MASTER OF speech-language pathology
{ goal } professional training
WHY ST. AMBROSE?
Started in 2009, the St. Ambrose University Master of Speech-Language Pathology program is Iowa’s first and only MSLP program offered by a private university. Beginning in their first year, students gain valuable experience working in schools, clinics, community organizations and hospitals. Expert faculty supervise on-site clinicals and work one-on-one with students on research projects, helping them to gain the skills necessary to critically review SLP research, a vital skill in today’s workplace.
Students learn through the latest technology in our newly renovated facility, which includes clinic rooms, a laboratory and a 30-person computer lab. The building is completely wireless, allowing for remote healthcare consultation.
curriculum
> Full-time students complete the program in two years. Students stay with the same group and take all classes together—building bonds and teamwork skills.
> MSLP graduate students come into the program with undergraduate degrees from an array of disciplines, including psychology, elementary education, early childhood education, kinesiology, liberal arts, health sciences and human services.
> Students participate in clinical experiences in a variety of locations, from public schools to hospitals to rehab facilities. In their second year, they complete 20 to 24 weeks of full-time internships, one in a child oriented setting and one in an adult oriented setting.
> Graduates are prepared for entry into independent professional practice and are eligible for American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certification and other relevant local credentials.
{ reality }
personal meaning
“ When I’m at the preschool for my clinical, I have to relate to the students. I can’t worry about what people think if they see me crawling on the floor. I’m getting on their level to develop their language skills effectively.” Tom Bowman ’11 MSLP Moline, Illinois
50 percent of school-based SLPs are expected to retire within the next five years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, an
additional 26,000 SLPs will
be needed to fill positions in educational and medical settings by 2012.
What do Speech-Language Pathologists do?
> SLPs diagnose, develop and implement therapy plans and aid in the prevention of hearing, reading, speech and language problems. Their work includes conducting assessments, making observations, determining strengths and weaknesses and creating and carrying out treatment plans.
> SLPs work with persons across the age span—from newborn babies to the elderly.
> SLPs must have a master’s degree to practice speech-language pathology in the United States.
flexible, convenient, affordable
We value
your time. Our program schedule is designed to enable you to complete the degree quickly without shortchanging experience. Short winter and summer interim classes provide unique study opportunities at home and abroad. Our online Clinical Reasoning course allows you to prepare for the national exam from home (or anywhere you have access to the Internet). You can also arrange to complete the required program internships almost anywhere in the United States.
The bottom line? To make your master’s degree affordable, your tuition rate is frozen at the time of entry. Graduate financial aid is available.
Did you know? Ambrose offers more direct clinical supervision. Typically, more than 50 percent of clinical contact is supervised by faculty, double the 25 percent required by ASHA.
faculty commitment
Ambrose students
are members of a comprehensive health care and
{ take action } Explore the program in-depth and apply online www.sau.edu/mslp Graduate Student Recruitment Office Email gradprog@sau.edu or call 563/333-6354 Schedule a campus visit with our program director to experience Ambrose firsthand Call 563/333-3920
health educational team. Individual attention from knowledgeable instructors prepares students to collaborate with other health care professionals and school personnel after they graduate. Students learn from experienced faculty during observations and
clinic and internship affiliations > All Saints Catholic School
work closely with them during research projects.
> Colona School District
Students also receive direct supervision, which gives
> East Moline School District
them the confidence and freedom they need to grow as practitioners.
> EnduraCare > Friendly House
Not only do faculty members bring a wide range of experience to the classroom, they stay in practice, working in private clinics and large institution settings
> Genesis Health System > HCR Manor Care
like Genesis Medical Center. They also attend industry
> Mississippi Bend AEA
conferences with you and your fellow students.
> Moline School District > Prairie Lakes AEA > Provena Mercy Center > Trinity Health Systems
Krista Helling { goal } effective communication { reality } individual impact “ I feel like I’ve found the perfect program for me—with classes I enjoy and am inspired by. I’ve fallen in love with the information. And, as a speech-language pathologist, I can help people improve their communication skills on an individual level.” Krista Helling ’09, ’11 MSLP Dubuque, Iowa
READ
more profiles
service to others
www.sau.edu/mslp
It’s St. Ambrose’s relationship with the community that
distinguishes us from other SLP programs. Students aren’t just learning on campus: they learn and refine skills through clinical experience in community sites. This faculty supervised, real world practice helps students learn by doing. Beyond our on-campus clinic, St. Ambrose has established partnerships with early childhood centers, hospitals, outpatient clinics, private and public schools, adult day-care centers and agencies serving children and adults with developmental disabilities. Among our growing number of partner organizations: > All Saints Catholic School
>C hildren’s Campus at St. Ambrose
> Center for Active Seniors (CASI)
> F riendly House
Only at
Ambrose
> Students are known for their commitment to life-long learning, their high standards of professional behavior, their sensitivity to human diversity and their ability to use their knowledge and skills to impact the lives of others. > The MSLP program includes a special emphasis on educating bilingual speech-language pathologists to help fill the growing need nationally for multilingual SLPs. > A study trip option in Ecuador gives students the opportunity to enrich lives at an orphanage and learn about the importance of speech-language literacy outside the United States. > Students experience a spirit of cooperation and generosity in our program and on campus, which reflects the quality of life in the Quad Cities. They share classes with peers from the area who appreciate the convenience and flexibility we offer local residents, as well as with students who come here from locations such as Illinois, Colorado and California. > We interview program applicants before entry to ensure the MSLP program is a good fit.
{ goal } flexible education { reality } real experience read more: www.sau.edu/mslp
Laura Nickerson ’11 MSLP, Bettendorf, Iowa Laura was first introduced to the world of speech-language pathology through her background in education and working in schools. There, she observed how SLPs support students’ speech-language therapy goals in the classroom. After seeing the SLPs in action, she knew this was the career for her. “A big strength of the program is that clinic experience begins right away. In our first semester, we conducted screenings to identify children at risk for speech and language deficits. Then, we worked with those children. Our clinic placements reflect the types of settings we’ll encounter in our careers. I know that when I graduate, I will have the skills, knowledge and experience to be successful in the field.”
research this
All students complete a graduate research project under the
guidance of a faculty member. Students may research topics that they’re passionate about, and faculty may also incorporate students into their own work. Sample topics include:
> Development of an emergent literacy screening instrument for three- and four-year-old children
> Modification of the LIPS™ program for two- and three-year-old children
> Level of awareness and understanding of patients with dysphagia regarding their swallowing disorder
> Attitudes of monolingual SLPs towards bilingual SLPs
The MSLP program at St. Ambrose has Candidacy Accreditation through 2014. In 1991, the Council on Professional Standards in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology established the status of Candidate for Accreditation for emerging graduate education programs.
Our Mission St. Ambrose University—independent, diocesan, and Catholic—enables its students to develop intellectually, spiritually, ethically, socially, artistically and physically to enrich their own lives and the lives of others.
518 West Locust Street Davenport, Iowa 52803 www.sau.edu/mslp