A student and her professor observe a speech therapy session.
Few professions are as rewarding as working with young people, especially those who might need specialized attention. Graduates of our master of science program in teaching students with speech and language disabilities (TSSLD) are prepared to meet academic and clinical requirements for the New York State initial teaching certificate (for speech-language pathologists); academic and clinical requirements for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association certificate of clinical competence in speech-language pathology (CCC-SLP); and New York State licensure requirements.
Designed for full-time study, the program comprises 54 credits of coursework, including classes in core areas such as phonological disorders, language disorders in children, and stuttering, as well as in specialized areas such as swallowing, augmentative communication, and early intervention. The academic and clinical preparation for TSSLD majors covers the scope of practice; you'll prepare for work in medical and rehabilitation settings but also complete the additional coursework required to work in educational settings in New York State. The academic program concludes with comprehensive examinations that are structured similarly to the national praxis exam. Historically, Ithaca College graduates have performed very well on the praxis exam.
Integral to the program are clinical experiences in which you'll work directly with clients throughout your graduate program. The final semester you'll spend in two full-time externships, during which you'll experience the rigors and responsibilities of full-time professional work. At least one of your externships is a full-time practicum experience in a school setting. The department is proud of its outstanding reputation among externship supervisors and employers.
Ithaca College graduates of the TSSLD program enjoy excellent career prospects. Some of our recent graduates are currently working at
Buffalo School for the Deaf, Buffalo, New York
Community Therapy Services, Schaumburg, Illinois
John Heinz Institute of Rehabilitative Medicine, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Lourdes Hospital, Binghamton, New York
Rochester Hearing and Speech Center, Rochester, New York
United Hospitals Medical Center, Newark, New Jersey
We also offer a master of science program in speech-language pathology:
Speech-Language Pathology (M.S.) Overview