Medical Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Certificate
Program at a glance.
This certificate program has been temporarily suspended effective Summer 2016. The UCF School of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) Graduate Certificate in Medical Speech-Language Pathology is designed to prepare speech language pathologists and students currently enrolled in the CSD program with the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate and treat individuals with medically-related communication disorders. Curriculum Current UCF CSD graduate students: 12 credit hours total (3 courses selected from the list below). Students currently enrolled in the UCF Communication Sciences and Disorders MA program are required to take 9 credit hours in addition to SPA 6565 - Feeding and Swallowing Disorders, which is required to fulfill the regular degree requirements. Certificate only, for speech language pathologists (professionals): 12 credit hours (4 courses to be selected from the list below). SPA 6565 - Feeding and Swallowing Disorders is a required course toward this certificate if the student has not previously taken a course in Feeding and Swallowing Disorders at the graduate level. All courses toward the Medical Speech-Language Pathology Certificate program should be selected in consultation with the Master's Program Coordinator and medical certificate faculty adviser, Dr. Bari Ruddy. Total Credit Hours Required: 12 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Master's Degree
University of Central Florida Colleges
Program Prerequisites
This certificate program has been temporarily suspended effective Summer 2016.
- Courses from a previous graduate degree program or certificate program cannot be applied toward the completion of the Certificate in Medical Speech-Language Pathology.
Current students in UCF's Communication Sciences and Disorders MA program may only apply SPA 6565 - Feeding and Swallowing Disorders, toward both the Medical Speech-Language Pathology Certificate and the master's degree in communication sciences and disorders. Nine credit hours will need to be taken in addition to the regular master's program course requirements.
Degree Requirements
Required courses: 12 credit hours.
- SPA6245 - Communication Disorders in Cleft Palate-Velopharyngeal Dysfunction (3)
- SPA6417 - Management of Acquired Cognitive/Communication Disorders Across the Lifespan (3)
- SPA6565 - Feeding and Swallowing Disorders (3)
- SPA6453 - Management of Cognitive-Communication Disorders in Traumatic Brain Injury (3)
- SPA6432 - Issues in Autism (3)
- SPA6569 - Management of Upper Airway and Aerodigestive Disorders (3)
Grand Total Credits: 12
- Current students in UCF's Communication Sciences and Disorders MA program may only apply SPA 6565 - Feeding and Swallowing Disorders toward both the Medical Speech-Language Pathology Certificate and the master's degree in communication sciences and disorders. Nine credit hours will need to be taken in addition to the regular master's program course requirements.
UCF Addresses Critical Shortage of Speech-Language Pathologists in Public Schools
Written By: Camille Dolan '98 | September 30, 2020
For more than 25 years, the Central Florida Speech-Language Consortium, a partnership between UCF and ten Central Florida school districts , has been working to improve access to speech-language pathology services for local children, while also addressing the state’s critical shortage of qualified professionals . Central Florida e ducators and clinicians including Dona Hedrick, Thomas Mullin and David Ratusnik , former faculty members in communication sciences and disorders , began tackling the problem back in the late ‘ 80s, when it became apparent t here was a nationwide shortage of qualified professionals who could teach children with special needs and provide related services, such as speech -language therapy.
It was “an all-hands on deck” initiative with collaboration between UCF and the school districts from Brevard, Citrus, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties. Associate Professor Linda I. Rosa-Lugo started teaching in UCF’s CSD program just as the program was being implemented, and over the years has helped make changes to the program to continue to best meet the needs of our local schools and our students.
“It is so gratifying to see these young clinicians who are committed to improving communication for our schoolchildren,” said Rosa-Lugo, who started her career as a speech- lang u a ge therapist in New York City public schools.
By working with representatives of the local school districts , a solution was developed to quickly address the need: utilize a n existing program that allowed bachelor-level graduates to receive a teaching certificate for up to five years, provided they were enrolled in a master’s degree program. This allowed graduates from the bachelor’s program to start work immediately, while concurrently working on their master’s degree. Both UCF and the school districts embraced the concept.
Rosa-Lugo estimates that the c onsortium has facilitated the addition of more than 300 SLPs throughout Central Florida.
Nicole Burks, ’96 ’99, an SLP for Brevard County Public Schools, was one of the first participants in the program . She completed her master’s degree in three years through night and weekend classe s .
As the program evolved, it has transitioned into a summer only program, which offers CSD bachelor-level graduates the opportunity to earn their master’s degree while taking classes only in the summer semesters, while on break from their fulltime jobs in the schools. Generally, it takes students about five years to complete the master’s program this way, but it works best with their schedules, allowing them to focus on their studies fully during the summer. (*In 2021, the program changed from a summers-mainly program across five years to a year-round program comprising eight semesters.)
“I worked fulltime all day in the school, and took evening and Saturday classes,” Burks said. “The program has significantly changed and evolved since then, but it still allows people like me who have to work to have the flexibility to work while going to school.”
It has been a win-win partnership since the beginning. The local schools get a pipeline of graduates from UCF ’s accredited program, which is also the largest producer of CSD graduates in the country . And students get to work in the school setting, where they want to grow their career.
“Working in the school system made me a better UCF student,” Burks said. “I was gaining all this real-life experience throughout my work and learning how to be a better clinician through UCF.”
This past summer, four graduate students in the CSD master’s program – consortium track received their master’s degree : Alicia Paletta, Loyda Peralta, Rebecca Pittman and Hannah Rodriguez.
Even though it takes longer to graduate than it would taking a full-time master’s program, the consortium is helping students who otherwise would have found it impossible to pursue a master’s degree. Over the past 25 years, UCF has graduated hundreds of students thanks to the consortium program , Rosa-Lugo said .
“I never expected that it would take me five years to get my master’s degree,” Rodriguez said. “But after receiving my bachelor’s degree, I had to work, and t he program allowed me to work and to go to school . But it was a manageable schedule and allowed me to also be a mom.”
Financial assistance is also available through a federal program known as TEACH grants , which provide s grants to students who work in a high-needs school setting and serve low-income areas .
Elizabeth Padilla, a senior administrator in specialized instruction for Orange County Public Schools , was one of the first consortium program graduates in 1999. She now holds a key position to support and facilitate the growing of the profession throughout the district.
“ We have had clinicians from all different backgrounds come through the program , Padilla said. “ They have a choice to work and to further their education. It was the right choice for me – as the child of a single parent, I knew I had to work after graduation. The b est part for me – and for many of those in the program – was the ability to put my learning into practice every day, and that made me a better clinician. ”
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The Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders (MA) education program in Speech-Language Pathology residential program at the University of Central Florida is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 ...
The Consortium track is a cooperative effort between the UCF School of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Central Florida Public School Consortium to address the critical shortage of public school speech-language pathologists in the area.
UCF's Communication Disorders Clinic offers cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment services to people of all ages with communication and hearing challenges.The clinic treats clients across the lifespan — from toddlers developing speech and language to adults who have lost speech, language or swallowing due to disease or trauma.
Certification in speech-language pathology by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and licensure by the State of Florida Department of Health, Division of Medical Quality Assurance requires a master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Use Focus2Career platform for career exploration at: https://bit.ly/UCFFocus2
View all of the Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty & Staff at the UCF College of Health Professions and Sciences. ... Preschool And School-Age Speech Language Pathology; Professional Learning; View Jacqueline Towson's Publications. Martine Vanryckeghem, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-FL. Pegasus Professor
Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. ... language pathology in the CSD program at UCF, students must be able to meet both our eligibility
Participating school districts in the Central Florida Consortium are Brevard, Citrus, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia. ... This track requires an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders or speech-language pathology and audiology and full-time employment in one of the participating ...
To satisfy the requirements for the Master of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, you must complete a minimum of 400 clock hours of supervised clinical experience in the practice of speech-language pathology, including 25 hours of clinical observation and 375 hours of direct client/patient contact.
The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders.The undergraduate degree is designed to provide students with a strong scientific foundation that leads to employment in a variety of entry-level careers in health and human services or to graduate study in speech-language pathology, audiology or related disciplines.
Department (s) Comm Sci & Disorders, Schl of. In State Tuition. Out of State Tuition. $369.65 per credit hour. $1,194.05 per credit hour. Learn more about the cost to attend UCF. The MA in Communication Sciences and Disorders is intended for those interested in working with children and adults who have communication disorders.
The University of Central Florida's Communication Disorders Clinic offers cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment services to people of all ages with communication and hearing challenges. We treat clients across the lifespan — from toddlers developing speech and language to adults who have lost speech or language due to disease or trauma.
What is NSSLHA? The National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association (NSSLHA) is a pre-professional association for students interested in the study of communication sciences and disorders. NSSLHA is the only official organization recognized by the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) for students preparing to become an Audiologist or Speech Language Pathologist.
Across the UCF Communication Disorder Clinic's range of services, graduate students gain the hands-on experience needed to become speech-language pathologists. Students must complete 400 hours of direct clinical contact, 25 of which are done in observation at the undergraduate level and the remaining hours are completed during the two-year ...
Both children and adults may experience voice and resonance disorders. These may include one or more of the following symptoms: hoarseness, strained, breathy or raspy vocal quality. discomfort upon voicing. inappropriate pitch. vocal fatigue after talking. reduction in vocal range during speaking and/or singing. hypernasality.
UCF's Communication Disorders Clinic offers cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment services to people of all ages with communication and hearing challenges. The clinic treats clients across the lifespan — from toddlers developing speech and language to adults who have lost speech, language or swallowing due to disease or trauma.
in the UCF Communication Sciences and Disorders MA program are required to take 9 credit hours in addition to SPA. 6565 - Feeding and Swallowing Disorders, which is required to fulfill the regular degree requirements. Certificate only, for speech language pathologists (professionals): 12 credit hours (4 courses to be selected from the list below).
[email protected]. 407-823-4795. Biography. Research. Courses. News. Richard Zraick is a Professor and formerly the Founding Director of the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at UCF. He is a Fellow of the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association. He is also a Certified Health Simulation Educator.
Members of the Aphasia and Related Conditions (ARC) Research Lab at the University of Central Florida conduct research to 1) better understand the complex processing of speech and language and its breakdown in individuals with aphasia and apraxia of speech, 2) develop new and explore effective treatment approaches, and 3) explore variables that impact treatment success.
The UCF LISTENING CENTER serves individuals across the lifespan who have a hearing loss. This includes offering access to listening and spoken language services as early as possible in a child's development. The center also provides a unique opportunity for future speech-language pathologists to gain valuable experience in working with diverse children with hearing loss and their families ...
Program Purpose. This project is designed to prepare Scholars to work within interdisciplinary teams to provide intensive interventions and specialized services to school-age children with high-intensity needs to improve college and career-ready outcomes. Project SPEECH provides a high-quality, interdisciplinary system of personnel development.
The purpose of the course is to prepare pre-service speech-language pathologists enrolled in the Master's program in Communication Sciences and Disorders at UCF and community-based certified speech-language pathologists with a foundation to work as part of an interdisciplinary team with complex patients in various medical settings, including ...
University of Central Florida 407-823-2057 [email protected] EDUCATION Ph.D. (Anticipated) University of South Florida, Tampa, FL Communication Sciences and Disorders M.A., 2014 University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL ... Speech-Language Pathologist License, Florida Department of Health (07/2017-present) ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS
The consortium began in 1995 to address the critical need for speech-language pathologists in Florida. So far, approximately 300 SLPs have joined the public school system, thanks to this innovative partnership. For more than 25 years, the Central Florida Speech-Language Consortium, a partnership between UCF and ten Central Florida school ...