Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Clinical labs and externships are practical applications included in the speech-language pathology program. These applied experiences are the final steps to complete the program and include placements in three clinical settings, allowing students to work with clients across the human lifespan. Candidates must complete a minimum of 400 supervised clinical contact hours before graduation. The MS-SLP works with each student to secure clinical sites located as near to the student's home as possible. Regardless of how a student takes their didactic classes (online or in person at the Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus), students who live within 50 miles of the Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus will complete the three, part-time clinical practicums (SLP 6101, SLP 6102, and SLP 6005) at the MS-SLP on-campus clinic in Davie, Florida.

Communication Science and Disorders (CSD): Equivalent courses will be accepted as part of the bachelor’s degree coursework if the applicant earned grades of B- or higher in each course. Courses will only be accepted if completed within the past 10 years of the date of enrollment in the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) program. CSD courses MUST be completed before matriculating to the graduate program.

The following 18 semester hours of prerequisites are required:

• Introduction to Communication Science and Disorders (CSD) (3 semester hours)
  [Note: If the applicant has earned a bachelor’s degree in CSD or an SLPA curriculum, this course requirement is waived.]
• Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanisms (3 semester hours)
• Phonetics (3 semester hours)
• Neuroanatomy (3 semester hours) [typical neuroanatomy and physiology]
• (Normal) Speech and Language Development (3 semester hours)
• Audiology and Aural Rehabilitation (3 semester hours) or Audiology (3 semester hours) AND Aural Rehabilitation (3 semester hours)

ASHA Knowledge Outcomes: Equivalent will be accepted as part of the bachelor's degree coursework if the applicant earned grades of C- or higher in each course. There is no expiration date on the ASHA Knowledge Outcome courses. Courses cannot be part of a CSD curriculum course. Courses must be completed at the college level and earned from accredited colleges or universities. Courses MUST be completed before matriculating to the graduate program. 

• Statistics (3 semester hours): Must be a stand-alone course; not part of a research methods course
• Biological Sciences (3 semester hours)
• Physics or Chemistry (3 semester hours)
• Social/Behavioral Sciences (3 semester hours)

More specific information on these courses can be found on the ASHA program website under 2020 Standards and Implementation Procedures for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology.

(02.04.2025)

Are You a Non-Native English Speaker?

If your native language is not English, you may be required to demonstrate English proficiency. The standardized tests listed below satisfy the university's English requirement for non-native English speakers. Test results must be sent directly from the testing agency to NSU's Enrollment Processing Services (EPS):

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Score of 213 on the computer-based test or 79-80 on the Internet-based test
• International English Testing System (IELTS): Score of 6.0 on the test module
• Pearson Test of English – Academic: Score of 54
• American College Test (ACT): Minimum score of 20 on the verbal section

Proof of English language competency can also be in the form of a degree at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.

• Complete your CSDCAS Online application (Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Services) which includes:
  • Official transcript indicating conferral of a bachelor's degree or a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Official transcripts from all previously attended postsecondary institutions
  • A minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (cGPA) of all college-level courses
  • Completion of six (6) Communication Science and Disorders (CSD) prerequisite courses with grades of B- or better (eighteen semester hours). (See PREREQUISITE COURSES further down for more information). Courses must be completed before the first day of the term of enrollment.
  • Completion of the four (4) ASHA Knowledge Outcome coursework with grades of C- or better. (See the PREREQUISITE COURSES tab further down for more information).
  • Completion of 25 hours of guided clinical observation of (an) ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist(s) with appropriate documentation. Appropriate documentation is either a letter verifying completion, including name, signature, date of signature, statement re: time of completion, and ASHA certification number of the person verifying completion OR a log of all completed observations, signed by each ASHA-certified SLP observed, with the ASHA certification number of each SLP observed. If not completed as part of a course, the student must include a written statement confirming a discussion between the student and the observed SLP regarding what was observed, etc. Letters are to be on letterhead. There is NOT a standard form for logging hours. You can create your own, following the guidelines above.
• Core Functions for Students (PDF)
• The application video interview is through Kira Talent (included in CSDCAS).
• Once admitted, all students must attend the mandatory orientation weekend

NOTE: The GRE is not required for the MS-SLP application.

Do you qualify for waived CSDCAS Fee Assistance?

You may be eligible for waived CSDCAS fees through the Fee Assistance Program for your first submitted application. See more about eligibility for the CSDCAS Fee Assistance program.

At this time, we have determined that the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) program meets the educational degree completion requirements for licensure in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the US protectorates, as defined in 34 CFR §600.2.

The MS-SLP program is designed for self-pace and flexibility to accommodate working adults and expects students to complete their coursework between 8 and 12 terms. Full-time students will follow an 8 or 9-term plan of study and part-time students will follow a 10, 11, or 12-term plan of study. Students work with an academic advisor to explore the full or part-time plan that works best for them within the expected 8 to 12-term time frame.  

The program's distance and residential modalities differ only in course delivery. Distance students attend didactic courses online, in a synchronous format for one hour per week, and residential students attend for 2 hours and 50 minutes per week.

Successful completion of all required courses

• Successful completion of the required clinical experiences totaling a minimum of 400 supervised clinical contact hours (including 25 hours of guided clinical observation) as required for ASHA certification with experience across a diverse client base
• Successful completion (with grades of B- or better) of all required courses
• Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher
• Successful completion of the required Capstone course
• Successful completion of the required portfolio
• Successful demonstration of 2020 Standards and Implementation Procedures for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology of the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• Completion of the Praxis II Exam adopted by ASHA for the purposes of certification in speech-language pathology
• Completed application for degree and satisfaction of all Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences and Nova Southeastern University financial obligations.

In order for a student to receive transfer credit of graduate courses, courses taken previously must be equivalent to those described in the HPD Catalog, must have been completed within five years prior to admission, and cannot have been used toward a prior degree.  Approval of transfer credit will be granted only after the student has submitted a written request for consideration with the program director or his or her designee. The student must provide a catalog course description and a course syllabus for each course. Only courses completed at the graduate level and from regionally accredited universities or colleges, or their foreign equivalents, will be considered for transfer credit into the master’s degree program. No more than nine semester hours of credit may be transferred into the MS-SLP. In order to be considered for transfer credit, a grade of 3.0 or better must have been recorded on the student's transcript for each course. No clinical course credits will be transferred.

Credits earned at Nova Southeastern University are transferable only at the discretion of the receiving school. Students who wish to transfer credit are advised to contact the admissions office of the receiving school for information.

Students holding a terminal degree in audiology who are seeking a master’s degree in speech-language pathology for dual licensure or certification may exceed the maximum number of transfer credits upon approval by the program.

Please send transcripts and all other enrollment-related documents to the following address:

Enrollment Processing Services
Attention: Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences
Nova Southeastern University
P.O. Box 299000
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33329-9905

Transcripts can be sent electronically from the originating college/university to the following address: electronictranscripts@nova.edu.

If you are an international student living in the United States, you must present verification of your student visa or residency status. Due to the limited availability of ASHA-certified supervisors, students who live outside of the United States are not eligible for admission to the MS-SLP. Furthermore, students accepted to the MS-SLP program cannot relocate outside of the United States before the completion of the degree.

Foreign Transcripts

Any undergraduate coursework you may have taken at a foreign institution must be evaluated for U.S. institution equivalence by one of the NACES evaluation services listed below:

• World Education Services, Inc.
  Old Chelsea Station
  New York, NY 10113-0745
  (212) 966-6311
  www.wes.org
• Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
  P.O. Box 415070
  Milwaukee, WI 53203
  (414) 289-3400
  www.ece.org
• International Consultant of Delaware, Inc.
  3600 Market St., Ste 450
  Philadelphia, PA 19104
  (215) 222-8454, ext. 603
  www.icdeval.com
• Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
  International Education Consultants
  7101 SW 102nd Ave
  Miami, FL 33173
  (305) 273-1616
  www.jsilny.com

On-Time Program Completion Rates (8 - 12 terms)

PRAXIS Pass Rates

Professional Licensure Disclosure Statement

The Benefits Of Belonging

The Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences is excited to offer a 20% tuition discount to newly admitted Nova Southeastern University alumni who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech-Language and Communication. This discount applies to students enrolling in the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program starting in Fall 2024 or later. Please note that this discount cannot be combined with other NSU scholarships, discounts, or promotional offers.

Joseph Gonzalez Scholarship Winner

Stephanie Vianelli-Nixon

Dr. Joseph Gonzalez, "Dr. G.," was a professor in the MS-SLP program at NSU for many years. He was both respected and admired by his peers and was a strong proponent of online education when it was still considered "new!: He passed away suddenly in early January 2002. In his memory, NSU's National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSU-NSSHLA) chapter established this scholarship to be awarded annually to an online student in the MS-SLP program.

Stephanie Vianelli-Nixon currently lives in Boulder, CO, and she is in her final year of the MS-SLP program at Nova Southeastern University. Prior to beginning the program, Stephanie worked as a special education teacher for 5 years, teaching mathematics and working with autistic students. Stephanie continues to embrace her love of education by working in special education with students in high school while she is a full-time student. She also serves as the online student representative for NSU’s chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSHLA).

Stephanie discovered her love for the field of speech-language pathology when she observed the gains her nonverbal daughter made with her early intervention speech-language pathologist. Learning about augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) at home, in the clinic, and with her coworkers, has helped Stephanie support students using devices in the classroom. She is truly touched to receive the Joseph Gonzalez Memorial scholarship and is humbled to be given the opportunity to represent the MS-SLP online program in this way. Stephanie looks forward to embarking on her journey as a future speech-language pathologist. 

Contributed by Lea Kaploun, CCC-SLP, an associate professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology.

Make the Most of the Dash and Ashley Kaye Hess Changing Lives Scholarship

Jaclyn Keats and Cassidy Howell

Many people knew and loved Ashley Kaye Hess, a cheerleader, dancer, teacher, and NSU speech-language pathology master’s candidate, before she was killed in a tragic car accident on May 14, 2016, at the age of 28.

On May 14, 2022, Jaclyn Keats, B.S., and Cassidy Howell, B.S., were awarded the 2022 “Make the Most of the Dash and Ashley Kaye Hess Changing Lives Scholarship.”

Jaclyn and Cassidy are both current graduate students at Nova Southeastern University pursuing their master’s degrees in speech-language pathology. Both are strong advocates for individuals with communication disorders. Like Ashley, both have always had a passion for dancing/performing and wanting to make a difference in the lives of others. They were honored and excited to win the award and plan to remember and reflect on Ashley’s life through their future clinical work.

Contributed by Tambi Braun, SLP.D., CCC-SLP, an associate professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology.

Jaclyn Keats

Cassidy Howell