Speech/Language/Hearing Sciences Department
Murray Hall (218) 477-2417
Chair: Elaine Pyle
Faculty and Clinical Staff: Jill Bueckens, Lowell Buysse, Mary Drake, Joni Mehrhoff, Nancy Paul, Elizabeth Plankers, Elaine Pyle, Sarah Ring, Rachel Stotts, Kris Vossler
The academic programs offered in Speech/Language/Hearing Sciences at Minnesota State University Moorhead are designed for students who are interested in the normal and disordered processes of human communication. A major in this area is part of the preparation for clinical, teaching, research or service careers in speech-language pathology, audiology, and communication science.
To practice as a speech-language pathologist the master’s degree is the requirement for state licensure and national certification. A professional doctorate is required to practice as an audiologist. The title of the undergraduate major, Speech/Language/Hearing Sciences, suggests that it is a pre-professional degree designed to qualify students for admission to professional study at the graduate level at this or other universities.
The department has established clinical experience eligibility requirements. All students must meet these requirements before they provide assessment or treatment to individuals with communication disorders. The requirements are as follow:
- C- grade or better in all completed SLHS courses
- a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or above
- no outstanding grades of incomplete
- supervised clinical observations
If a student does not meet the stated requirements they may initiate an appeal through the department’s committee.
Although the undergraduate program at other universities is usually the same for future speech-language pathologists and audiologists, the Speech/Language/Hearing Sciences Department at Minnesota State University Moorhead offers a pre-audiology emphasis. The purpose of the pre-audiology concentration is to allow students interested in a career in audiology to follow a program of studies better tailored to their interest.
The graduate (M.S.) major is the professional degree. Its title, Speech-Language Pathology, suggests that it is the clinical degree in this field. Students completing the graduate program are qualified for clinical positions in communication disorders throughout the nation. Minnesota State University Moorhead’s program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA).
Admission to any graduate program at Minnesota State University Moorhead is limited to those who qualify by virtue of their undergraduate grade point average, Graduate Records Examination score, and recommendations. Additional details about graduate study may be found in the Graduate Bulletin.