Online Master of Arts Degree Program in Speech-Language Pathology, MA

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The Online Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology program meets the following requirements for the entry-level professional degree as stipulated in the Regulations Governing Graduate Study at the University of Pittsburgh through:

• the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 credits of graduate study approved by the department or school
• acquisition of professional skills through course work, projects, internships, practica, and/or research papers.

• satisfactory completion of all course requirements and other performances which indicate comprehensive mastery such as examinations, internships, research projects, theses, practica, and so forth
• Minimum admission requirements that will align with all graduate programs at the University of Pittsburgh,
• Maintenance of a 3.00 GPA to remain in good standing and be graduated from the program.

The Online Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology program is anticipated to also meet the requirements of the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA):

• An effective entry-level professional speech-language pathology program allows each student to acquire knowledge and skills in sufficient breadth and depth to function as an effective, well-educated, and competent clinical speech-language pathologist (i.e., one who can practice within the full scope of practice of speech-language pathology). The education program is designed to afford each student with opportunities to meet the expectations of the program that are consistent with the program’s mission and goals and that prepare each student for professional practice in speech-language pathology (CAA, 2023).

Note that there are six broad standards related to CAA accreditation (CAA, 2023):

• Standard 1.0: Administrative Structure and Governance
• Standard 2.0: Faculty
• Standard 3.0B: Curriculum (Academic and Clinical Education) in Speech-Language Pathology [Note: Standard 3.0A is deleted here as it relates to the profession of audiology, which is not a consideration of this proposal].
• Standard 4.0: Students
• Standard 5.0: Assessment
• Standard 6.0: Program Resources

The current face-to-face Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology degree is compliant with these standards. The program director will be tasked with completing the final application for candidacy accreditation of the online Master of Arts program in Speech-Language Pathology after University of Pittsburgh approvals have been obtained.

Program Duration

            The Online Master of Arts program in Speech-Language Pathology curriculum can be completed in as little as six semesters of continuous study. Additional semesters may be added for learners who require more time to complete their clinical placements. However, we do understand that learners may come to the program with a variety of needs and other responsibilities related to their day-to-day lives (e.g., childcare, work responsibilities, other family responsibilities). Therefore, an additional two semesters can be added to the program, if needed, for timely completion.

Program Characteristics, Type of Instruction and Level of Instruction

The graduate-level coursework of the online MA-Speech-Language Pathology program will consist of online courses and will culminate in a Summative Assessment Project. In this project, students will generate a clinical question relative to a population of interest and examine the literature for evidence-based assessment and treatment solutions.

The core curricular concepts will be presented mainly asynchronously, like an in-class lecture. Interactive instructor-led online educational activities to promote knowledge acquisition and interaction will be provided within the context skills labs that are outlined in the plan of study. These activities will facilitate application and synthesis of the knowledge acquired through asynchronous online activities. Additionally, each matriculant will work closely with an assigned faculty advisor who will help guide their studies and mentor them in their Summative Assessment Project. This individualized and learner-centered approach will allow matriculants to engage in scholarly activity that will have a direct and positive impact in their daily work.

Assessments

Assessments will be competency-based and scaffolded to support completion of the Summative Assessment Project. Such assessments will include:

• Reflective writing assignments,
• Scholarly writing assignments,
• Written evidence of literature review,
• Fact-based examination questions,
• Oral presentations (via video submission and during skills lab activities), and
• Written defense of the Summative Assessment Project.

Plan of Studies and Sequence of Courses

Courses will be offered in consecutive semesters in the Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms. The anticipated plan of study will require students to complete coursework, with the option to delay clinical placements, if necessary. This program is intended to be an entry-level professional degree program, with admission in the Fall semester of each academic cycle. The advantage of this design is to allow learners to remain in their communities while earning their degree so they can apply their classroom learning to their clinical practica in a meaningful and impactful way. The curriculum is designed to help students be informed by, and to inform, their current practice as they learn, in a flexible learning environment. This design allows for a balanced curriculum that helps learners stay on track. Individualized plans of study will be considered for students who experience extenuating circumstances that require individualized or personalized plans to meet their academic goals. Remediation plans will be designed in accordance with Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Standards. Per the Regulations Governing Graduate Study at the University of Pittsburgh, this professional degree program, the statute of limitations for students for completion of all Online MA-SLP degree requirements will be set at 5 years. Courses and their sequencing are presented in Table 1.