Program Description
La Salle University offers a unique five-year Communication Sciences and Disorders major, leading to a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in speech-language pathology. Speech-language pathologists care for people of all ages and cultural backgrounds with communication and swallowing disorders. They assess, treat, and help prevent speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, swallowing, fluency, and related disorders. The education of speech-language pathologists involves undergraduate coursework in communication sciences and disorders and graduate coursework and clinical experiences in speech-language pathology. A master’s degree is the recognized credential in speech-language pathology. It is required for national certification, state licensure, and Pennsylvania teacher requirements for speech-language pathologists.
Accreditation
The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in speech-language pathology (residential) at La Salle University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.
Certification and Licensure
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, credentialing, and scientific organization for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech-language-hearing scientists. To practice in most work settings, speech-language pathologists must hold a master’s degree and become certified by ASHA. This certification is called the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) and requires completing specific program coursework (including practicum), completing a supervised Clinical Fellowship (CF), and passing a national examination.
For more information about ASHA certification, please visit https://www.asha.org/certification/.
All 50 states require speech-language pathologists to be licensed to practice. For state-specific licensure information (including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware), please visit State-by-State (asha.org).
La Salle University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders has received approval for teacher certification for the Educational Specialist I School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12 or the Teacher Instructional Certificate I for Speech and Language Impaired PK-12 from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Earning one of these certificates is required to work in the various school systems in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania State Board regulations require candidates applying for either certificate to pass the appropriate Praxis test administered by the Educational Testing Service. Information about the Praxis Series Tests is available at http://www.ets.org/praxis/pa. Other states may also require prospective teachers to take this or other examinations. In addition to all of the requirements for completing the Master’s degree, the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders faculty must recommend candidates for Instructional I certificates. Recommendations are predicated upon completing all course requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in CSD courses.
Clinical Experiences
The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology offers clinical education at various practicum sites. The CSD Department has established strong ties with more than 250 schools, hospitals, private practices, and rehabilitation facilities for supervised clinical practicum affiliations in the greater Philadelphia area. Currently, these include acute-care hospitals (pediatric and adult); rehabilitation hospitals (pediatric and adult); specialized schools; elementary, middle, and high schools in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware; intermediate units in Pennsylvania and educational services units in New Jersey; and private practices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
The National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association
The National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA) is a pre-professional membership association for students interested in communication sciences and disorders. La Salle University formed an ASHA-recognized NSSLHA chapter in 2002. Membership in the La Salle NSSLHA chapter is available to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in one of the Communication Sciences and Disorders programs.
Student NSSLHA members can increase their involvement in the field by visiting professional work sites, engaging in group outreach programs, attending panel discussions, fundraising, and more. NSSLHA membership allows students to engage in leadership activities locally and nationally by promoting dialogue between students, professionals, and community members.
Visit the NSSLHA Web site: www.nsslha.org.
CSD Student Handbook
The Communication Sciences and Disorders Student Handbook contains program-specific rules, guidelines, and procedures for progression and will be available to all students.
Why Take This Major?
The Five-Year B.S. to M.S. Program in Speech-Language Pathology is an accelerated program in which students can earn a bachelor's and master's degree in five years. A master's degree is the entry-level degree needed to become a speech-language pathologist. This program is reserved for the most competitive students. Students with outstanding academic backgrounds can be admitted directly into the Five-Year Program as freshmen. High-achieving students admitted to the Communication Sciences and Disorders B.S. program as first-year students may be invited to apply to the Five-Year Program during their sophomore year. Please see the Communication Sciences and Disorders Student Handbook for criteria for the 5-Year B.S./M.S. program invitation.
Student Learning Outcomes
The following objectives reflect entry-level competency in all the basic human communication and swallowing areas, including articulation, fluency, voice and resonance, receptive and expressive language, hearing, including the impact on speech and language, swallowing, cognitive and social aspects of communication, and communication modalities.
The codes listed at the end of each objective refer to the current ASHA CFCC Certification Standards in Speech-Language Pathology.
- Demonstrate proficiency in oral and written communication sufficient for entry into professional practice. (V-A)
- Apply basic biological/physical science, statistics, and behavioral/social science to the study of communication and swallowing disorders. (IV-A)
- Analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information in the areas of basic human communication and swallowing processes. (IV-B)
- Contrast basic human communication and swallowing processes with communication and swallowing disorders and differences. (IV-B, IV-C)
- Demonstrate clinical skills in assessment, intervention, and prevention of human communication and swallowing disorders. (IV-C; IV-D; IV-E; V-B)
- Integrate and demonstrate ethical, legal, and professional standards in the provision of speech-language pathology services. (IV-E; IV-G; V-B)
- Integrate research with clinical knowledge to improve the evaluation and treatment of individuals with communication and swallowing disorders. (IV-B; IV-C; IV-D; IV-E; IV-F; IV-G; V-B)
- Critique professional issues in speech-language pathology and advocate for individuals with communication and swallowing disorders. (IV-D; IV-E; IV-F; IV-G)
- Pursue education and credentials necessary for obtaining/maintaining certification and licensure. Pursue ongoing professional development. (IV-G; IV-H; V-C; V-D; V-E; V-F, VI)
- Implement appropriate assessment and intervention for diverse client populations across the lifespan. (IV-B; IV-C; IV-D,V-B; V-F)
- Evaluate individuals with communication and swallowing disorders utilizing appropriate diagnostic tools. (IV-C; IV-D; V-B; V-F)
- Provide intervention for individuals with communication and swallowing disorders utilizing appropriate clinical methods and strategies. (IV-C, IV-D; V-B; V-F)
- Practice independently and collaboratively in various healthcare and educational systems in an appropriate professional manner. (IV-A through IV-H; V-A through V-F)
Progress Chart
Level One - Core Courses
12 courses and 2 modules required.
Major Requirements
Major requirements include 4 Level Two ILO requirements, fulfilled through the major.
Students in this major must complete 40 courses in total in order to graduate. 24 courses will be from this major program.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| |
| |
| ENG 110 | College Writing I: Persuasion | 3 |
| |
| ENG 210 | College Writing II: Research | 3 |
| |
| FYS 130 | First-Year Academic Seminar 1 | 3 |
| |
| REL 100 | Religion Matters | 3 |
| |
| |
| BIO 161 | Anatomy and Physiology (with lab) | 4 |
| or BIO 158 | Life Science: A Human Approach |
| |
| HSC 217 | Statistics for Health Science Profs | 3 |
| |
| CSC 154 | Healthcare Informatics | 3 |
| |
| 3 |
| |
| |
| SOC 150 | Principles of Sociology | 3 |
| or SOC 151 | Social Problems and Social Policy |
| |
| 3 |
| |
| 3 |
| |
| SPN 103 | Spanish For Nursing and Health Sciences I (or any other global language) | 3 |
| 2 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| COSD 501 | Introduction to Clinical Practicum (ILO 2.2) | 3 |
| |
| COSD 314 | Diagnostic Procedures in Speech-Language Pathology (ILO 4.2) | 3 |
| |
| COSD 413 | Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology (ILO 8.2b) | 3 |
| |
| COSD 409 | Multicultural Perspectives on Communication Disorders (ILO 11.2) | 3 |
| COSD 100 | Introduction to Language and Communication | 3 |
| COSD 102 | Introduction to Communication Disorders | 3 |
| COSD 200 | Phonetics | 3 |
| COSD 202 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanisms | 3 |
| COSD 203 | Speech and Language Development | 3 |
| COSD 211 | Acoustic Bases of Speech and Hearing | 3 |
| COSD 304 | Introduction to Audiology | 3 |
| COSD 306 | Neurological Bases of Communication and Behavior | 3 |
| COSD 308 | Clinical Procedures in Speech-Language Pathology | 3 |
| COSD 314 | Diagnostic Procedures in Speech-Language Pathology | 3 |
| COSD 409 | Multicultural Perspectives on Communication Disorders | 3 |
| COSD 413 | Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology | 3 |
| COSD 501 | Introduction to Clinical Practicum | 3 |
| COSD 502 | Introduction to Aural Habilitation/Rehabilitation | 3 |
| COSD 503 | Speech Sound Disorders | 3 |
| COSD 511 | Stuttering and Other Fluency Disorders | 3 |
| COSD 512 | Language Disorders in Young Children | 3 |
| COSD 513 | Acquired Language Disorders | 3 |
| COSD 514 | Language Learning Disabilities in School-Age Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| COSD 515 | Voice Disorders | 3 |
| COSD 516 | Clinical Practicum and Procedures | 3 |
| COSD 518 | Research Design in Communication Disorders | 3 |
| COSD 520 | Dysphagia: Diagnosis and Treatment of Swallowing Disorders | 3 |
| COSD 521 | Advanced School Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology | 3 |
| COSD 527 | Motor Speech Disorders | 3 |
| COSD 528 | Counseling Seminar in Communication Disorders | 3 |
| COSD 614 | Clinical Diagnostics in Speech-Language Pathology | 3 |
| COSD 616 | Advanced Clinical Practicum and Case Study | 3 |
| COSD 619 | Medical Speech-Language Pathology | 3 |
| COSD 635 | Integrative Capstone in Communication Disorders | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| |
| 3 |
| Special Topics | |
| Chemistry of The Life Sciences
and Laboratory | |
| PSY 155 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| |
| Total Credits | 151 |
Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) and Spanish Double Major
The Communication Sciences and Disorders/Spanish double major aims to provide its students with the pre-clinical, linguistic, and cultural foundations, which in addition to a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, are necessary to treat and work with patients that are bilingual English/Spanish, as well as those that are Spanish speakers with limited English proficiency. Those wishing to become CSD/Spanish double majors must have their Spanish assessed by a Language faculty member to begin their studies at the appropriate level. After placement, students will follow the carefully designed course sequence prepared by the CSD and Languages departments.
Requirements
Fulfill the requirements of the CSD major, as outlined by the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and 10 Spanish courses starting at the intermediate level or higher.
Minimum Requirements for Spanish
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
SPN 205
& SPN 206 | Intermediate Spanish For Nursing and Health Sciences I
and Intermediate Spanish For Nursing and Health Sciences II 1 | 6 |
SPN 301
& SPN 302 | Conversation and Composition I
and Conversation and Composition II 2 | 6 |
| SPN 420 | Spanish For Speech-Language Pathologists | 3 |
| SPN 421 | Bilingualism in Spanish-English Speakers: Development and Disorder | 3 |
| SPN 422 | Introduction to Spanish Phonetics and Phonology | 3 |
| SPN 423 | Introduction to Spanish Dialectology | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| |
| Commercial Spanish | |
| Total Credits | 30 |
Program Contact Information
Ryan S. Husak, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor and Chair
husak@lasalle.edu
St. Benilde Tower 2234
(215) 951-1443
Dana Bitetti, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director
2216 St. Benilde Tower
mailto:bitetti@lasalle.edu
(215) 951-1609