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Academic Coursework

The MS-SLP program is a 60-credit hour program, typically completed over 5 semesters, with cohorts beginning each fall. Each semester, students enroll in a combination of academic and clinical courses and activities, sequenced intentionally throughout the program to build on prior semester learning and facilitate optimal learning of knowledge and skills across the scope of practice. The academic and clinical components of the program work hand in hand, with academic knowledge about a given practice area generally preceding clinical experience in that area.

Consistency and Individualization

We have designed our program with a general framework that provides the consistency of coursework and clinical experiences needed to ensure all students are prepared to provide excellent care for clients across the scope of practice, while also providing substantial opportunities for individualization and choice both in coursework and clinical experiences, enabling students to take ownership of their education and their clinical training pathway.

Program Highlights:

  1. Each semester students complete a combination of in-person, ‘academic’ courses, supervised clinical experiences (SPHS 771-775), and professional development activities (SPHS 776-779).
  2. Required core courses are concentrated early in the program sequence and are designed to fulfill CAA and KASA standards across the scope of practice.
  3. Academic advising begins early in the program, with each student meeting with their assigned academic advisor to discuss their interests and begin to consider electives they may take later in the program.
  4. Clinical advising also begins early in the program, with each student meeting with the Clinical Education Coordinator in the first few months of the program to identify areas of interest and previous experiences to aid in identifying external placements that will provide excellent clinical learning opportunities for each student.
  5. Fall semesters include more intensive academic courseloads, with targeted on-campus clinical experiences in our clinical skills laboratory.
  6. Spring and summer semesters include more intensive clinical activities, with part-time (Spring 1) and full-time (Summer, Spring 2) placements supervised by expert clinicians in the community, paired with somewhat lighter academic courseloads.
  7. Elective coursework provides students with opportunities to deepen their knowledge in areas of particular interest in addition to required core coursework.

  8. A master’s thesis is not required. In place of a master’s thesis, students complete a research experience supervised by a faculty member, including activities completed across several semesters. Cumulatively, the research experience is equivalent to one 3-credit hour class.

A typical sequence is listed as follows. Course descriptions can be found at: https://catalog.unc.edu/courses/sphs/

Fall Year 1

  • SPHS 741- Neuroanatomy
  • SPHS 743- Pediatric Speech Disorders
  • SPHS 748- Voice Disorders
  • SPHS 762- Language Impairment in School-age children
  • SPHS 765- Augmentative and Alternative Communication
  • SPHS 771- Supervised Clinical Experience I
  • SPHS 776- Ethical Practice Policies
  • (no electives, 18 credit hours)

Spring Year 1

  • SPHS 701- Introduction to Research Design
  • SPHS 754- Dysphagia
  • SPHS 760- Neurologic Communication Disorders
  • SPHS 772- Supervised Clinical Experience II
  • SPHS 777- Contemporary Professional Issues (plus one 3-credit elective, for 14 credit hours)

Summer

  • SPHS 773- Supervised Clinical Experience III (1 credit hour)

Fall Year 2

  • SPHS 744- Motor Speech Disorders
  • SPHS 774- Supervised Clinical Experience IV
  • SPHS 778- Professional Development In Person-Centered Care
  • SPHS 803 or 804- Pediatric (or adult) Aural (re)habilitation (optional if taken as an undergraduate)
  • (plus 11 credit hours, for target 18 credit hours)

Spring Year 2

  • SPHS 775- Supervised Clinical Experience V
  • SPHS 779 Professional Practice Issues
  • SPHS 870 Supervised Research Experience
  • (plus 2 or more credit hours, for target 9 credit hours)

Fall electives (generally offered, subject to enrollment and availability)

  • SPHS 742- Aphasia
  • SPHS 752- Seminar in Medical Speech-Language Pathology
  • SPHS 792- Pediatric Dysphagia
  • SPHS 806- Seminar in Early Intervention
  • SPHS 888- Hearing Loss and Developmental Disabilities I
  • (other electives outside of SPHS available by approval of program coordinator)

Spring electives (generally offered, subject to enrollment and availability)

  • SPHS 745- Cognitive Communication Disorders
  • SPHS 834- Counseling and Communication Disorders
  • SPHS 751- Global Issues and Practices
  • SPHS 880- Seminar in Autism
  • SPHS 889- Hearing Loss and Developmental Disabilities II
  • (other electives outside of SPHS available by approval of program coordinator)