(Master of Arts in Communicative Disorders Frequently Asked Questions)

What are the average GPA and GRE scores of students who are accepted into the program?

Below are the statistics for students who were accepted into the program in the fall of 2009:

Average Undergraduate Cumulative GPA	3.68
Average Undergraduate Major GPA	3.80
Average GRE (Verbal + Quantitative)	1054

 

How long does it take to complete the M.A. degree?

A full-time student student can complete the MA in two years, including summers (i.e., 4 academic-year semesters plus 4 summer semesters). Part-time students can complete the program in 3 years (i.e., 6 academic-year semesters plus 6 summer semesters).  Full-time and part-time students must be available for day time classes.

Does the department accept part-time students to the degree program?

Yes, the department does accept a limited number of on-campus students to the program on a part-time basis. Generally, three to four students are accepted on a part-time basis. Please note: part-time students must be available for day time classes.

Please be advised that it is not possible for individuals who start their studies as part-time students to switch to full-time status. Full-time students may switch to part-time status.Once the switch is made, however, it is not possible to switch back to full-time status and finish the degree in two years

What academic coursework must I complete for the M.A. degree?

The academic coursework is divided into four components:

1.	Required courses in speech-language pathology (54 credits)
2.	Elective courses (6 credits). Students electing the thesis option must complete one elective course (3 credits) in addition to three (3) credits of thesis.
3.	Graduate Clinical Affiliation (off-campus clinical practicum) (18 credits)

How many credits of coursework must I take to complete the degree?

The Master of Arts Degree in Communicative Disorders requires 60-66 semester hours of academic course work, including graduate clinical practicum hours. As part of the program you must complete a minimum of 400 hours of therapy and diagnostics with clinic clients. Graduate clinical practica are taken on both on-campus and off-campus (Graduate Clinical Affiliation).

The actual number of credit hours you will need to complete the program may differ from that presented above and is dependent on such factors as graduate courses you wish to transfer from other schools, academic deficiencies in your undergraduate program, an option to elect a program leading to certification to practice in Pennsylvania school systems, and the number of clinical practicum hours you need to complete the 400 clock hour requirement. Shown below are the Communicative Disorders courses in the M.A. program. You will be provided with a curriculum when you enter the program. The curriculum can be modified under advisement.

What courses does the department offer?

Course Number	Course Title	Credits
SPP 501	Foundations of Research in Speech Pathology	3
SPP 511	Language Disorders in Children from 0-5	3
SPP 512	Language Disorders among School-aged Children and Adolescents	3
SPP 516	Adult Neurogenic Speech & Language Disorders	3
SPP 523	Voice Disorders	3
SPP 524	Fluency Disorders	3
SPP 526	Clinical Articulation and Phonology	3
SPP 543	Therapy for the Hearing Impaired	3
SPP 575	Medical Speech Pathology	3
SPP 582	Dysphagia	3
SPP 551	Graduate Clinical Practicum Speech and Language - 1	3
SPP 551	Graduate Clinical Practicum Speech and Language - 2	3
SPP 551	Graduate Clinical Practicum - Hearing	1.5
SPP 551	Graduate Clinical Practicum - Speech/Language Diagnostics	1.5
Electives: (6 credits chosen with advisement)
SPP 550	Advanced Diagnostic & Therapeutic Methods	3
SPP 560	Seminar: in Communicative Disorders:(arious topics)	1-3
SPP 565	Autism	3
SPP 570	School Language, Speech and Hearing Programs	3
SPP 573	Administion & Supervision of Speech/Hearing Programs	3
SPP 580	Orofacial Anomalies	3
SPP 589	Neuromuscular Disorders	3
SPP 590	Independent Study	3
SPP 610	Thesis	3
SPP 552	Medical Affiliation Practicum	9
SPP 553	School-based Affiliation Practicum	9

What is the minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) required to remain in the Degree program?

As a candidate for the M.A. degree, you must meet the general University requirements for the degree. You are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale.

Are there courses that I must complete in order to be a fully matriculated student?

Yes. The program requires you to complete the following courses during your first 15 semester hours of graduate study: SPP 501, SPP 511 and SPP 524 and SPP 526. During this period you are also required to apply for Admission to Degree Candidacy. A complete explanation of this process can be found in the Graduate Catalog.

Must I write a thesis to complete the program?

No. The department has a thesis and a non-thesis option. The non-thesis option requires students to pass a comprehensive examination in the last semester of their studies.

What clinical practicum requirements must I meet?

The M.A. degree requires successful completion of supervised clinical practicum in the University Speech and Hearing Clinic and at least two approved affiliation (off-campus) sites. A total of 400 hours of supervised clinical practicum are necessary; a minimum of 325 hours are required at the graduate level. You will be given credit for only those undergraduate practicum hours that you have completed under the supervision of a clinician who holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP). The authorized clinical logs that you submit as part of your application for admission to the M.A. program are used to verify the undergraduate clinical hours that you have completed.

What is theprogram's pass rate on the ASHA PRAXIS examination?

During the period of September 1, 2008 through August 31, 2009 90% of the students who took the ASHA Praxis examination passed it.  The median score was 700.

What percentage of the students who started the M.A. degree program completed it?

For the most recent graduating class (accepted in September, 2006), 100% of the students who started the program completed it. 

What percentage of students who completed the program found employment?

As is typical of previous years, 100% of the last graduating class reported that they were employed at the time of graduation or within 3-4 months following graduation.

What are the English proficiency requirements for international students whose native language is something other than English?

Given the scope of practice in speech-language pathology, and given that the mission of the Communicative Disorders Graduate Program is to prepare students for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in the United States, oral English proficiency is considered an essential tool. WCU’s Graduate Catalogue states that, “Applicants whose native language is not English must submit evidence of satisfactory performance on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to the Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education before application forms can be processed.” It also indicates that “…a score of 550 is the minimum acceptable score (213 for computer-based exam)…”  Additionally, if a student whose native language is not English is accepted into WCU’s Communicative Disorders graduate program, and if there is evidence that this student is having exceptional difficulty with one or more of the tasks required in clinical service delivery (e.g., speech perception, speech/language modeling, comprehending speech or language produced by individuals with disorders, writing clinic reports, counseling families, etc.) then the student will be asked to address these deficits through a remediation plan (e.g., therapy for accent reduction, perceptual training, etc. as needed).