About This Program

You will prepare to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives as you learn to evaluate and treat communication disorders across the lifespan. Through hands-on clinical experiences and evidence-based training, you will build the skills and confidence to become a compassionate, highly competent speech-language pathologist. Read more...

Contact Information

• Ali Barikroo | abarikro@kent.edu |
  330-672-0250

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

Accreditation

The Master of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology (residential) at Kent State University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

The Master of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

The admissions process for the master's degree program begins by submitting an application through the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS). Only after program acceptance, applicants choosing to attend Kent State will be asked to apply to Kent State University.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university¹
• Minimum 3.000 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:²
  • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 65 PTE score
  • Minimum 120 DET score

¹

The bachelor's degree may not necessarily be in the areas of speech-language pathology and/or audiology. However, students wishing to enter the master's degree who have neither completed an undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology and audiology nor possess the necessary prerequisite coursework (SPA 10002/SPA 34106, SPA 33101, SPA 34102, SPA 34103, SPA 34104, SPA 43402, SPA 43404) are required to complete that coursework.

²

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Priority deadline: January 15
    All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.
• Spring Semester
  • Priority deadline: October 1
    Admission for spring semester is reserved for Kent State University students in the combined B.S./M.A. degree program. All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Major Requirements
SPA 53404	AURAL REHABILITATION 1	3
SPA 60708	CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH	2
SPA 64301	APHASIA	3
SPA 64302	LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD	3
SPA 64303	DISORDERS OF ARTICULATION AND PHONOLOGY	3
SPA 64304	ACQUIRED COGNITIVE COMMUNICATIVE IMPAIRMENTS	3
SPA 64305	FLUENCY DISORDERS	3
SPA 64306	VOICE DISORDERS	2
SPA 64308	LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION WITH SCHOOL-AGE POPULATIONS	3
SPA 64311	AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2	2
SPA 64312	MOTOR SPEECH DISORDERS IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS	3
SPA 64354	PEDIATRIC MEDICAL ISSUES	2
SPA 64356	ADULT DYSPHAGIA	3
SPA 64601	COMMUNICATION MODALITIES AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY	2
Clinical Requirements 3
SPA 64492	CLINICAL PRACTICE IN SPEECH PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY (min B grade)	8
SPA 64525	PUBLIC SCHOOL TECHNIQUES IN COMMUNICATION DISORDERS: INQUIRY INTO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE (min B grade)	3
SPA 64592	STUDENT TEACHING IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY (min B grade)	8
SPA 65092	CLINICAL PRACTICUM I IN SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY (min B grade)	3
SPA 65192	CLINICAL PRACTICUM II IN SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY (min B grade)	2-3
SPA 65292	CLINICAL PRACTICUM III IN SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY (min B grade)	2-3
SPA 65392	CLINICAL PRACTICUM IV IN SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY (min B grade)	3
Culminating Requirement
Choose from the following:
Summative Assessment of Knowledge 4
Non-Clinical Plan of Study 5
SPA 64199	THESIS I 6
Minimum Total Credit Hours:		67

¹

SPA 53404 is required for students who didn’t complete SPA 43404 (or equivalent) at the bachelor's degree level. Students who are waived the course may graduate with the M.A. degree with 64 credit hours.

²

SPA 64311 is required for students who did not complete Kent State’s Autism Spectrum Disorders minor or who do not have previous appropriate coursework in autism spectrum disorders approved by the program coordinator. Students who are waived the course may graduate with the M.A. degree with 65 credit hours.

³

Students who do not plan to be licensed and certified may be waived from the clinical requirements. Therefore, students may graduate with the M.A. degree with fewer than 67 total credit hours but no fewer than 32 total credit hours.

⁴

Students are required to pass a summative assessment of knowledge toward the end of the M.A. degree to meet ASHA standards. Students who choose to complete a thesis are exempt from taking the summative exam, as the thesis fulfills the summative assessment requirement.

⁵

Students who are not pursuing the clinical requirements for licensure and opt out of completing a thesis will follow the non-clinical plan of study and earn the M.A. degree with 32 credit hours.

⁶

Students who elect to complete a thesis must register for SPA 64199 for a total of 6 credit hours. It is expected that students will continuously register for SPA 64199 — and thereafter SPA 64299 — each semester until all requirements for the thesis have been met. Credit hours for SPA 64299 do not count toward the degree.

Progression Requirements

To meet requirements for certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), students must register and successfully complete the program's clinical practicum sequence (see Program Requirements above). Practicum registration is required each semester that a student is enrolled, including registration for the school-based practicum and externship placement.

A minimum B grade is required to pass each clinical practicum course. Clinical practicum courses may be repeated only one time each (e.g., students may attempt SPA 65092 a total of two times while in the program ).

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements Summary

Minimum Major GPA	Minimum Overall GPA
-	3.000

• Students are required to successfully complete online modules that address the 12 public health competencies required by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). This requirement may be waived if students provide documentation that the competencies were satisfied at a lower academic level.

• No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

Clinical Settings

For any clinical practicum (on campus or off campus) in speech pathology or audiology that requires candidates to be placed within the on-campus speech and hearing clinics, school or agency setting, the college requires candidates to complete Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCII) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background check and submit the results to authorized personnel at their assigned clinic/school/agency before the beginning of their placement or the first day of the semester in which the practicum will take place. Authorized school/agency personnel will determine whether a candidate may participate in practicum in the off-campus setting. The BCII and FBI background checks are good for one year and the candidates will need to complete one each year that they are in graduate school.

Electronic fingerprinting is available for BCII and FBI in 221 White Hall and should be completed one month prior to clinical practicum. Candidates are responsible for fees incurred for this requirement. For more information on this policy contact the Clinical Coordinators for the Speech and Hearing Clinics. Visit the Ohio Department of Education website for more information about background check requirements for those wishing to hold pupil personnel licenses in Ohio. Contact the Office of Professional Conduct at the Ohio Department of Education for specific information about the results of the background check.

Licensure Information

Candidates seeking Speech-Language Pathologist licensure are required to pass Praxis II test Speech-Language Pathology and minimum of 400 clock hours of supervised clinical experience in the practice of speech language pathology. Additional clinical coursework is required for Ohio Board of Speech Pathology License and optional ASHA certification.

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall Term		Credits
SPA 64302	LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD	3
SPA 64303	DISORDERS OF ARTICULATION AND PHONOLOGY	3
SPA 64305	FLUENCY DISORDERS	3
SPA 65092	CLINICAL PRACTICUM I IN SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY	3
	Credit Hours	12
Spring Term
SPA 60708	CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH	2
SPA 64301	APHASIA	3
SPA 64308	LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION WITH SCHOOL-AGE POPULATIONS	3
SPA 64311	AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS	2
SPA 64354	PEDIATRIC MEDICAL ISSUES	2
SPA 65192	CLINICAL PRACTICUM II IN SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY	3
	Credit Hours	15
Summer Term
SPA 64304	ACQUIRED COGNITIVE COMMUNICATIVE IMPAIRMENTS	3
SPA 64306	VOICE DISORDERS	2
SPA 65292	CLINICAL PRACTICUM III IN SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY	2
	Credit Hours	7
Second Year
Fall Term
SPA 53404	AURAL REHABILITATION	3
SPA 64312	MOTOR SPEECH DISORDERS IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS	3
SPA 64356	ADULT DYSPHAGIA	3
SPA 64601	COMMUNICATION MODALITIES AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY	2
SPA 65392	CLINICAL PRACTICUM IV IN SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY	3
	Credit Hours	14
Spring Term
SPA 64525	PUBLIC SCHOOL TECHNIQUES IN COMMUNICATION DISORDERS: INQUIRY INTO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE	3
SPA 64592	STUDENT TEACHING IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY	8
	Credit Hours	11
Summer Term
SPA 64492	CLINICAL PRACTICE IN SPEECH PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY	8
Culminating Requirement
	Credit Hours	8
	Minimum Total Credit Hours:	67

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Effectively communicate knowledge and interact with diverse populations (age, culture, disability).
2. Collect, analyze, synthesize and apply research and data regarding the nature, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders throughout the lifespan and across cultures.
3. Engage in the development and implementation of research-based and ethical prevention, assessment, diagnostic and treatment plans for individuals with a variety of communication disorders throughout the lifespan.

Full Description

The Master of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology educates competent speech-language pathologists to critically evaluate communication disorders and the methods used in the habilitation and rehabilitation of those disorders.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.