MS/MA in COMDDE - SLP Specialization
The primary program objective of MS/MA in COMDDE - SLP program is to prepare students to become speech-language pathologists competent to work with individuals of all ages who have developmental or neurological disorders relating to articulation, fluency, voice and resonance, language development, swallowing, augmentative modalities, and cognitive or social aspects of communication.
SLP Outreach Program
The primary objective of the Outreach graduate program is to meet the critical shortage of school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in rural or SLP under-served areas of Utah. The graduate program provides high quality education and training. Students graduate ready to become SLPs, eligible for national certification, state licensure, and employment in all professional work settings.
SLP - LSL Emphasis
The Listening and Spoken Language Emphasis is an innovative training program to provide in-depth training to graduate students in Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology, and Deaf Education graduate programs. The program is built on a strong foundation of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary service provision to young children with hearing loss and their families. The primary training site for graduate students takes place right on the Utah State University campus at the Sound Beginnings Program.
PhD in Disability Disciplines - SLP Specialization
The PhD in Disability Disciplines - Speech-Language Pathology Specialization balances a common core of multidisciplinary coursework and applied activities with a strong focus on the specific disciplinary perspective, knowledge, and skills.
PhD in Neuroscience - SLP
The doctoral program in Neuroscience provides students with a strong educational and research foundation in cellular, cognitive, and behavioral neuroscience. Students apply critical concepts in neuroscience to understanding normal and disordered processes of sensation, movement, cognition, language, and communication across the lifespan.
MS in Communication Sciences
The non-clinical MS in Communication Sciences Program is a 30-credit program that prepares students to enter the Disability Disciplines PhD program strand in audiology/SLP, or the Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Neuroscience at Utah State University.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Speech-language pathologists are certified and state-licensed professionals with master’s degrees. This is a profession with extensive job opportunities. SLPs serve people of all ages, infants to the elderly, to diagnose and treat:
- Speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing challenges
- Voice and resonance disorders
- Developmental speech sound disorders
- Stuttering
- Language impairments
- Reading disability
- Communication and cognitive difficulties associated with neurological disorders such as stroke, head injury, and cerebral palsy
SLPs work directly with clients, support family interactions, and consult and collaborate with other professionals, such as physicians, teachers, psychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and audiologists. Work settings include:
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Rehabilitation centers
- Nursing facilities
- Home health care centers
- Early intervention programs
- Community centers
- University clinics
- Private practice
The master's of science and master's of arts (MA, MS) residential and distance education programs in speech-language pathology at Utah State University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.
Research in Speech-Language Pathology
Child Language Lab
Dr. Sandi Gillam
Dr. Sandi Gillam's research in this lab focuses on the development of assessment tools and intervention approaches for improving cognitive, social and academic performance of individuals with language and learning problems. Students working in this lab use language sampling and coding techniques, administer and score standardized and criterion referenced assessments and investigate methods for measuring and improving discourse-level language. Learn more about the Child Language Lab.
Human Interaction Lab
Dr. Stephanie Borrie
Human interaction requires communication partners to produce and perceive speech and to coordinate these behaviors to succeed. What happens when the ability to produce or perceive speech is impaired? And how does this disrupt the collaborative process of communication? In Dr. Stephanie Borrie's research lab, we investigate speech communication as a dynamic activity involving both speaker and listener. Learn more about the Human Interaction Lab.
Language and Aphasia NeuroRehabilitation Lab
Dr. Lisa Milman
Dr. Lisa Milman's research in the Language and Aphasia Neuro-Rehabilitation (LANR) Lab focuses on integrative approaches to the assessment and treatment of neurogenic communication disorders in adults. A variety of behavioral and computational approaches are applied, including classic lesion studies, mathematical models, and neuro-rehabilitation paradigms.
Motor Speech Lab
Dr. Annalise Fletcher
For individuals with neurological impairments or diseases (e.g. stroke or Parkinson’s disease), the ability to produce intelligible speech can be significantly affected. Dr. Annalise Fletcher's Motor Speech Lab, we examine speech production changes that occur due to difficulties with the control and execution of muscle movements. Our work explores measurements of the acoustic speech signal, listener responses to disordered speech, and speaker strategies for producing clear speech patterns.
School-Age Language Research Lab
Dr. Teresa Ukrainetz
The School-age Language Intervention Lab is headed by Dr. Teresa Ukrainetz. Over the years, Dr. Ukrainetz has investigated norm-referenced tests, dynamic assessment, phonemic awareness intervention, narrative development and intervention, and the role of the school SLP. Dr. Ukrainetz uses varied methods of investigation, including group experimental, single-case experimental, descriptive and qualitative designs – but almost always conducted within the busy life of schools.