Admission Requirements

Program requirements

Non-Thesis Option: A minimum of 58 semester hours in Speech-Language Pathology shall be completed, including the following:

1. Graduate course work to meet academic requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CCC).
2. Clinical practicum requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CCC).
3. Completion of a master’s project.
4. Comprehensive Examinations.

Thesis Option: Requirements included in items 1 and 2 above shall pertain. Completion of the Master's Thesis and oral defense shall replace items 3 and 4 listed above.

Additional program requirements

1. Students must pay for and pass both a background/crime records check and drug test prior to their first clinical placement. The CSD Background Check and Drug Testing Policy and Procedure document is available in the CSD Department Office (Professional Building, room 237).
2. Students will also be required to provide their Praxis examination scores to the department prior to graduation.

Accumulation of "C" grades

The accumulation of more than 9 hours of "C" or below in academic and/or practicum courses will result in dismissal from the program.

Retention requirements

1. To remain in the program, a student must maintain a GPA of 3.00.
2. No course with a grade below a “C” or below may be applied to a graduate degree.
3. Any grade “C” or below in any given course, didactic or clinical, is not acceptable and may be grounds for dismissal from the CSD program.
4. The accumulation of more than 9 hours of “C+” or below in academic and/or practicum courses will result in dismissal from the program.
5. Students must progress satisfactorily through the levels of clinical practicum as defined in the Clinic Handbook.
6. Clinical hours from clinical classes where a grade of “C” or less was earned will not be counted toward required clinical experiences.
7. While grades are important, the student’s continuation in the CSD Program is based on the composite picture of the ability of the student to perform satisfactorily in the clinical phase of training as well as the academic components.

The CSD Department reserves the right to refuse enrollment or program continuation to any student. This refusal will be determined by the judgment of the CSD Graduate Faculty and CSD Department Head based upon the student’s ability to successfully complete clinical practicum assignments or to assume patient care responsibilities and/or function as a clinician/teacher. Additionally, if a student has failed to demonstrate an attitude of professionalism as judged by the CSD Graduate Faculty and CSD Department Head, a student may be dismissed from the program.

According to the Missouri State University Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, the Codes of Ethics of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and requirements of the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department, academic integrity and honesty are the foundation of the University community. Students are expected to practice academic and clinical integrity in all assigned work. Students are also expected to be honest in all interactions with other students, faculty, and staff, and be professional in attitude, actions and attire.

The University, and the CSD department, has the inherent right to promulgate appropriate rules and regulations for the orderly conduct of University business and the protection of the health and safety of the University community. Students are expected to comply with all published and stated rules and regulations. If a student is accused of violating any code (theft, academic dishonestly, possession of drugs, etc.) they will be subject to warnings, loss of privileges, probation, suspension, and/or dismissal.