Speech-Language Pathology Links
Speech-Language Pathology Requirements
With the advice and consent of the adviser, a student elects to earn a degree with or without a thesis. Student participation in practicum and internship courses requires both good academic standing and consent of the department.
Required Course:
COMD 500: Intro to Research in Communicative Disorders Credits: 3
Other Requirements:
- To be engaged in any clinical practicum experience, evidence of professional liability insurance, child and adult CPR certification, completion of the Hepatitis B immunization series, absence of active tuberculosis, completion of two MMRimmunizations, and a negative criminal background check are required. Graduate students must be in compliance with all of the above requirements prior to initiating clinical assignments. Students will be responsible for the costs involved in the aforementioned requirements and will also be responsible for providing their own transportation for clinical course assignments.
- Completion of the minimum academic and clinical requirements for the appropriate professional certification issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association prior to graduation.
- Fulfillment of an experience assignment during each semester of full-time registration. Such assignments will be of a research, clinical, or teaching nature, depending on the needs of the student and the availability of the assignment.
- The master’s degree requires a minimum of 36 semester hours, at least 30 of which must be earned in nonpracticum courses. Additional semester hours are normally earned in clinical practicum to fulfill the requirements of the appropriate clinical certification.
Thesis option:
The student must earn a minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate credit. A thesis must be submitted and approved. A maximum of 6 semester hours may be allotted to thesis research and writing.
The student is normally required to pass a comprehensive oral examination which assesses knowledge and ability in the specialization in graduate study, but this may be waived at the discretion of the thesis committee.
Non-thesis option:
The student must earn a minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate credit and pass an examination which will assess knowledge and ability in the specialization of graduate study. The examination typically consists of both written and oral components; however, the oral component may be waived at the discretion of the written-examination committee.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Sue Ouellette
Chair, Department of Communicative Disorders
Northern Illinois University
815-753-1484
