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Description
The Department of Communicative Disorders offers two options leading to the Master of Arts degree, both intended for those interested in working with children and adults who have communication disorders.
The first option, the Traditional Program, typically requires six to seven semesters of full-time attendance, including at least two summers, for students with undergraduate degrees in Communicative Disorders or Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. The second option, the Consortium Program, is designed specifically for students with bachelor’s degrees in Communicative Disorders or Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology who work in participating Central Florida public school districts and have been providing speech and language services for at least one year prior to application. Consortium students require at least three years to complete the program, enrolling for six credit hours during Fall and Spring semesters and for 12 credit hours during Summer semesters.
The goal of the programs is to provide the academic and clinical education experiences necessary for certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and licensure by the State of Florida. The Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has accredited the program since 1986.
Degrees OfferedMaster of Arts in Communicative Disorders - Communicative Disorders Consortium Track
Admission
For information on general graduate admission requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions and Registration section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. Please submit all requested materials by the established deadlines.
All applicants must provide:
- Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. For information and instructions about transcript evaluations for international applicants, please see the Transcripts and Evaluations page on the UCF Graduate Studies web site.
- An official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score taken within the last five years.
- Three letters of recommendation, preferably from former professors.
- A letter of intent describing background and experience, interest in the field, professional goals, the semester in which admission is desired, and specifying the Traditional Program or Consortium Program.
- An official score of at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for applicants from countries where English is not the official language, or for an applicant whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution.
Additional Notes on Admissions
Minimum Board of Education requirements for admission at UCF are a baccalaureate degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited university with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the last sixty attempted semester hours, OR, a total score of 1000 or higher on the Graduate Record Exam (quantitative and verbal sections). However, admission to this program is competitive and meeting minimum BOE standards does not guarantee admission to the program. Refer to the Admission and Registration section of the Graduate Catalog for more information about BOE standards.
Currently, the Department admits qualified in-field applicants (those with an undergraduate degree in Communicative Disorders or Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology) and out-of-field applicants (those with undergraduate degrees in other fields). Out-of-field students require approximately three to four semesters of undergraduate prerequisites and are encouraged to apply for the Fall or Spring semesters for availability of undergraduate courses.
Application Due Dates
All students applying for fellowships must apply by the Fall Priority deadline date.
U.S. Applicants
NOTE: Applications submitted after the deadline date may be considered on a space-available basis.
| Master of Arts in Communicative Disorders |
Jan 15 |
Feb 1 |
Oct 1 |
Feb 1 |
| Communicative Disorders Consortium Track |
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Feb 1 |
| Note:Consortium Program applications are considered for Summer semesters only. |
International Applicants
| Master of Arts in Communicative Disorders |
Jan 15 |
Jan 15 |
Jul 1 |
Nov 1 |
| Communicative Disorders Consortium Track |
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|
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Nov 1 |
| Note:Consortium Program applications are considered for Summer semesters only. |
International Transfer Applicants
| Master of Arts in Communicative Disorders |
Jan 15 |
Feb 1 |
Sep 1 |
Dec 15 |
| Communicative Disorders Consortium Track |
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|
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Dec 15 |
| Note:Consortium Program applications are considered for Summer semesters only. |
Master of Arts in Communicative Disorders
Both the Traditional and the Consortium programs consist of a minimum of 72 semester hours, including 35 hours of required courses, 28 hours of clinical practice, and 9 hours of electives.
Prerequisites
- All students must complete Statistical Methods II, or equivalent, with a grade of “C” or better. HSA 4701 (Research in the Health Professions) at UCF is an acceptable substitute. These courses are prerequisites to SPA 6805 (Research in Communicative Disorders).
- All students must complete SPA 4478 or SPA 5473 (Multicultural Aspects of Communication Disorders and Differences) before taking SPA 6474 (Assessment and Management of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations). SPA 4478 may be taken by UCF undergraduate students before they begin the Master’s program, while graduate students who did not take SPA 4478 must select SPA 5473 as one of their electives.
- Out-of-field students must complete specific undergraduate prerequisite courses in consultation with the program’s Graduate Coordinator and the Coordinator of Academic Support. Contact the Department for a list of prerequisites.
Required Courses—35 Credit Hours
- SPA 5559 Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6204 Advanced Articulation/Phonological Disorders (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6211 Voice Disorders (4 credit hours)
- SPA 6225 Fluency Disorders (4 credit hours)
- SPA 6236 Motor Speech Disorders in Adults and Children (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6404 Preschool Language Disorders (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6410 Aphasia and Related Disorders (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6413 School-Aged Language Disorders (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6474 Assessment and Management of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6567 Feeding and Swallowing Disorders (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6805 Research in Communicative Disorders (3 credit hours)
Clinical Practice—28 Credit Hours
Supervised clinical practice is an integral part of the graduate program in Communicative Disorders. It provides students with an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to the evaluation and management of individuals with a wide variety of communication disorders. Students must complete three clinical practica and a diagnostic practicum in the Communication Disorders Clinic adjacent to campus, as well as externships in external facilities such as schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, long-term care facilities, community clinics, and private practices. Through these practica and externships, students complete a minimum of 400 clock hours of clinical experience in accordance with the guidelines outlined by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
- SPA 6505 Entry-Level Clinical Practicum (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6942C Intermediate Clinical Practicum (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6943C Advanced Clinical Practicum (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6553L Differential Diagnosis in Speech and Language Laboratory (1 credit hour)
- SPA 6946 Externship (6 credit hours)
- SPA 6946 Externship (12 credit hours)
Thesis Option—9 Credit Hours
Students who select this option will complete a thesis in an area of speech-language pathology for six credit hours that may be used to substitute for six credit hours of electives. Thesis students will select an advisory committee of three faculty members, chaired by a departmental faculty member, to guide them through the process. Oral defenses of the thesis prospectus and completed thesis are required. An additional three-hour elective must be selected with the consultation of an academic adviser.
Non-Thesis Option—9 Semester Hours
Students who select this option will complete three electives with the consultation of an academic advisor.
Minimum Hours Required for M.A.—72 Credit Hours
Sample Schedule for Fall Entry (Traditional Program, Non-Thesis)
Note: Not all students will take the courses in the exact order below and will be advised about course selection at a mandatory orientation session before they register.
Semester 1
- SPA 6404 Preschool Language Disorders (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6410 Aphasia and Related Disorders (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6225 Fluency Disorders (4 credit hours)
- SPA 6505 Entry-Level Clinical Practicum (3 credit hours)
Semester 2
- SPA 6211 Voice Disorders (4 credit hours)
- SPA 6236 Motor Speech Disorders in Adults and Children (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6413 School-Aged Language Disorders (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6942C Intermediate Clinical Practicum (3 credit hours)
Semester 3
- SPA 6805 Research in Communicative Disorders (3 credit hours)
- SPA 5559 Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6943C Advanced Clinical Practicum (3 credit hours)
- Elective (3 credit hours)
Semester 4
- SPA 6204 Advanced Articulation/Phonological Disorders (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6474 Assessment and Management of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6567 Feeding and Swallowing Disorders (3 credit hours)
- Elective (3 credit hours)
- SPA 6553L Differential Diagnosis in Speech and Language Laboratory (1 credit hour)
Semester 5
- SPA 6946 Externship (6 credit hours)
- Elective (3 credit hours)
Semester 6
- SPA 6946 Externship (12 credit hours)
PRAXIS Examination
To be considered degree candidates, students must earn a passing score of 600 or higher on the PRAXIS Examination in Speech-Language Pathology. This comprehensive examination must be taken during the penultimate semester in the program. Students must submit an official copy of their PRAXIS score to the Coordinator of Academic Support in the Department at least two weeks prior to graduation.
Communicative Disorders Consortium Track
The Consortium Track is designed specifically for students with bachelor’s degrees in Communicative Disorders or Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology who work in participating central Florida public school districts and have been providing speech and language services for at least one year prior to application. Admission standards, prerequisites and degree requirements are the same for all students in both the traditional and consortium program. Consortium students require at least three years to complete the program, enrolling for six credit hours during Fall and Spring semesters and for 12 credit hours during Summer semesters.
Financial Support
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Key points about financial support:
- If you’re interested in financial assistance, you’re strongly encouraged to apply for admission early. A complete application for admission, including all supporting documents, must be received by the priority date listed for your program under "Admissions."
- You must be admitted to a graduate program before the university can consider awarding financial assistance to you.
- If you want to be considered for loans and other need-based financial assistance, review the UCF Student Financial Assistance website at http://finaid.ucf.edu and complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Apply early and allow up to six weeks for the FAFSA form to be processed.
- UCF Graduate Studies awards university graduate fellowships, with most decisions based on nominations from the colleges and programs. All admitted graduate students are automatically considered in this nomination process. To be eligible for a fellowship, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and be enrolled full-time. University graduate fellowships are not affected by FAFSA determination of need.
- Please note that select fellowships do require students to fill out a fellowship application (either a university fellowship application, an external fellowship application, or a college or school fellowship application). For university fellowship applications, see Financing Grad School.
- For information on assistantships (including teaching, research, and general graduate assistantships) or tuition support, contact the graduate program director of your major.
Contact Info
Master of Arts in Communicative Disorders
Linda Rosa-Lugo, Ed.D. , Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-4798
lrosa@mail.ucf.edu Communicative Disorders Consortium Track
Linda Rosa-Lugo, Ed.D. , Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-4798
lrosa@mail.ucf.edu
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Graduate Catalog
