Core Speech-Language Pathology Program
Curriculum

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 540 - Augmentative & Alternative Communication Foundations (4)
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 533 – Medical Speech-Language Pathology (3)
SPHSC 539 - Assessment & Treatment of Childhood Speech & Phonological Disorders (4)	SPHSC 535 - Assessment & Treatment of Voice Disorders (4)	SPHSC 531 – Neurogenic Motor Speech Disorders (4)	SPHSC 565 - Professional Seminar: Counseling (2) Take yr 1 or 2
SPHSC 565 – Professional Seminar (1)			SPHSC 506 - Research Methods in Speech-Language Pathology (3)
SPHSC 552 – Advanced Practicum in Speech Pathology / UWSHC	SPHSC 552 – Advanced Practicum in Speech Pathology / UWSHC	SPHSC 551 and/or 552 – Advanced Practicum in Speech Pathology / UWSHC	SPHSC 551 and/or 552 – Advanced Practicum in Speech Pathology / UWSHC
13 cr didactic / varied cr practicum	11 cr didactic / varied cr practicum	12 cr didactic / varied cr practicum	12 cr didactic / varied cr practicum
Year 2
Autumn	Winter	Spring	Summer
	SPHSC 565 – Professional Seminar (1)
SPHSC 537 - Assessment & Treatment of Fluency Disorders (4)
SPHSC 538 - Assessment & Treatment of Cognitive-Comm. Disorders (3)	SPHSC 551 and/or 552 – Advanced Practicum in Speech Pathology / UWSHC	SPHSC 551 and/or 552 – Advanced Practicum in Speech Pathology / UWSHC	SPHSC 551 and/or 552 – Advanced Practicum in Speech Pathology / UWSHC
SPHSC 551 and/or 552 – Advanced Practicum in Speech Pathology / UWSHC	SPHSC 555 – PreInternship (2)	SPHSC 555 – PreInternship (2)	SPHSC 601/602 Internship (10)
		SPHSC 601/602 Internship (10)
7 cr didactic / varied cr practicum	1 cr didactic / varied cr practicum	Varied cr practicum	Varied cr practicum

Curriculum Requirements

The graduate curriculum is designed to meet both the UW Graduate School and ASHA requirements. The 17 didactic courses listed above are required courses in the Core Speech-Language Pathology graduate program and completion will ensure students meet the ASHA standards for knowledge in the field of speech-language pathology. Didactic courses are scheduled around the needs of the clinical practica. Students should be aware that some required courses may need to be offered during late afternoon or evening hours (e.g., 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.). In addition, classes may occasionally need to meet on Saturdays.

In the Core Speech-Language Pathology program, students are also required to take 3-4 additional courses that align with their chosen “emphasis path” and focus specifically on pediatric or adult populations and issues. The emphasis path and elective requirements are in addition to the 14 required foundational courses.

The clinical coursework is designed such 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 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.

Optional Coursework

In addition to the requirements summarized above, students can register for the following optional courses with faculty approval and 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 related 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 members total is established. Thesis chairs must be graduate faculty within the department, 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 at least 9 credits total 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. This coursework is optional and a student’s thesis mentor will make the determination of necessity.
  

2. Independent Study

Students have the option of completing an Independent Study (IS) for one or more quarters with a department 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 IS is 3 hours of work per week for every 1 credit of registration.