Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Course Sequence

First year: Fall

  • 5326 Motor Speech Disorders
    Assessment and treatment of motor speech dysarthrias, apraxia and related disorders affecting the speech system
  • 5306 Language Disorders of Young Children
    Assessment and intervention procedures for preschool populations
  • 5307 Articulation and Phonological Disorders
    Nature, evaluation and treatment of articulation disorders
  • SPHS 5309 (Advanced Clinical Practicum)

First year: Spring

  • 5310 Swallowing Disorders
    The diagnosis and treatment of swallowing disorders
  • 5301 Aphasia and Neurogenic Disorders
    Theory and treatment for organic speech disorders of neurologic origin
  • 5403 Voice Disorders and Cleft Palate
    Nature, etiology and treatment of disordered phonation and resonance imbalance secondary to laryngeal malfunction and craniofacial anomaly
  • SPHS 5309 (Advanced Clinical Practicum)

First year: Summer

SPHS 5309 (Advanced Clinical Practicum)

Second year: Fall

  • 5304 Language Disorders of School-age Children
    Assessment and intervention procedures for elementary and secondary students with language and learning disabilities
  • 5321 Research in Communication Disorders
    Research design data analysis, and report writing pertinent to basic science and behaviors in communication disorders
  • SPHS 5309 (Advanced Clinical Practicum)

Second year: Spring

  • 5302 Stuttering
    Nature, evaluation and treatment of fluency disorders
  • 5350 Communication Management with Severe Disabilities
    Assessment and intervention procedures for individuals with severe disabilities, with special emphasis on augmentative and alternative communication
  • SPHS 5309 (Advanced Clinical Practicum)
  • Students are required to complete comprehensive exams in their final semester. A thesis option is available. If you are interested in the thesis option, please contact monica.harn@lamar.edu.
  • 5390 Thesis (Prerequisite: Approval of Graduate Advisor).
    5391 Thesis
     Must complete both 5390 and 5391 for required 6 credits.

Evaluation of Knowledge and Skills

All students must demonstrate that they are competent in the knowledge and skills as defined by the 2014 ASHA Standards. Each course in the sequence targets specific knowledge and skills related to the standards as well as evaluation methods. Beyond the classroom other formative and summative assessments are performed on an ongoing basis.

Formative assessment

  • Daily feedback from clinical supervisors
  • Mid-term student review by all clinical supervisors and academic faculty
  • End of semester clinical assessment report
  • Evidence-based practice structured writing assignments
    • In the first semester, the assignment is an introduction to information literacy as well as evidence-based practice. 
    • In the second semester, the focus of this project is the evaluation of resources. 
    • In the third semester, students are expected to design a well-structured therapy plan supported by evidence from current research. This includes (1) formulating a cohesive plan based on academic learning; (2) finding, evaluating, integrating, and citing new information from credible sources into treatment designs.  The successful completion of this project depends on the synthesis of skills gained in the first two semester information literacy projects, combined with coursework and clinical experiences that are developed across the first three semesters through lab projects and one-on-one feedback sessions with clinical supervisors. 

Summative assessment

  • Comprehensive examination during the second year of the graduate program. Feedback on areas of strength and weakness are given to help prepare for the PRAXIS exam.
  • Students may select a thesis option instead of completing comprehensive exams.