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Mount Vernon Nazarene University has launched a new Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, giving students the opportunity to pursue the graduate degree required to practice as a speech-language pathologist while completing their academic coursework entirely online.
The new program, offered through MVNU’s College of Adult and Professional Studies, is designed to prepare students to diagnose and treat a broad range of communication and swallowing disorders. MVNU announced the program’s launch August 14.
The university says the program was created in response to a continuing need for speech-language pathologists, particularly in rural communities.
Dr. Dawn McKee, CCC-SLP, an assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders at MVNU, said the university already had a strong undergraduate program in the field, but students previously had to leave MVNU to obtain the master’s degree necessary to enter professional practice.
“Previously, our students graduated and had to go elsewhere to earn their master’s degree. Now, they can continue their education at MVNU, complete their graduate training and be prepared to enter the profession.”
The new program is designed to be completed in five semesters and consists of 54 academic credit hours.
While the academic coursework is delivered fully online, students will also complete extensive in-person clinical training.
The program includes 10 practicum courses totaling at least 400 clinical clock hours, with placements available in settings such as schools, pediatric clinics, hospitals and other medical environments.
MVNU says the combination is intended to give students flexibility while still providing the hands-on experience necessary for professional preparation.
Curriculum Covers Communication and Swallowing Disorders
The program’s 18 academic courses cover a wide range of areas within speech-language pathology.
Students will study subjects including diagnostic methods, pediatric language disorders, speech sound disorders, dysphagia, medical speech-language pathology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, augmentative and alternative communication, fluency, voice and resonance.
The curriculum also includes research and evidence-based practice along with professional skills and competencies.
The program is designed around the knowledge and skills acquisition standards established by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, commonly known as ASHA.
Students will also receive preparation for the Speech-Language Pathology Praxis Examination, an important step toward professional certification.
The program is currently a candidate for accreditation through ASHA’s Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
MVNU notes that candidacy is a preaccreditation status awarded to developing programs and can last for a maximum of five years.
Fully Online Program
One of the defining features of the new program is its online format.
MVNU says the 100-percent online coursework is intended to allow students to balance graduate education with professional and personal responsibilities.
Students will progress through the program as part of a cohort-based learning model, while completing their required clinical experiences in person.
McKee said the online format also creates an opportunity for MVNU to reach prospective speech-language pathologists beyond Ohio.
“With our program being fully online, we can foster the love of Jesus to students throughout the country,” McKee said.
As a Christian university, MVNU says faith and professional preparation are intentionally integrated throughout the program.
The university’s goal is to prepare clinicians who combine technical and clinical expertise with what it describes as Christ-like compassion when working with patients and families.
McKee said she felt called to create the program because of that mission, pointing to Ephesians 4:12 as an inspiration for the program’s development.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Students whose undergraduate degrees are not in communication sciences and disorders can also apply, provided they complete the required prerequisite coursework.
Applications are submitted through the Centralized Application Service for Communication Sciences and Disorders, or CSDCAS.
Applicants are required to submit a personal statement and at least three letters of recommendation.
MVNU says the new graduate program provides a pathway for students interested in careers serving children and adults with communication and swallowing disorders — while allowing existing MVNU students to continue their education at the university.
For the university, the program also represents an expansion of its academic offerings in an area McKee says has a particular need for qualified professionals, especially in rural communities.
