Speech-Language Pathology Curriculum

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The curriculum ensures compliance with all requirements for Louisiana state licensure and ASHA certification. The program of study will consist of no fewer than 36 credit hours (exclusive of clinical practicum) and must be consistent with current licensure and certification standards:

Knowledge

Each student must demonstrate knowledge of communication and swallowing disorders and differences, including the appropriate etiologies, characteristics, and anatomical/physiological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural correlates. Knowledge must be demonstrated in the following areas of speech sound production, fluency and fluency disorders, voice and resonance, receptive and expressive language, hearing, swallowing/feeding, cognitive aspects, social aspects of communication, and augmentative and alternative communication modalities.

Skills

Each student must accrue a minimum of 400 clock hours of supervised clinical experience in the practice of speech-language pathology. Twenty-five hours must be spent in guided clinical observation, and 375 hours must be spent in direct client/patient contact. Prevention, assessment, and treatment services are provided to a diverse clientele. Skills must be demonstrated in the domains listed above under the heading of “knowledge.”

Assessment

The Program’s assessment plan is consistent with ASHA certification requirements. At the end of the first year, students complete formative assessments by submitting a portfolio documenting attainment of specified knowledge and skills and taking a written examination “mini comps” which covers courses taken during the first three semesters. At the conclusion of the program, students must pass a comprehensive examination (summative assessment).

The typical plan of study for an individual without previous coursework in the communication sciences and disorders (CSD) is outlined below. A personalized knowledge and skills acquisition (KASA) form is used to track each student’s progress.

Thesis Option

Speech-Language Pathology is a complex and rapidly changing field. As such, there is a great need for a strong basic research foundation upon which clinical practice can be established. In addition, applied research is needed to evaluate and improve clinical practices.

The Program in Speech-Language Pathology offers a thesis option to help address this need for basic and applied research. The thesis option allows interested students to develop their research skills through a project that culminates in an original contribution to the scientific literature that is of publishable quality. Students who plan to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) should consider the thesis option as doctoral programs may require a thesis or its equivalent. Interested students are encouraged to contact the Department Head/Program Director early in their course of study to discuss the possibility of pursuing the thesis option.