Medical Speech-Language Pathology Program Curriculum
Medical Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Program Curriculum 115 graduate credits 73 didactic credits 42 clinical credits |
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| Year 1 | |||
Autumn |
Winter |
Spring |
Summer |
| SPHSC 500 - Clinical Methods for Documenting Change (4) | SPHSC 529 - Assessment & Treatment of Birth-to-4 Communication Disorders (4) | SPHSC 536 - Assessment & Treatment of School-Age Communication Disorders (4) | SPHSC 533 - Medical Speech Language Pathology (3) |
| SPHSC 501 - Neural Bases of Speech, Language & Hearing (4) | SPHSC 532 - Assessment & Treatment of Neurogenic Cognitive & Language Disorders (3) | SPHSC 534 - Assessment & Treatment of Dysphagia (4) | SPHSC 540 - Augmentative & Alternative Communication - Foundations (4) |
| SPHSC 539 - Assessment & Treatment of Childhood Speech & Phonological Disorders (4) | SPHSC 535 - Assessment & Treatment of Voice Disorders (4) | SPHSC 531 –Assessment & Treatment of Neurogenic Motor Speech Disorders (4) | SPHSC 565 – Professional Seminar: Counseling (2) |
| SPHSC 565 – Professional Seminar (1) | SPHSC 506 – Research Methods in Speech-Language Pathology (3) | ||
| SPHSC 553: Advanced Practicum in Speech-Lang. Pathology (2) | SPHSC 553F: Advanced Practicum in Speech-Lang. Pathology (2) | SPHSC 553B: Advanced Practicum in Speech-Lang. Pathology (2) | SPHSC 553D: Advanced Practicum in Speech-Lang. Pathology (2) |
| SPHSC 553C: Advanced Practicum in Speech-Lang. Pathology (2) | SPHSC 553E: Advanced Practicum in Speech-Lang. Pathology (2) | ||
| 13 cr didactic / 2 cr practicum | 11 cr didactic / 2 cr practicum | 12 cr didactic / 4 cr practicum | 12 cr didactic / 4 cr practicum |
| Year 2 | |||
Autumn |
Winter |
Spring |
Summer |
| SPHSC 546 - Advanced Neurological Language & Cognitive-Communication Disorders (3) | SPHSC 507 - Evidence-based Practice (3) | SPHSC 549 – Clinical Forum in Speech-Lang. Pathology (2) | |
| SPHSC 537 - Assessment & Treatment of Fluency Disorders (4) | SPHSC 543 - Assessment & Treatment of Pediatric Dysphagia (2) | SPHSC 548 – Traumatic Brain Injury Seminar (2) | |
| SPHSC 545 - Assessment & Treatment of Voice Disorders in Medical Settings (2) | SPHSC 565 – Professional Seminar (1) | SPHSC 541 - Augmentative & Alternative Communication - Medical Settings(2) | |
| SPHSC 538 - Assessment & Treatment of Cognitive-Comm. Disorders (3) | SPHSC 549 – Clinical Forum in Speech-Lang. Pathology (2) | SPHSC 549 – Clinical Forum in Speech-Lang. Pathology (2) | |
| SPHSC 554A -Offsite Practicum (6) | SPHSC 554A -Offsite Practicum (6) | SPHSC 554A -Offsite Practicum (6) | SPHSC 554A -Offsite Practicum (12) |
| 9 cr didactic / 6 cr practicum | 8 cr didactic / 6 cr practicum | 9 cr didactic / 6 cr practicum | 2 cr didactic / 12 cr practicum |
Curriculum Requirements
The curriculum is designed to meet both the UW Graduate School and ASHA requirements for graduate level study. The 26 didactic courses (73 credits) listed above are required courses in the Medical Speech-Language Pathology degree program. Completion of these courses will ensure students meet the ASHA standards for knowledge in the field of speech-language pathology as well as provide curricular specialization in medical speech-language pathology. Didactic courses are scheduled around the clinical practica. Students should be aware that some required courses may be offered during late afternoon or evening hours (e.g., 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.). In addition, classes may occasionally meet on Saturdays.
The clinical coursework is designed so that each student will meet the clinical skill requirements and clock hour minimum mandated by ASHA for certification (400 hours). Clinical clock hour targets are provided for each of the 10 required clinical practica. To graduate, students must complete at least 375 clock hours of supervised clinical experience in the practice of speech-language pathology (325 minimum in the graduate program) plus 25 hours of observation for a minimum total of 400 hours.
Evidence-Based Practice
Students in the Medical Speech-Language Pathology degree program are provided with two specific courses focusing on the principles and methods of evidence-based practice, SPHSC 507 and SPHSC 549. The coursework and projects associated with these classes are designed to teach students to combine research evidence with their own clinical expertise, their patient’s values and documented treatment progress to guide clinical decision-making.
Optional Coursework
In addition to the requirements summarized above, students can register for the following optional courses with faculty approval, as scheduling and faculty availability permits:
1. Master’s Thesis
Students interested in completing a master’s thesis have the option to interview with members of the speech-language pathology and other faculty during their first year, for the opportunity to complete research during their graduate program. Each Spring quarter faculty members conduct interviews and open their research labs to students who may be interested in completing a thesis. The selection process takes both faculty and student preferences into account. Most students start their thesis work during Summer quarter of their first year.
The number of thesis opportunities awarded each year is based on multiple factors, including the number of interested students and the number of available spaces in faculty research labs. If selected to complete a thesis, students are assigned a thesis chair or mentor who will guide their research and a thesis committee of at least 3 member is established. Thesis chairs must be graduate faculty in the Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences, but other thesis committee members can be from different disciplines and departments.
All students selected to complete a thesis are required to take the following additional courses. Please note that the decision to complete a thesis could extend a student’s program beyond the standard 8 quarters.
Additional Coursework for Students Completing a Thesis
- Required: SPHSC 700 – Master’s Thesis. Students must register for a total of at least 9 credits of SPHSC 700. Once the thesis works begins, students must register for some number of credits of SPHSC 700 each quarter until the thesis is complete. Please be aware that students must be registered for SPHSC 700 during the quarter in which they apply to graduate.
- Optional: Statistics courses at 400 level or above. As necessary, the student’s thesis mentor will guide the student in registering for an appropriate statistics course based upon his/her research focus. The student’s thesis mentor will make the determination of whether or not a statistics course is required.
2. Independent Study
Students have the option of completing Independent Study for one or more quarters with a faculty member on a topic of interest. Upon obtaining the appropriate approvals, students register for SPHSC 600 - Independent Study or Research. The time commitment formula for an Independent Study is 3 hours of work per week for every 1 credit earned.