College of Health Science and Human Service : 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 program

The University of Toledo began an undergraduate degree program in Speech-Language Pathology in 1969 with the first graduate level speech-language pathology curriculum offered in 1987.  The program was accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 1993 and was re-accredited in 1998 and 2006. Accreditation of the graduate program extends from 2006 to 2014.

Although the degree is offered through the College of Health Science and Human Service, the graduate program requires that students meet the minimum educational and clinical requirements for ASHA certification as a speech-language pathologist while focusing on the areas of speech-language pathology which are of interest to the student.

The graduate program admits approximately 30 graduate students to our two-year master's program each year. Since we do admit part time students, the actual number of students may vary each year. The part time graduate program takes approximately three years to complete.

Important Facts about our Graduates

Praxis Examination Pass Rate:
The percentage of graduates who passed the Praxis Exam

Program Completion Rate:
The number of students who graduated within the expected time frame

*One student extended her program to meet clinical skill outcomes.

Employment

The percentage of graduates seeking employment who were employed in the profession within one year of graduating

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.

Employment opportunities for speech-language pathologists are in settings which range from public school to medical agencies. 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 figures for starting salaries which do not include benefits packages, averaged in the $50,000 range.

Meeting Educational and Clinical Requirements

Our program assures that the student will meet the educational and clinical requirements for the ASHA Certification of Clinical Competence (speech-language pathology). The undergraduate program provides a basis upon which the graduate program is built. If a student obtains his/her undergraduate coursework from another institution, careful scheduling with the assigned graduate advisor will be necessary to be sure that all educational and clinical certification requirements are met through experiences on the graduate level at The University of Toledo.

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 basis of speech and language 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 and language 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 better. 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 but issued by the state of Ohio. 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 include specific course work in education as well as courses in handicapping conditions, learning disabilities, and American Sign Language. In addition, an extensive practicum experience in the public school setting is required.  A score of 600 is required on the PRAXIS examination.

Certification Advice

Depending on your course work decisions, you 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 University Graduate advisor 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.

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 in undergraduate course descriptions. 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.

Major Course Work
A minimum of 36 graduate hours is required in this area.

Practicum Requirements
Three separate clinical sites are required (minimum of 50 clock hours in each site):

These experiences are coordinated to assure that minimum practicum requirements are met.
*The first practicum must occur in the on-campus clinic.
*The second and third practicum sites involve extern placements in a medical setting (such as hospital, rehabilitation site, etc.) and an educational setting (e.g., the public school to fulfill student teaching experience in speech-language pathology).

Required

A comprehensive examination may be an option to the research thesis. Students selecting the examination option should enroll in SLP 6930:002  for 3 credits in the spring before completion of the master's degree. Discuss this option with your advisor if you do not intend to continue beyond the master's degree with your education.

Our graduate program in speech-language pathology is accredited by the Council of Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA).  Its mission is to develop entry level professionals to serve communicatively disordered children and adults through identification, accurate assessment, and effective treatment of the communication impairment within the broad range of the individual's daily activities.

Application Procedures

The deadline for applying for admission to our graduate program is January 15.  Our admission procedures include a review of your submitted materials. A personal interview may be recommended.  Students who do not meet the regular admission standards to the university may be granted an interview at the discretion of the admission committee.

 The committee considers an array of factors including, but not limited to:

• grade point average in the major (minimum gpm = 3.0)
• undergraduate grade point average
• grade point average in last two years of study
• statement of purpose/intent
• 3 letters of reference
• evaluation of clinical abilities/potential
• personal interview with faculty
• pragmatic language use
• use of language forms
• graduate record examination (GRE)

You may call (419) 530-GRAD to obtain application forms and materials regarding matriculation in graduate school.

If you have specific questions regarding the coursework or practicum offered by our graduate program, you may contact Dr. Lori Pakulski, program director at (419) 530-2573.

In addition, you may access application information through the Forms page. Information for both undergraduate and graduate applications, financial aid opportunities including assistantships, and a brochure on our graduate speech-language pathology program are available.

Additional information on the graduate program and application procedures is located in the Commonly Asked Questions location of this document.

If you have an undergraduate major in a field other than speech-language pathology, we recommend that you enroll in the UWD (Undergraduate with Degree) Program before applying to graduate school.

The UWD allows the student with an undergraduate degree to take courses in the undergraduate major sequence to prepare him/herself for graduate study. In this way, the student learns the material expected of all students entering the graduate program, pays undergraduate tuition, and provides the professors with a estimate of the student's potential over a period of time.

Options

The student without an undergraduate background in speech-language pathology may take undergraduate course work in speech-language pathology in preparation for application to the graduate program through the College of Health Science and Human Service (419-530-5360).  Deficiencies in speech-language pathology may be met through one year of full time study.  Undergraduate With Degree programs are available through the Speech-Language Pathology program.

Advisors

Since the undergraduate courses are sequenced with certain courses prerequisite to others, it is imperative that you contact an advisor to determine the best sequence of courses to meet your needs. 

You will need to bring a transcript of all your college coursework to your scheduled appointment.