The University of Toledo

Graduate Program

Mission

The Speech-Language Pathology Program at the University of Toledo is dedicated to the development of competent and caring entry-level speech-language pathologists. The program is committed to providing a broad foundation of normal bases of speech, language, and hearing and specialized coursework in the assessment and remediation of speech and language disorders. The program provides coursework and practicum experiences with a diverse population to ensure that students demonstrate knowledge and skill competencies to provide services to children and adults with communication disorders.

The program is committed to quality teaching enhanced by faculty research with an emphasis on evidenced-based practices in assessment and remediation of speech-language disorders in children and adults. Clinical practicum is an integral part of the student's development and such experiences are interspersed throughout the student's education to provide opportunities to apply previously learned approaches and techniques under supervision.

About our Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Program

The graduate program provides students with the necessary coursework and clinical practicum experience to attain a master of arts in speech-language pathology that is applicable toward the Certification of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and state licensure in the area of speech-language pathology. In addition to successful completion of the master’s degree requirements, the certification and licensure processes include approved undergraduate preparation, successful completion of the national specialty examination in speech-language pathology, and a clinical fellowship (professional experience year).

The graduate program in speech-language pathology is accredited by the Council of Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA).

 Student Outcome Data

Praxis Examination Pass Rate by Year of Graduation:

Year	Pass Rate	1st attempt/ # students	2nd attempt/ # students	3rd attempt/ # students
2013	100%	24/24*	--	--
2012	100%	22/23	0/1	1/1
2011	100%	27/30	3/3	--
2010	100%	25/28	2/3	1/1
2009	100%	22/23	23/23	--
2008	100%	28/29	1/1	--

*Note: One student in the 2011-2013 cohort is on leave and did not take the Praxis this year.

 Program Completion Rate:

Year of Expected Graduation	Percent Completing Program within Expected Time Frame	Number of Students Completing Program within Expected Time Frame	Number of Semesters Beyond Expected Time Frame Required to Complete Program	Total (by percent) Completing the Program (with and without Extended Time)	Total Number Completing the Program (with and without Extended Time)
2013	96%	24/25	TBD*	TBD*	TBD*
2012	96%	22/23	2	100%	23/23
2011	91%	29/32	TBD*	TBD*	TBD*
2010	96%	27/28	1	100%	28/28
2009	96%	22/23	1	100%	23/23
2008	96%	28/29	1	100%	29/29

Explanation:
Cohort 2011-2013, one student is on a personal leave of absence.
Cohort 2009-2011, two students were dismissed from the program within the first year due to an inability to meet the knowledge and skill outcomes after remedial plan implementation. The remaining student is on an extended medical leave of absence.

 Employment of Cohort Group within One Year Post Graduation:

Graduation Year	Number of Graduates	Number of Students Reporting	Percentage Rate of Graduates Reporting	Employment Rate of Reporting Graduates
2013	24	24	100%	96% (one TBD as of 4 months post-grad)
2012	23	23	100%	100%
2011	30	30	100%	100%
2010	28	28	100%	100%
2009	23	23	100%	100%
2008	29	29	100%	100%

Note: Since some students move through the program on a part-time basis, the number of students reporting for a given year reflects the cohort group rather than the actual number of students enrolled.

Speech-language pathology employment opportunities have been excellent for graduate students. To our knowledge, all graduate students who have graduated from our master's program in good standing are employed in the field of speech-language pathology.

Speech-language pathology is continually listed as one of the top jobs in the "50 hottest jobs" by Money Manager and similar publications. Students from The University of Toledo have accepted positions in the public schools, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, university and community clinics, and long term care facilities.  The most recent figure for starting salary, which does not include benefits packages, was about $58,000 for those with 1-3 years experience.

Meeting Educational and Clinical Requirements

The University of Toledo Speech-Language Pathology graduate program provides students with the coursework and clinical practica opportunities to meet the educational and clinical practica opportunities necessary to meet the knowledge and skills requirements for the ASHA Certification of Clinical Competence (speech-language pathology). Click here to view the program-level and course-level Student Learning Outcomes.

Available Certifications 



There are three professional credentials available which, in part, require a graduate degree and the completion of specific course work and practicum experiences offered by our speech-language pathology program. Each of the credentials also prescribes the applicant to meet other requirements as well as the educational and clinical experiences offered by our program. 



Certificate of Clinical Competence



The Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech language-pathology is offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. This national certification is recommended for all students and is invaluable when moving from state to state.

The Certificate of Clinical Competence requires specific course work in the normal bases of speech, language and hearing, and in the evaluation and treatment of disorders of communication as well as a graduate degree. Additional requirements in the provision of supervised services in the evaluation and treatment of speech, language, hearing and swallowing disorders in adults and children is also required. In addition, a national examination (the speech-language pathology specialty examination), the PRAXIS, must be passed with a score of 600 or higher. Finally, a Clinical Fellowship Year, with continued supervision and support, is required during the first year of employment as a speech-language pathologist.



Licensure as a School Speech-Language Pathologist

The school speech-language pathology licensure is recommended by the University to meet requirements by the state of Ohio. Michigan eligibility for working in the schools is linked to the CCC-SLP. To meet the course work and practicum requirements to be eligible for employment in the public school system in Ohio, the student must meet the University requirements for an education focus in speech-language pathology.

These requirements may include specific course work in education as well as courses in disabilities studies, learning disabilities, and American Sign Language. In addition, an extensive practicum experience in the public school setting is obtained.  A score of 600 is required on the PRAXIS examination.



Certification Advice

Depending upon course work decisions, students may meet the educational and clinical requirements for various professional credentials. We recommend students interested in obtaining the school speech-language pathologist licensure begin their educational focus during the undergraduate program.

All students who follow the advice of their Program Graduate advisor and successfully complete the Plan of Study will meet the educational and clinical requirements for both the Certificate of Clinical Competence awarded by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and for state of Ohio licensure in speech-language pathology. Since Michigan recognizes CCC-SLP, graduates should also be eligible for licensure in that state.

The Plan of Study leading to the master's degree and meeting the requirements for ASHA CCCs, state licensure, and/or licensure as a school speech-language pathologist will be unique to each individual student depending upon the undergraduate background and the student's goals.

The following plan of study is based on an equivalent background to the undergraduate Speech-Language Pathology curriculum at the University of Toledo. The expected undergraduate preparation is located online on the Advising page (see Advising tab on the left). Students who do not have an equivalent undergraduate background may be required to take additional course work or practicum experiences to meet the minimum standards for the professional credentials.

Students in the Graduate Speech Language Pathology Program are assigned to tracks, and plans of study are developed for both Track A and Track B as follows:

Sequence for Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology

Track A Plan of Study

Year 1
Fall				Spring				Summer
Course		Credits		Course		Credits		Course	Credits
SLP 6000 Advanced Practicum		2		SLP 6010 Diagnostic Practicum		2		SLP 6000 Advanced Practicum	2
SLP 6020 Audiology Practicum		2		SLP 6100 Diagnosis of Communication Disorders		3		SLP 6010 Diagnostic Practicum	2
SLP 6400 Adult Language and Cognitive Communication Disorders		5		SLP 6210 Language Development and Disorders: Early Childhood through Adolescence		6		SLP 6300.001 Articulation and Phonology	3
SLP 6500 Motor Disorders		3		SLP 6550 Trends in Technology for Communication Disorders		3		SLP 6600.001 Voice and Resonance Disorders	4
SLP 6650 Feeding and Swallowing Disorders		3		SLP 6700 Assessment and Remediation of Fluency Disorders		3		HSHS 6000 or RESM 5110 or RESM 5310 Statistics	3
Total		15		Total		17		Total	14
Year 1=46 credits
Year 2
Fall			Spring
Course	Credits		Course		Credits
SLP 6030.001 Research in Speech-Language Pathology	3		SLP 6930 Seminar		3
SLP 6800.001 Aural (Re)Habilitation	3		SLP 6940 Externship in SLP		1-8
SLP 6940 Externship in SLP	1-8
Total	7-14		Total		4-12
Year 2=11-26 credits

 Track B Plan of Study 

Year 1
Fall		Spring		Summer
Course	Credits	Course	Credits	Course	Credits
SLP 6010 Diagnostic Practicum	2	SLP 6000 Advanced Practicum	2	SLP 6000 Advanced Practicum	2
SLP 6100 Diagnosis of Communication Disorders	3	SLP 6020 Audiology Practicum	2	SLP 6010 Diagnostic Practicum	2
SLP 6210 Language Development and Disorders: Early Childhood through Adolescence	6	SLP 6400 Adult Language and Cognitive Communication Disorders	5	SLP 6300.002 Articulation and Phonology	3
SLP 6550 Trends in Technology for Communication Disorders	3	SLP 6500 Motor Disorders	3	SLP 6600.002 Voice and Resonance Disorders	4
SLP 6700 Assessment and Remediation of Fluency Disorders	3	SLP 6650 Feeding and Swallowing Disorders	3	HSHS 6000 or RESM 5110 or RESM 5310 Statistics	3
Total	17	Total	15	Total	14
Year 1=46 credits
Year 2
Fall		Spring
Course	Credits	Course	Credits
SLP 6030.002 Research in Speech-Language Pathology	3	SLP 6930 Seminar	3
SLP 6800.002 Aural (Re)Habilitation	3	SLP 6940 Externship in SLP	1-8
SLP 6940 Externship in SLP	1-8
Total	7-14	Total	4-12
Year 2=11-26 credits

Comprehensive examination may also be required

A comprehensive examination may be an option to the research thesis (described below). Students selecting the examination option will be advised to enroll in SLP 6930:002  for 3 credits in the spring before completion of the Master's degree. Students who do not intend to continue beyond the master's degree should discuss this option with their advisor.

Required Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Courses

SLP - 6000/8000   ADVANCED PRACTICUM IN COMMUNICATION DISORDERS [2 hours]  Provides students with supervised therapeutic experiences with specific speech and language disorders. Students should have completed or be currently enrolled in graduate level communication disorders course addressing the specific practicum disorder selected.  Prerequisite: Approval of instructor

SLP - 6010/8010   DIAGNOSTIC PRACTICUM IN COMMUNICATION DISORDERS [2 hours]  Provides a minimum of 30 hours supervised diagnostic practicum with a variety of communicatively disordered cases.  Prerequisite: SLP 6100/8100 or equivalent.  Co-requisite: SLP 6100/8100  Permission of instructor

SLP  - 6020/8020   AUDIOLOGICAL PRACTICUM IN COMMUNICATION DISORDERS [2 hours]  Provides the advanced student with supervised practicum hours in the screening impedance, and pure tone threshold testing for audiological diagnosis.  Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

SLP - 6100/8100   DIAGNOSIS OF SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DISORDERS [3 hours]  Detailed analysis of formal and informal instruments and procedures designed to evaluate speech and language disorders.  Prerequisite: Undergraduate degree in speech-pathology;  Permission of instructor

SLP - 6210/8210   LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND DISORDERS: EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH ADOLESCENCE [6 hours]  This course provides the   framework for understanding language disorders in preschool through school-age children. Special emphasis is placed on application and theory of assessment aand intervention strategies in school settings

SLP - 6300/8300   PHONOLOGICAL AND ARTICULATORY DISORDERS [3 hours] Advanced study of phonological and articulatory disorders including developmental apraxia.  Focus on phonological differences in multi-cultural society with emphasis on assessment of disorders and current advances in remediation.

SLP - 6400/8400   ADULT LANGUAGE AND COGNITIVE COMMUNICATION DISORDERS [5 hours]  Advanced course exploring normal and disordered neural anatomy and physiology for communication and cognition. Students will demonstrate knowledge of assessment and treatment of cognitive and linguistics deficits due to trauma and disease to central nervous system

SLP - 6500/8500   MOTOR SPEECH DISORDERS [3 hours]  Adult apraxia and dysarthrias will be discussed in relation to neurological organization, disorders, and speech characteristics.

SLP - 6600/8600   VOICE AND RESONANCE DISORDERS [4 hours]  An advanced course in the nature, evaluation and treatment of voice and resonance disorders. Major voice and resonance disorders in adults and children are emphasized.

SLP - 6650/8650  FEEDING AND SWALLOWING DISORDERS [3 hours] This course introduces the student to the nature, evaluation, and management of feeding and swallowing disorders from infancy through adulthood.

SLP - 6700/8700   ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIATION OF FLUENCY DISORDERS [3 hours]  An advanced course to develop skills in the assessment and remediation of fluency disorders with special emphasis on current trends in stuttering therapy.  Prerequisite: 45 hours in Speech Pathology;  Permission of Instructor

SLP - 6800/8800 AURAL REHABILITATION [3 hours]  Aural (Re)Habilitation examines communication assessment and intervention approaches over the lifespan for individuals with both peripheral and central auditory perceptual issues. Emphasis is placed upon early identification and education to minimize and alleviate communication and related problems commonly associated with hearing impairment and auditory perceptual disorders. Prerequisite:  SLP 3400.

SLP - 6930/8930 SEMINAR: CLINICAL METHODOLOGY [1-5 hours]  Provides students with an orientation to the graduate program, including fundamentals of clinical methodology; procedures for on-campus diagnosis and clinical practicum are covered; ethical issues are addressed.

SLP - 6940/8940 EXTERNSHIP PRACTICUM IN COMMUNICATION DISORDERS [1-8 hours] Provides the advanced graduate student with supervised practicum experiences at an off-campus site; including schools, hospitals, agencies, rehabilitation clinics, work training sites and other community sites where persons with disabilities are served.  Prerequisite: Speech and Language; completion of all course work; permission of instructor.

SLP - 6960/8960 MASTER RESEARCH THESIS IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY [1-5 hours]  The master's thesis is an individually designed investigation approved by the thesis committee and designed to contribute to the knowledge base of the speech-language pathology.  Prerequisite:  Admission to Master's Program; SLP 6930.

SLP - 6990/8990 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY [1-5 hours]  Individual study provides advanced graduate students opportunities to work individually on professional problems with faculty of the Speech-Language Pathology program.  Individual meetings with sponsoring faculty are held.  Prerequisite:  Admission to graduate degree program.

For detailed information about the program, policies and procedures, and the Plan of study, see the Graduate Handbook (can be found on line on the Graduate Handbook and Forms tab (on the left side of the page).

Interested applicants should review the Admissions Policy and Application Guidelines, also available online (see tab on left).

Graduate Advising

Graduate advisors are individually assigned when students begin the graduate program. If you have general advising questions, please email SLPGradProgram@utoledo.edu

The graduate advisors are:

Dr. Lee Ellis

Lee.Ellis@utoledo.edu
419-530-4065
Office: HH2028

Mrs. Jennifer Glassman
Jennifer.Glassman@utoledo.edu
419-530-2582
HH1240