Master of Arts in Speech & Hearing Science: Clinical
Students in the clinical MA program learn about speech-language pathology in medical and educational settings, as well as speech, language, and hearing science.
This degree may be taken as either a terminal degree or as preparation for further graduate study, including a doctoral degree. For students seeking a terminal degree, the Master of Arts program may be designed with or without clinical practicum experience.
The clinical program ensures clinical competence in speech-language pathology necessary for employment in healthcare and educational settings, private practice, or industry. Successful completion of this program allows students to meet the academic and clinical requirements for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certification and to pursue the Illinois state certification required for speech-language pathology in the public schools. The program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. The clinical MA program requires a minimum of 60 graduate hours.
MA / AuD INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS
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Friday, November 6th
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Friday, November 13th
1:00pm to 2:30pm
RSVP by Nov 8 to receive meeting details!
Covid-19 update
The Department of Speech and Hearing Science has waived the GRE requirement for applications to the MA, MA-non clinical and AuD. programs. This waiver affects applications for entrance in the Fall 2021 class only.
Federal Disclosure for MA-SLP Program
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology Program satisfies the educational requirements for licensure or certification in all of the 55 U.S. states and jurisdictions. Please go here to find your state’s requirements, resources and contact information.
You are encouraged to contact the appropriate licensing agency for your location or wherever you desire to be licensed or certified to seek information and additional guidance. Please be aware that there may be licensure or certification requirements in addition to an academic program’s curriculum.
Note: This disclosure is being made in compliance with federal regulation 34 CFR §668.43 and the State Authorization and Reciprocity Agreements Manual.
Federal disclosure re: Professional Educator's License
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Master of Arts inSpeech-Language Pathology Program has determined that our curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the state of Illinois. We are unable to determine if the curriculum meets the educational requirements for any of the remaining U.S. states and jurisdictions. Please follow this link to find your state’s requirements, resources and contact information.
You are encouraged to contact the appropriate licensing agency for your location or wherever you desire to be licensed or certified to seek information and additional guidance. Please be aware that there may be licensure or certification requirements in addition to an academic program’s curriculum.
Note: This disclosure is being made in compliance with federal regulation 34 CFR §668.43 and the State Authorization and Reciprocity Agreements Manual.
Deadline to submit applications
The deadline to submit applications is January 5th.
Application Requirements
The application deadline is January 5. You will need to complete the University of Illinois application through Slate at grad.uiuc.edu/Admissions/instructions.
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
- The Graduate College requires a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 (A=4.0). Transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable) from all institutions attended (follow ApplyYourself instructions). Scanned copies of all transcripts should be clear and easy to read. Please be sure that your scanned transcript(s) are legible. If they are not you may need to submit official transcripts.
- Results of the Graduate Record Examination. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The results must arrive at the University by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that you make arrangements and take the test early enough. Use the Institution Code (1836) for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (do not use the department-specific code). The GRE must have been taken within five years of the date of application.
- For the MA-SLP program, a minimum of two letters of recommendation are required. For the AuD and PhD programs, three letters are required. Request letters of recommendation from faculty who are acquainted with your educational background and academic abilities. If possible, persons writing a reference letter should comment on your interpersonal and/or collaborative skills, as well as your clinical skills if relevant to the degree for which you are applying. Letters from PhD faculty are strongly recommended.
- A personal statement. This statement is a very important part of your application. The statement should be approximately 500 words in length but a maximum of one page. In general the personal statement should explain why you have specifically chosen the program at the University of Illinois. Certain points that could be addressed include: i) why you are interested in pursuing a graduate degree in the field, ii) what education and skills you expect to acquire through the degree, iii) how you expect to use your degree after graduation, and iv) PhD applicants should state their area of research interest and identify potential faculty mentors. To illustrate these points you may briefly describe any experience including volunteer time, paid work, internships, coursework, and pertinent training that have led you to apply. Applicants with professional work experience are encouraged to explain how they think their work experience has prepared them for graduate study at the University of Illinois. PhD applicants are encouraged to contact potential faculty mentors prior to submitting their application materials.
- A Resume. Your resume should include details (i.e. when, where, direct supervisor) about your work history, volunteer activities, teaching, clinical, and research experience. You should also list any honors/awards, grants publications and presentations you may have, as well as any other information you would like us to know about. There is no page limit for your resume.
- International students must also submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For information on minimum score requirements for admission, see grad.illinois.edu/admissions/instructions/04c. Complete instructions for international students are contained in the on-line application.
- Students who are currently enrolled in the Graduate College of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and affiliated with the Department of Speech and Hearing Science apply to the Ph.D. program through an internal application process. The internal application will include transcripts, GRE scores, and previous letters of recommendation. New GRE scores will be required if they are more than five years old. The internal application must include a new personal statement and three letters of recommendation that address the student's preparation and potential for success in the Ph.D. program. These materials will be reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee and departmental faculty in the usual manner to determine acceptance of the internal applicant into the Ph.D. program.
Curriculum
Degree Requirements
For more information about degree requirements contact the program director or refer to the university catalog.
Code | Course |
---|---|
SHS 410 |
SHS 410 Stuttering: Theory & Practice
Hours: 4 |
SHS 430 |
SHS 430 Development & Disorders Phonol Artic
Hours: 4 |
SHS 431 |
SHS 431 Lang Disorders Preschool Child
Hours: 4 |
SHS 470 |
SHS 470 Neural Bases Spch Lang
Hours: 4 |
SHS 511 |
SHS 511 Assessment & Management of Voice Disorders
Hours: 4 |
SHS 513 |
SHS 513 Assessment & Management of Dysphagia
Hours: 4 |
SHS 514 |
SHS 514 Motor Speech Disorders
Hours: 4 |
SHS 533 |
SHS 533 Advanced Language Diagnostics
Hours: 2 |
SHS 534 |
SHS 534 Aphasia and Related Disorders
Hours: 4 |
SHS 570 |
SHS 570 Quant Reasoning Speech & Hearing Science
Hours: 4 |
SHS 571 |
SHS 571 Clinical Sociolinguistics
Hours: 4 |
SHS 579 |
SHS 579 Professional/Ethical/Legal Issues AuD/SLP
Hours: 3 |
SHS 592 |
SHS 592 Prosem in Speech & Hearing Science
Hours: 0-1 |
SHS 599 |
SHS 599 Thesis Research (optional)
Hours: 8-12 |
Elective Hours
Hours: 0-12 |
|
Required Clinical Practica
Hours: 8-12 |
Total Hours: 60
Other Requirements
Number of semesters: 6
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: 12 Credit Hours
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Course Sequence Example for Clinical MA Program
General Course Sequence for Students Entering with a BA/BS in Speech & Hearing Science/ Communication Sciences and Disorders (Updated: July, 2017)
Fall I | |
---|---|
SHS 511 Assess/Manage Voice Disorders | 4 |
SHS 431 Preschool Language Disorders | 4 |
SHS 470 Neural Bases (pre-req for Dysphagia) | 4 |
SHS 570 Quantitative Reasoning | 2 |
SHS 477 Beginning Clinical Practicum | 1 |
SHS 592 Proseminar | 0 |
EDPR 203 Clinical Experience Fee | 0 |
Spring I | |
SHS 410 Stuttering | 4 |
SHS 430 Phonology & Articulation | 4 |
SHS 513 Dysphagia | 4 |
SHS 533 Advanced Language Diagnostics | 4 |
SHS 477 Beginning Clinical Practicum | 2 |
SHS 592 Proseminar | 0 |
Summer I | |
SHS 514 Motor Speech Disorders | 4 |
SHS 579 Ethics & Professional Issues | 3 |
SHS 575 Schools Methods | 2 |
SHS 577 Advanced Clinical Practicum | 1 |
Fall II | |
SHS 532 School-age Language Disorders | 4 |
SHS 534 Aphasia and Related Disorders | 4 |
XXX Elective (full time) | 2or 4 |
SHS 577 Advanced Clinical Practicum | 2 |
SHS 592 Proseminar | 0 |
Spring II | |
SHS 571 Clinical Sociolinguistics (1st 8 wks.) | 4 |
SHS Elective (1st 8 weeks) | 2 |
SHS Elective (1st 8 weeks) | 2 |
SHS 592 Proseminar | 0 |
SHS 576 Externship (School/Hospital 2nd 8 weeks) | 4 |
Summer II | |
577e Hospital Placement | 4 |
Additional Information
Financial support through the Department, typically research or teaching assistantships, is available for a limited number of students. Assistantships are awarded first to doctoral students and are based on merit and the strategic goals of the Department. For more information on financial aid, need-based financial support may be applied for through the University Financial Aid Office.
CAA Accreditation/Student Achievement Data can be found here.
To be eligible for the Illinois state professional educator license, students must complete SHS 532, Language Disorders in School-Age Children, and SHS 575, School Speech-Language Clinical Methods. Other electives are identified by the student under the guidance and approval of their academic advisor.
Prerequisite Courses
To satisfy the requirements of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for clinical certification, every student must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of biological sciences, physical sciences, statistics, and the social/behavioral sciences (ASHA Standard IV-A) 2020 Speech Language Pathology Certification Standards.
Students must also demonstrate knowledge of basic human communication, including their biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural bases (ASHA Standard IV-B). Typically, most of these requirements have been met at the undergraduate level.
All students seeking clinical certification must also complete the following University of Illinois undergraduate courses or their equivalents. For students entering with a Bachelor's Degree in Speech and Hearing Science or Communication Sciences and Disorders, the program typically involves two academic years and two summers.
- SHS 200 Phonetics
- SHS 240 Hearing Science
- SHS 300 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism
- SHS 301 Speech Science
- SHS 320 Development of Spoken Language
- SHS 450 Audiology
- SHS 451 Aural Rehabilitation (may be taken at the graduate level for graduate credit)
Accreditation
The Master of Arts (M.A.) education program in speech-language pathology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.
A complaint about any accredited program or program in candidacy status may be submitted by any student, instructional staff member, speech-language pathologist, audiologist, and/or member of the public. Criteria for complaints and submission requirements can be found in section XIII of the Accreditation Handbook.
The Audiology and Speech-language Pathology Certification Standards, and the Standards for Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology may be obtained by contacting the CAA office at:
CAA Office at ASHA,
2200 Research Boulevard
Rockville, Maryland 20850
Call ASHA’s Action Center at 1-800-498-2071
Access files at ASHA’s Web site at
http://asha.org/Certification/ and http://asha.org/academic/accreditation
COMMENTS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO:
Chair, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA)
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2200 Research Boulevard #310
Rockville, MD 20850
Request More Information
- SHS-grad-admissions@ahs.illinois.edu
- 901 South Sixth Street, Room 103
- 217-333-2230