COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Arts (MA) in Communication Sciences and Disorders with an emphasis in Speech-Language Pathology at Wichita State University is a comprehensive 57-credit-hour professional graduate program completed over five to six semesters that prepares students for certification and licensure as speech-language pathologists. The curriculum combines advanced academic coursework, evidence-based practice, and extensive supervised clinical experiences to develop expertise in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan. Students study a broad range of specialized topics including autism spectrum disorder, language and literacy development, motor speech disorders, aphasia, speech-sound disorders, augmentative and alternative communication, voice disorders, fluency disorders, cognitive communication disorders, pediatric and adult dysphagia, cultural and linguistic diversity, counseling, clinical assessment, professional writing, and interprofessional healthcare practice. The program emphasizes critical thinking and clinical decision-making through a sequence of courses designed to strengthen diagnostic reasoning and treatment planning skills. Students may choose either a thesis or nonthesis option, allowing them to pursue scholarly research or a practice-focused pathway according to their professional goals. A significant component of the degree is hands-on clinical training, which includes educational settings practicum, general clinic practicum, medical settings practicum, and auditory assessment practicum. These experiences provide direct supervised interaction with clients in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, clinics, and other healthcare and educational environments, helping students build professional competencies required by the field. Students entering the program from non-communication sciences backgrounds must complete prerequisite communication sciences and disorders coursework and foundational courses required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, including social and behavioral sciences, biological sciences, statistics, and a physical science course in physics or chemistry. A formal plan of study must be established within the first year of enrollment in consultation with a faculty advisor. Graduates are prepared for careers in public and private schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, private practices, community clinics, and healthcare organizations. The program develops advanced clinical, research, communication, and professional skills necessary to provide high-quality services to individuals with speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, fluency, and swallowing disorders while meeting national standards for professional certification and state licensure.