Speech-Language Pathology, M.S.

Ashley O’Rourke, EdD, M.S.,CCC-SLP, TSSLD, Program Director
aorourke@mercy.edu
914-674-7743

Degree Requirements

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Speech-Language Pathology include:

In order to qualify for graduation, students must demonstrate competency by:

1. Completing program requirements.

2. Passing a summative assessment.

Each candidate for a degree must have completed all coursework and program requirements. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all courses applicable to the degree is required for both good academic standing and degree conferral. The words “With Distinction” will appear on the diploma and transcript of any student who completes their degree with a GPA of at least 3.75. Once the degree is conferred, the academic record is finalized and cannot be changed.

Expectations of the Graduate

Graduates of the Mercy University Master of Science Program in Speech-Language Pathology are expected to:

1. Display understanding of anatomic, biologic, neurologic, physiologic and psychologic bases of speech, language and hearing.

2. Demonstrate understanding of the nature of communication disorders.

3. Display knowledge of the professions of Speech/Language Pathology.

4. Recognize the relevance of cultural and linguistic diversity in all aspects of the profession.

5. Exhibit competency in academic and clinical skill areas.

6. Produce and defend evidence-based research methods.

7. Apply counseling strategies with clients and families.

8. Describe and discuss hearing difficulties across the life span and in a variety of populations.

9. Demonstrate knowledge of assessment techniques for identifying hearing loss.

10. Screen hearing ability according to ASHA guidelines.

11. Develop and execute appropriate aural rehabilitation programs within the scope of practice of speech-language pathology.

Undergraduate Prerequisites

Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanisms
Phonetics
Speech and Hearing Science
Introduction to Communication Disorders (Speech Pathology I)
Introduction to Audiology
Normal Speech and Language Development

The six courses above and the five listed below must have been completed during the last 10 years. At least 4 of the 6 prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the fall semester of the application process. All prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the spring semester of the application process. The following courses must be completed during the application process or the end of the first year of graduate school:

Aural Rehabilitation*
Physical Science**(Must be Physics or Chemistry)
Human Biological Science**
Behavioral Science** (e.g., Psychology, Anthropology, Ethnic/Cultural Studies, Archaeology, Economics, Gender/Sexual Studies, Area Studies/Sociology, Criminology, Political Science)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

*Statistics must be taken for undergraduate credit prior to beginning graduate study.
** Required for ASHA Certification

Only grades of “C” or better in any of the above-noted 11 courses will be accepted.

Application Requirements:

Requirements for matriculation and admission into the Master of Science Program in Speech-Language Pathology include:

1. Transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate programs attended.

2. Minimum GPA of 3.0 in the undergraduate major. Applicants with a lower average may be considered for admission if the grades for their last 60 credits of coursework show steady improvement. The student may be required to complete a specified number of credits as a part-time student with an overall GPA of 3.0.

3. Minimum GPA of 3.0 in the six primary prerequisite courses.

4. Oral communication skills necessary to provide services to a wide range of clients.

5. Adequate written communication skills.

6. A “Written Statement” is required response to a question to be determined by the Admissions Committee. The essay is to be double-spaced in a font of 12 and no more than two type-written pages in length.

7. Completion of application through Communication Science Disorders Centralized Application Service which includes completion of “Pre-Requisite Checklist”. 

   https://mercy.formstack.com/forms/communication_disorders_pre_requisite_checklist  

8. Résumé.

9. Two letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s capacity to successfully complete graduate study are required. One letter of recommendation MUST be from a professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology(SLP). The second letter of recommendation may be from a professor in the SLP program or a related field (e.g., education, health sciences), an undergraduate clinical supervisor who has supervised the applicant’s planning, implementing, and documenting of speech/language therapy sessions, or a supervisor from a related position (e.g., principals, supervisors, unit coordinators, rehabilitation directors, etc.). Letters from speech/language pathologists who the applicant has only observed or “shadowed” will NOT be accepted.

10. Submission of the entire application packet is due by February 15th (Applications are accepted for fall admission only).

Admission Process

1. Documents will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee of the Speech-Language Pathology Program.

2. Applications will be reviewed and ranked according to GPA, essay, résumé, and letters of recommendation.

3. Representatives of the Speech-Language Pathology Admissions Committee may interview applicants before final acceptance decisions are made. An interview may be waived for students in the undergraduate major, minor or prerequisite Speech-Language Pathology programs.

4. Submission of scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) by international applicants whose native language is not English and who have not completed a full degree in an English-only institution by the application deadline. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 100. 

5. Request for acceptance of up to six transfer credits for graduate level SLP courses with a grade of “B” or above must be submitted at the time of application. A transcript of these courses must be included with course outlines and will be evaluated after acceptance to the program.

6. Students accepted into the program will be required to pay a nonrefundable $500 deposit at the time of acceptance. This fee will be applied to the fall tuition payment.

Advising

Upon acceptance into the Master of Science Program in Speech-Language Pathology, students will be assigned a faculty member who will serve as their advisor. The advisor will meet with the student to counsel them on program requirements and ASHA certification criteria.

Program Design

The graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology is designed for full-time and part-time students and can be completed in five semesters for full-time students and eight semesters for part-time students. The program consists of academic and clinical components that are organized in a progressive sequence. Courses are primarily offered in the evening. Clinical practicum schedules require day, evening and/or Saturday time commitments. The University defines full-time as nine credits. For the purpose of completing the Speech-Language Pathology program in two years (including one summer), the student must also follow the projected curriculum sequence established by the program. Part-time students must follow their required course projections (which includes two summer semesters).

Students who graduate from the program may sit for the National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology (Specialty Area Test of the Praxis Series by the Educational Testing Service). Students then complete their Clinical Fellowship (CF). Upon successful completion of the degree, the examination, and the CF, the individual can be certified as a Speech-Language Pathologist by ASHA.

Successful completion of the educational and clinical requirements of the graduate program will prepare students for eligibility for state licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist.

Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disability (TSSLD) Certification

The SLP graduate program is registered with the New York State Education Department to offer Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD) certification. Students who wish to obtain the academic and clinical requisites for Initial TSSLD certification must complete the following requirements in addition to program requirements:

1. Twelve credits in Education, which include three credits in Foundations of Education, three credits in Special Education, three credits in Language Acquisition, and three credits in Literacy.

2. Thirty-six credits in Speech/Language Pathology and Audiology.

3. Student Teaching: a minimum of 150 “direct contact” hours.

4. Achievement of a passing grade on the New York State Teacher Certification exam:

   1. Educating All Students (EAS) test

5. Completion of Workshops:

   1. Child Abuse Identification

   2. School Violence Prevention

   3. Human Dignity (DASA)

6. Fingerprint Clearance.

Attendance

Attendance and punctuality in all classes and clinical education assignments is required, unless the student is excused for extenuating and extraordinary life circumstances. A maximum of two undocumented absences from class will result in failure in the course and may jeopardize the student’s standing in the program. Absence from a clinical assignment is subject to the policies and procedures of the Graduate Handbook and Clinic Manual.

Student Classification

A student will be classified as a matriculant when admitted to the Speech-Language Pathology Program. Students may attend the program on a full-time or part-time basis. However, all students must fulfill a full-time residency requirement of one semester that may be fulfilled during the summer. Students must complete all degree requirements within five years from the time of acceptance. Once matriculated, all graduate courses and clinical hours must be completed at Mercy University.

Maintenance of Good Academic Standing

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all courses applicable to the degree is required for both good academic standing and degree conferral. A student admitted as a Conditional Matriculant is required to achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 after completion of six credits. Grades are subject to review by the faculty advisor and Program Director at the end of each term. If the academic average falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation and may be subject to dismissal from the Speech-Language Pathology program.

The cumulative grade point average (GPA) for both good academic standing and degree conferral is 3.00. Students who receive a grade of less than B may be required to repeat the course. Students will be allowed to repeat one course one time only. All students who have a cumulative GPA below 3.00 will be placed on Academic Probation and will be subject to dismissal from the Speech-Language Pathology Program. If a student will not be able to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.00 in the subsequent term, the student will be dismissed from the Speech-Language Pathology program. If a student receives a grade of “F” or “FW” in any course, the student may be subject to dismissal from the University. Withdrawals from a course must be discussed with the Program Director. Only one withdrawal from a course is permitted; subsequent withdrawals will be considered an F.  

Academic Probation: For all students on Academic Probation, future course registrations must be reviewed and approved by the Speech-Language Pathology Program Director as well as the Dean of the School of Health and Natural Sciences (SHNS). In all subsequent terms in which the student is on probation, the student is required to achieve a term GPA of 3.00 or better. If a GPA of 3.00 or higher is not achieved, the student will be dismissed from the Speech-Language Pathology Program. Students who receive a grade of less than “B” may be required to repeat the course. Students will be allowed to repeat a course only once. Earning more than one  “C” grade may result in dismissal from the program. 

Clinical Probation and Continuation

Students who earn a grade of below "B" in CMDS 620 or CMDS 621 will be placed on Clinical Probation and will have to repeat CMDS 620 or CMDS 621 the following semester. Continuation in the program is contingent upon obtaining a grade of "B" or above in CMDS 620 and CMDS 621. Furthermore, students who fail CMDS 620 or CMDS 621 in the fall or spring semester will only be allowed to register for two prescribed courses on the part-time student schedule and to repeat either CMDS 620 or CMDS 621. The student may also opt to just repeat the clinic course. If a student fails CMDS 620 or CMDS 621 in the spring semester, they cannot retake clinic in the summer, because of the abbreviated session. Failure of clinical courses may be subject to dismissal from the program. Progression in clinical coursework is ultimately at the discretion of the Clinic and Program Directors.

Program Dismissal Review Policy

This Mercy University School of Health and Natural Sciences Program Dismissal Review Policy applies to programs that are professionally accredited or seeking accreditation: Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Exercise Science, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Speech-Language Pathology, and Veterinary Technology. The purpose of the SHNS Dismissal Review Policy is to provide a process for the equitable resolution of formal complaints made by a student over academic dismissal at the Program level. Separate appeals policies exist for violations of academic integrity and academic grade appeals. Each of these individual programs have a student manual/handbook made available to its students that includes, at a minimum, the program’s (1) academic requirements; (2) professionalism and/or ethical requirements and standards; (3) a description of the program’s process for dismissing a student or otherwise sanctioning a student for failing to meet program requirements; and (4) a copy of this Dismissal Review Policy.

Academic Dismissal from a SHNS Program

An academic dismissal from a program may occur if a student does not meet the criteria outlined by the specific program to remain in good standing. (Refer to Program Requirements for guidance on each program’s criteria). If a student fails to meet these criteria, the program’s Academic Unit Head or Program Director may dismiss the student after a faculty review. The student may appeal the program dismissal through the following steps. Before proceeding to a higher-level step, all lower-level steps must first be completed and documented in writing. To the extent that an Academic Unit Head/Program Director or Associate/Assistant Dean is unavailable, a designee may be appointed for purposes of resolving such issues in a timely manner.

Step One: Academic Unit Head / Program Director – Within two weeks after the end of the semester, term, or trimester (the “academic period”) in which the dismissal occurred, the Academic Unit Head or Program Director will notify the student inwriting of the program dismissal. The student may appeal the program dismissal by submitting a request in writing to meet with the Academic Unit Head or Program Director within two weeks. This meeting must take place by phone or in person within two weeks of receipt of the student’s written request. Each party may bring relevant information and supporting documentation to the meeting to discuss.

The written appeal submitted by the student to the Program Director must include the following information:

1. The name, telephone number, address, and e-mail address of the student appealing the decision of dismissal; and

2. The stated reason(s) the student was dismissed from the SHNS program; and

3. Identification of the (a) extraordinary and non-recurring circumstances that caused the student’s unsatisfactory academic performance and subsequent dismissal from a SHNS program; and (b) evidence that the unsatisfactory academic performance is not representative of the student’s academic ability; and

4. An explanation of why the information provided in Paragraph 3 above should result in the reversal of the decision to dismiss the student from the SHNS program.

After the meeting, the Academic Unit Head or Program Director will make a decision on the student’s appeal within one week and communicate it in writing to the student. A copy of this decision will be sent to the SHNS School Associate/Assistant Dean along with supporting documentation. If the student is dissatisfied with the outcome of this decision, a formal written appeal may be submitted by the student to the SHNS Associate/Assistant Dean within one week after receipt of the Academic Unit Head or Program Director’s decision.

Step Two: SHNS Dismissal Review Committee – In the event that the issue has not been satisfactorily resolved in Step One, the SHNS Associate/Assistant Dean will refer the appeal to the SHNS Dismissal Review Committee for review and recommendations. All parties to the appeal will be permitted to submit any documentation they believe is necessary, including written statements and documentary evidence in the meeting with the SHNS Dismissal Review Committee. The SHNS Dismissal Review Committee will hold a meeting within two weeks after receipt of the appeal documentation. All parties to the appeal will be permitted to participate in the Dismissal Review Committee meeting. The student may be accompanied by one person who is not professional legal counsel who may observe but not actively participate in the Committee meeting. The Committee will hear from both parties and may call on any witnesses to the matter and review any supplementary documentation. The Committee may ask questions throughout the meeting and may, if necessary, adjourn the meeting to obtain additional information. After all the interviews have been completed, and documents reviewed, the Dismissal Review Committee will deliberate in closed session. The Committee will make their recommendations to the SHNS Dean which may include upholding or overturning the program dismissal.

In arriving at its recommendation, the SHNS Dismissal Review Committee shall not overrule the academic judgment of a faculty member in the program on the assignment of grades to the student. The SHNS Dismissal Review Committee will consider: (1) whether the program followed its own policies governing student performance, advancement and program completion; (2) whether the evidence supports the program’s decision; and (3) whether the student has new significant information that bears on the program’s decision that was not available to the student when that decision was made. If the SHNS Dismissal Review Committee finds that the student has significant new information, the appeal shall be referred to the student’s program for reconsideration of the dismissal in light of that information.

Step Three: SHNS Dean – Within two weeks after receipt of the recommendations from the Dismissal Review Committee, the SHNS Dean will review all the relevant documentation. A written decision shall be sent to both the student and Academic Unit Head or Program Director. The decision rendered by the SHNS Dean is final; no additional appeals will be permitted.

Any student reinstated in a SHNS Program following an initial dismissal will be subject to immediate academic dismissal effective upon the occurrence of any additional probationary event. The student’s past academic history will be considered when determining if a probationary event is warranted. Students dismissed for a second time will not be allowed to appeal to the program director or Dean for reinstatement, nor are they permitted to reapply to the program. Failure to comply with any part of this process on the part of the student will result in forfeiture of all rights of appeal as outlined.

Mercy University School of Health and Natural Sciences reserves the right to make changes to this Dismissal Review Policy as it deems necessary, with the changes applicable to all students then in attendance in an accredited health professions program.

Graduate Student Expectations

The program has outlined necessary expectations to succeed in the academic and clinical requirements. Students are expected to review these guidelines.

Program Accreditation

The Master of Science (MS) education program (residential) in Speech-Language Pathology at Mercy University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, 2200 Research Blvd. #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. 

Course Load

The Master of Science Degree Program in Speech-Language Pathology is offered as both a full-time and a part-time program that takes approximately five semesters to complete for full-time students and eight semesters for part-time students (five years is the maximum length of time for program completion). Full-time students register for 13-15 credits in the fall and spring semesters and 9-10 credits in the summer. Part-time students register for 6-10 credits in the fall and spring semesters and 5-7 credits in the summer semesters. Courses are offered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.

Maintenance of Matriculation

It is expected that students will fulfill the requirements for their graduate degree by registering over successive sessions. For cohort programs, registration is required during summer session(s). Registration is accomplished by either enrolling in classes or maintaining matriculation. The Maintenance of Matriculation fee is processed as a registration.

Students who have not maintained matriculation and wish to return to their program within one year after their last course will be charged the Maintenance of Matriculation fee for each missed session. Maintenance of matriculation without attending classes is limited to one year. Activated U.S. Military Reservists are not required to pay the Maintenance of Matriculation fee.

Transfer Credits

Graduate courses taken at other institutions prior to admission at Mercy University may, if pertinent to the plan of study, be credited to the graduate degree. Transfer credit is limited to six credits taken within the last five years in which the student has received a grade of "B" or above. Transfer courses taken prior to admission will not be computed in the quality point average GPA.

Time Limit

Requirements for the degree must be completed within five years from the candidate’s date of matriculation (exclusive of time spent in the Armed Forces). An exception may be made by the director of the program if the student’s request demonstrates circumstances beyond their control that temporarily interfere with the ability to complete the program on time.

Complaints That Fall Outside the Realm of Due Process

The Speech-Language Pathology Program is committed to meeting its mission as it relates to serving our students, potential students, staff, faculty, adjunct faculty, clinical faculty, and the public consumer of communication disorders services. To that end, we are committed to ensuring that exceptional complaints for which there is no established University, School, or program policy or procedure are considered and resolved in a timely, fair, consistent, and equitable manner.

Procedure: Complaint to the Program: Complaints should be addressed to the Program Director through the online form located here. If the program director is the subject of the complaint, the complaint should be addressed to the Dean, School of Health and Natural Science