Speech-Language Pathology (Residential), MS

Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

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ASHS School Information and Policies   Length of Program Tuition and Fees

Admissions Graduation Requirements Courses: Descriptions and Credit Values

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU- ASHS) in Mesa, Arizona, will prepare students to become engaged as whole person healthcare providers in alignment with the mission of the university and its osteopathic heritage. The pedagogy of multicultural education is a cornerstone of this program with a significant emphasis toward training of speech-language pathologists and delivery of bilingual services. The curriculum will focus on addressing issues of diversity through culturally responsive practices and using competency-based methods with interpreters to provide ethical services to individuals from linguistically diverse backgrounds. Students will be prepared to serve as professionals who are committed to excellence in the delivery of services to individuals with speech, language, and swallowing disorders and to the advancement of the scientific foundations of the profession using evidence-based clinical practices. Graduates of the ATSU-ASHS Speech-Language Pathology Program will become the next generation of scholars and leaders who will make a global impact.

Graduates of the program will be eligible for certification and licensure in speech-language pathology.

Length of Program

The Speech-Language Pathology program is a two-year master’s degree that includes the first 12 months as residential didactic and clinical training and the final year of coursework online allowing students to pursue nationwide clinical opportunities and full-time clinical training. Students are required to complete 66 credit hours to obtain the master’s degree.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition is due twice a year at ATSU. It is due at the beginning of the first and second semesters. Each payment is half the cost for the entire year. Tuition may be paid any time during the week that it is due. Delinquent tuition penalties accrue at 1.5 percent per month, which is 18 percent per year.

Cost of attendance (COA), or budget is an estimated amount of all expenses for a period of enrollment. A budget, including all COA elements has been calculated for each program approved to certify for Title IV funding. An expense worksheet is also provided so students can calculate how the estimated cost of attendance will align with their actual costs and help to budget accordingly.

Class/Year	Tuition	Student Technology Fee	Clinic Fee	Lab Fee
Class of 2025, year 1	$40,986	$1,350	$199	$269
Class of 2024, year 2	$40,986	$1,350

 

Admissions

Application Process

Applications must be submitted through the Communication Science and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS). Please refer to the CSDCAS application instructions for specific details about completing the application, required documents, and processing time.

Application Deadline

Applicants for the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program should apply by February 1 to be included in the initial screening and selection process.  All subsequent applications will be considered on a rolling admissions basis until remaining openings are filled.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the residential Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program must meet the following requirements prior to matriculation.

Candidates accepted for admission to the ATSU-ASHS Speech-Language Pathology program must have earned a baccalaureate degree or higher from  a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education institutional accreditor.

All pre-requisite coursework and the bachelor’s or master’s degree must be completed from  a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education institutional accreditor.

Pre-requisite general knowledge coursework

Students must document completion of the following prerequisite general knowledge courses. Students may be accepted and placed on academic probation if the following courses are not documented. Students admitted without the following courses must have the courses completed by the end of the ATSU academic year

Students must have three (3) semester credit hours in each of the following areas: biological science, physical science, statistics, and  semester credit hours in social/behavioral sciences for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) requirements.  It is the student’s financial responsibility to complete the required prerequisite coursework.  The courses are not offered through ATSU.

1. Biological science (human biology)
2. Physical science (physics or chemistry)
3. Social/behavioral science (psychology, sociology, anthropology or public health)
4. Statistics (math, biology or psychology)

GPA requirements

GPA options are as follows. The applicant must have achieved:

• a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average overall, or
• a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average for the last 60 credits, or
• if under the minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average for the last 60 credits there may be special considerations for a holistic approach to the admissions decision.

Applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation preferably from university faculty members who know and can comment on their academic ability and potential for success in graduate study. These letters are to be sent through the CSDCAS recommender portal in the Supporting Information and Evaluations section. Please refer to the CSDCAS application instructions for specific guidelines and requirements for submitting letters of recommendation.

If you are accepted into ATSU-ASHS’s Speech-Language Pathology Program, you will be required to complete a criminal background check before matriculation. Depending on the nature of the incidents uncovered, the results of the background check could potentially affect your acceptance into the program, disqualify you from clinical rotations in certain locations leading to an inability to complete your education, or prohibit professional licensure in certain states.

All students are required to demonstrate proficiency in English when applying to the ATSU-ASHS. You may find information on the methods by which you can demonstrate your English Proficiency by referring back to the Arizona School of Health Sciences admissions requirements. 

Additional information for applicants

Suggested speech-language pathology discipline specific coursework is highly recommended.

At least three (3) semester credit hours in each of the suggested courses can significantly enhance the student’s potential for success in the program. These are not required; they are highly recommended.

1. Introduction to communication disorders
2. Normal speech and language development
3. Anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanism
4. Speech and hearing science
5. Phonetics
6. Introduction to audiology
7. Articulation and phonological disorders
8. Language disorders
9. Neuroscience of communication disorders

International Student Admissions

This program is approved by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program to issue I-20 paperwork to non-immigrant students in order to apply for an F-1 Visa.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology degree, all students must:

• Maintain a minimum overall academic GPA of 3.00 and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in clinical rotations.
• Pass all courses for credit with a passing grade (“B” or better, “P” for Pass/Fail courses).
• Complete the E-Portfolio Culminating Event with a “B” or better.
• Complete the Cultural Growth Profile.
• Complete a minimum of 400 clinical hours.
• Complete 66 credit hours

Courses