What is this program about?

The Master's program in Speech-Language Pathology (SPLA) is a comprehensive, academically based, clinically oriented, full-time program designed primarily to prepare professional Speech-Language Pathologists. The program contributes substantially to the academic and clinical practicum requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) granted by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA). It entails two years of full-time study (including summer) that covers graduate-level coursework, on-site and off-campus clinical placements, and capstone paper or thesis project.

What is the focus?

• Cutting-edge clinical and research issues pertaining to communication disorders and normal processes of speech, language and hearing. The focus covers the age span from newborn to the very old, and an extensive variety of disorders of language, articulation, fluency, voice, cognition and swallowing; 
• Significant exposure to diverse clinical populations (including bilingual speakers), assessment procedures, treatment methodologies and work settings;
• Evidence-based practice;
• Training students to evaluate the efficacy of emerging technologies and procedures;
• Extensive hands-on experiences in classes and clinic, with an emphasis on integrating theory with practice. 

Why is the program great?

• Graduate coursework is offered by world-renowned faculty with specific expertise in the courses they teach;
• A learning environment in which there are extensive collaborations between researchers and clinical faculty on topics such as fluency, communication partner training for persons with aphasia, autism, and traumatic brain injury;
• Students have the opportunity and choice to conduct independent research (Masters Thesis) with renowned faculty researchers;
• Students receive exceptionally high quality one-on-one clinical supervision with the goal of fostering readiness for independence in clinical practice;
• The in-house clinic offers a variety of unique training opportunities including:
  • The Language-Learning Early-Advantage Program (LEAP). LEAP is an award-winning preschool that focuses on communication enrichment for at-risk preschoolers in group and indvidiual settings. 
  • The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®). PEERS®  is an evidence-based social skills intervention program for motivated teens in high school who are interested in learning ways to help them make and keep friends.
  • The Social Interaction Group Network for students with Autism (SIGNA). SIGNA was developed for UMD college students who want to understand others, express themselves, and navigate academic and campus life in better ways without losing their individuality. 
  • Avoidance Reduction Group Therapy. The goal of therapy is to achieve comfortable, forward-moving speech that is free of struggle and control. 
  • The Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Emphasis Program (CLD-EP). The goal of this program is to foster an in depth understanding of cultural and linguistic diversity, including specialized clinical experiences designed to help students gain cultural and linguistic competence. 
  • The Bilingual Certification Program. The HESP Bilingual Certification Program is a clinical preparation program for emerging bilingual speech-language pathologists. The core objective of the program is to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to become qualified bilingual services providers, by meeting the criteria set forth by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). 
• Numerous, off-site clinical externships in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan area are unparalleled (e.g., The Lab School of Washington, The Treatment and Learning Centers, National Rehabilitation Hospital in DC, Walter Reed Military Medical Center, Children’s Hospital in DC, Johns Hopkins University Hospital, etc.), and permit students to explore clinical specialties of interest;
• Department-wide seminar series brings highly respected faculty to campus to interact with students;
• 100% success rate in placing students in clinical externships (outside placements);
• A high proportion of students receive financial support, in the form of on-campus graduate assistantships or from the Montgomery County Public Schools.
• 100% pass rate on the ASHA Praxis exam, with over 95% employment rate

What can I expect from the program?

• 35 credits of coursework and 13 credits of clinical training
• Two years of full time study to complete 
• Three semesters of training in the in-house clinic
• Two semesters of clinical externship (outside placement), typically distributed between adult and pediatric settings
• Typical class size of 20-25 students

What are the goals of the MASLP program?

The MA in Speech-Language Pathology program is designed to facilitate students’ knowledge and skills in six main areas.  These goals include:

• Goal 1: Mastery of core knowledge of communication and its disorders

  • Demonstrate knowledge of theoretical foundations, etiology and symptomatology, differential diagnosis, current best evidence for diagnosis and treatment, unanswered issues and future directions

 

• Goal 2: Integration of research into evidence-based clinical practice

  • Demonstrate knowledge of processes used in research, including the ability to locate, evaluate and synthesize credible scientific information for application to clinical practice throughout their professional career 

 

• Goal 3: Application of academic/clinical knowledge and technical skills

  • Integrate and apply knowledge of communication disorders and clinical methods to prevention/screening, assessment, intervention and counseling

 

• Goal 4: Use of oral and written communication skills

  • Demonstrate effective, culturally competent oral and written communication skills through academic course assignments, clinical interactions/documentation, and scholarly program requirements

 

• Goal 5: Implementation of problem solving/critical thinking

  • Use knowledge of communication disorders to analyze, adapt and justify emerging theoretical perspectives, research findings, clinical decision making on assessment and treatment procedures

 

• Goal 6: Demonstration of professional competence 

  • Exhibit knowledge of clinical certification/licensure requirements, contemporary professional issues and standards of ethical conduct. Demonstrate personal characteristics that support successful clinical practice

Program Contacts

Academic Requirements (e.g., Coursework, Comprehensive Exams, Thesis): Eusebia Mont

Clinical Training (including Outplacements): Kristin Slawson

Class Registration: DyQuan Washington

Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Emphasis Program: Eusebia Mont

Bilingual Certification Program: Jose Ortiz

General Admissions Questions: hespadmissions [at] umd.edu (subject: General%20Admissions%20Question)

More about the program: 

Prospective Students

• Program Directors
• Open Houses
• How to Apply
• International Students
• FAQ's
• Pre-requisite Courses
• Funding Opportunities

Current Students

       General

• M.A. Program Handbook
• Clinical Practicum Handbook
• Clinical Outplacements
• M.A. Comprehensive Examination Guide
• Grievance Policies 
• Apply for Funding
• Typical Sequence of Classes

       Specialty tracks

• CLD-EP Program
• Bilingual Certification Program
• Cochlear Implant Emphasis Program

       Graduation

• Graduation Deadlines
• SLP Certification
• Employment Rate
• Information Regarding State Licensure