the following prerequisite courses at the time
of application for the master’s degree program:
- Three (3) credit hours in biological sciences
- Three (3) credit hours in physical science
- Three (3) credit hours in mathematics
- A three-credit course in statistics (A math statistics
would also fulfill the 3 credit hours in mathematics.)
- Six (6) credit hours in the behavioral and/or social sciences
(a course in child growth and development must be included)
- Fifteen (15) credit hours in the basic human communication
processes: (anatomy of the speech & hearing mechanism,
phonetics, normal development of speech and language, speech
science, hearing science. If speech and hearing science
were taken as one course, a course in another normal communication
process is required). The grades in these courses are weighted
heavily and may be repeated for a higher grade to improve
chances of acceptance.
In order to be considered for the master’s degree program,
all prerequisite courses must be completed by the month of
May that precedes the fall entrance term. The courses in anatomy
and physiology of speech and hearing, phonetics, and normal
language development must be completed at the time of application.
Students completing prerequisites at the time of application
must provide evidence of enrollment. Prerequisites may be
taken at WSC in the evening as a non-matriculated student
or as a day student. Day students must complete an “undergraduate
non-degree” application for admission to the Speech/Language
Prerequisites Program. Deadline for day students to apply
is:
Fall Semester – July 1
Spring Semester – November 1
E. Applicants must submit scores from either the Graduate
Records Examination (GRE) the Miller AnalogyTest (MAT) or
the TOEFL (if English is a second language).
F. Final candidates will be interviewed by department faculty/staff.
A monthly information session is held by the graduate coordinator
to answer any questions about the program or prerequisites.
Please call (508) 929-8055 to register.
II. General Requirements:
A. The minimum requirement for a master’s degree in speech
language pathology is forty-five (45) semester hours of credit,
although up to fifty (50) credits may be needed to accumulate
clinical hours.
B. A maximum of twelve (12) graduate credits of “B-”
or above taken within two (2) years of the term of admission,
at an CAA accredited institution, may be accepted toward the
graduate degree.
C. Courses are taught in the afternoon, late afternoon and
evening to accommodate part-time students. All work for the
degree must be completed within a period of six years. A maximum
load is four courses per semester and takes at least two full
years including summers to complete. A three course per semester
load takes two and one-half years to complete. A two course
per semester program would take at least three 1/2 years.
A grade point average of 2.75 is required to remain in the
program and to earn the degree. Courses with a grade of C+
or below must be repeated.
D. The Dean of Graduate Studies reserves the right to periodically
review the performance of graduate students in accordance
with the academic standards of the Graduate Program and of
Worcester State College.
III. Curriculum Requirements for a Master of Science Degree
in Speech-Language Pathology
1. Course Requirements:
CD 920 Articulation & Phonological Disorders (fall)
3 credits
CD 921 Language Disorders in Children (fall) 3 credits
CD 922 Language Disorders in Adults (spring) 3 credits
CD 923 Fluency Disorders (fall) 3 credits
CD 924 Voice Disorders (summer) 3 credits
CD 925 Neurological Disorders (fall) 3 credits
CD 927 Clinical Augiology (fall) 3 credits
CD 928 Aural Rehabilitation Theory (spring) 3 credits
CD 929 Dysphagia (spring) 3 credits
CD 940 Diagnostic Evaluation (spring) 3 credits
CD 950 Cognition (summer) 2 credits
CD 980 Research in Communication Disorders (spring)
3 credits
CD 987 Selected Topics – take two topics for one
credit each (summer or spring) 2 credits
CD 990 Clinical Practicum in Speech Pathology (spring,
summer, fall) (A minimum of 2 semesters is required in the
WSC Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic) 1-3 credits
CD 946 Organization of S/L Programs in Schools 1 credit
(This course is required if Massachusetts State Teacher License
is sought)
May Be Needed to accumulate hours:
CD 990 Clinical Practicum in Speech Pathology (4th,
5th, or 6th time)
CD 993 Clinical Practicum in Audiology (2-3 credits)
2. Clinical Clock Hours:
In addition to academic coursework, students are required
to complete 25 hours of observation of clinical work and 375
live hours of participation in diagnostic/therapeutic work
in three distinctly different clinical settings. Observation
hours and 100 of the live hours may be transferred from the
undergraduate level.
3. Written Comprehensive Examination:
Students will be expected to submit a passing score from the
NESPA examination in Speech/Language Pathology and complete
a departmental written comprehensive examination.
Communication Disorders Courses (Graduate)
CD 910 Speech/Language Development, Differences and Diversity
Students gain an in-depth understanding of speech/language
development, knowledge of cultural differences and the disorders
of speech/language.
3 credits.
CD 920 Articulatory and Phonological Disorders
Prerequisites: CD 105, CD 110, CD 115, CD 201, CD 202
Review of the anatomy/physiology of the articulatory mechanism.
Study of etiology, diagnosis and treatment of developmental
and organic disorders.
3 credits.
CD 921 Language Disorders in Children
Prerequisites: CD 115, CD 201, CD 202
Discussion of processes interfering with normal language acquisition
and the disorders which disturb established language skills
in children.
3 credits.
CD 922 Language Disorders in Adults
Prerequisites: CD 105, CD 110, CD 115, CD 201, CD 202
Study of processes and events which disturb established language
skills in adults and subsequent diagnostic and treatment of
those disorders.
3 credits.
CD 923 Fluency Disorders
Prerequisites: CD 110, CD 115, CD 201, CD 202
An in-depth study of the etiological theories and behaviors
of rate and rhythm disorders in children and adults.
3 credits.
CD 924 Voice Disorders
Prerequisites: CD 110, CD 115, CD 201, CD 202
Discussion of vocal mechanism anatomy, physiology, and pathology.
Detailed study of etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of functional
and organic voice disorders.
3 credits.
CD 925 Neurological Disorders
Prerequisites: CD 105, CD l10, CD 115, CD 201, CD 202
Study of neurological processes and disorders which interfere
with and interrupt established speech skills in children and
adults, and subsequent diagnosis and treatment of those disorders.
3 credits.
CD 927 Clinical Audiology
Prerequisites: CD 110, CD 201, CD 202
Tests and techniques for the measurement of auditory processes.
Interpretation of the test results and implications for remediation.
3 credits.
CD 928 Aural Rehabilitation Theory
Prerequisite: CD 927
Theory and practice of evaluation and management of the hearing
impaired.
3 credits.
CD 929 Dysphagia
Prerequisite: None
Study of the anatomy/physiology of the swallowing mechanism,
the etiology of its disorders, and the assessment and management
of patients with various diseases/injuries causing these disorders.
3 credits.
CD 940 Diagnostic Evaluation: Methods and Procedures
Prerequisites: CD 920, CD 921 or CD 922
Intensive study of communication evaluation techniques. Includes
test selection, administration, interpretation followed by
report writing, and remedial planning. (Enrollment is limited
and requires written permission of the department.)
3 credits.
CD 946 Organization of Speech/Language Programs in the
Schools
Prerequisites: CD 920, CD 921
This course covers information necessary to develop and manage
a public school caseload.
1 credit..
CD 950 Cognition
The study of assessment and treatment of cognitive disorders
as they relate to pediatrics and adults.
2 credits.
CD 970 Independent Study in Communication Disorders
Prerequisite: Major in communication disorders
Students may elect to take an independent study in course
content, practicum experience, or independent research.
1-3 credits.
CD 980 Research in Communication Disorders
Prerequisite: Completion of a minimum of 18 graduate credits
in speech-language pathology.
A capstone research experience involving all phases of a research
project from rationale to conclusion within one
semester. (Enrollment is limited and requires written permission
of the department.)
3 credits.
CD 987 Special Topics in Communication Disorders
Prerequisites: CD 920, CD 921, CD 922
In-depth studies of contemporary issues in human communication
disorders.
1-3 credits.
CD 990 Clinical Practicum in Speech Pathology
Prerequisites: CD 920, CD 921 or CD 922
Experience in the diagnosis and treatment of speech and language
disorders in a variety of clinical settings. Speech pathology
majors register for three credits the first and second semester
, one credit thereafter, until 350 practicum hours are completed.
(Enrollment is limited and requires written permission of
the department.)
1-3 credits.
CD 993 Clinical Practicum in Audiology
Prerequisite: CD 927
Supervised clinical experience in the evaluation of the hearing
impaired. (Enrollment is limited and requires written permission
of the department.)
2-3 credits.
CD 997 Thesis Research in Communication Disorders
Prerequisite: CD 980
Original research in Communication Disorders under the supervision
of a member of the faculty, and an acceptablethesis.
3 credits per semester for two semesters.
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