Program Description
The program is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders, and for other individuals with a bachelor’s in another field (given that they have completed all the prerequisite/ leveling courses in communication sciences and disorders). The program provides students with the academic and clinical coursework required for pursuing national certification (ASHA certification), state licensure as a speech-language pathologist, and state certification as teacher of the speech and hearing impaired.
The program is located at the UT Tyler Health Science Center (11937 US-271, Tyler, TX 75708). The program’s new Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic is within the UT Health Science Center’s Family Medicine Unit and accepts pediatric and adult patients who have (or are suspected of having) speech, language, social communication, and swallowing disorders.
The program is full time and in person. It consists of 5 consecutive semesters (including one summer) to be completed within 2 years. All academic courses and clinical practicum internships are face-to-face.
The clinical practicum involves direct delivery of diagnostic and treatment services to patients at the graduate program’s Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic and external placement sites. Through their clinical experiences on and off campus, students complete the required 400 practicum hours. These clinical experiences cover the whole range of communication and swallowing disorders in the scope of practice of speech language pathology.
Admissions Requirements
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Bachelor’s Degree: Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited higher education institution. While a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) or Speech-Language Pathology is preferred, it is not required. Applicants without this background may need to complete specific prerequisite courses.
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GPA: A minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required.
- including a 3.0 GPA in the major.
- Students with an out-of-field undergraduate degree must have a 3.0 GPA in their required prerequisite courses listed below.
- Prerequisite Courses: Applicants must have completed the following courses with a grade of B- or better:
- Anatomy & Physiology of Speech, Language, and Hearing
- Speech & Hearing Science (these may be two separate classes or one combined class)
- Language Acquisition and Development
- Phonetics
- Introduction to Audiology
- Aural Rehabilitation
- Neurological Foundations of Speech, Language, and Hearing
- Introduction to speech and language disorders (these may be two separate classes or one combined class)
- Introductory Biology
- Introductory Chemistry OR Physics
- Introductory Statistics (excluding business statistics)
- Introductory Social and/or Behavioral Sciences
- Human Growth and Development, Lifespan Development, or Developmental Psychology (the applicant may obtain credit for this requirement via a CLEP test if the student has not taken this course as part of their academic program)
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Clinical Observation Hours: Applicants must have completed at least 25 hours of supervised clinical observation with a certified ASHA provider obtained as part of an academic course.
- Conditional Acceptance: The program will consider applications from students who do not have the 25 observations hours completed or have no more than 1 missing prerequisite course. The Human Growth and Development/Lifespan Development course is not included in this because applicants can take a CLEP Test for credit. If the applicant meets all other program criteria, their acceptance will be contingent upon completing the 25 observation hours or undergraduate prerequisite course during their first semester with a grade of B or above.
Transcripts and Credentialing
- Official Transcripts: Applicants must submit official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended:
- Unofficial Transcripts: These can be uploaded as part of the application, but official transcripts are required upon acceptance.
Standardized Tests & Language Proficiency
- English Language Proficiency:
- TOEFL minimum score: 87
- IELTS minimum score: 7.0 band score with a 6.5 in each subsection
- ETS code for UT Tyler: 6850
- Proficiency tests can be waived with proof of:
- A degree from an accredited U.S. institution or
- Completion (or expected completion) of a post-secondary degree from an institution where English is the official language of instruction.
Letters of Recommendation
Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with their academic or professional qualifications. Suggested sources include professors, academic advisors, or professional supervisors. Recommenders will be contacted via the application system to submit letters electronically.
Personal Statement
Applicants must submit a personal statement (maximum 3 pages double spaced) that specifically explains why (1) the applicant wants to be a speech language pathologist, and (2) why the applicant wants to attend UT Tyler.
Program of Study
Fall Semester Year 1 (12 hours)
Summer Semester Year 1 (12 hours)
Fall Semester Year 2 (12 hours)
Spring Semester Year 2 (12 hours)
| COMD 5359 | Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice in Communication Disorders | |
| COMD 5366 | Multicultural Issues in Communication Sciences and Disorders | |
| COMD 5671 | Advanced Clinical Practicum- Externship 2 | |
Spring Semester Year 1 (12 hours)
Note: Students are allowed to take the practicum courses every semester; however, only 9 credit hours can be counted toward the degree.