TUITION REDUCTION

The Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP.D) program will be implementing a tuition reduction beginning Fall 2024.

SLP.D. Tuition Reduction
$995/credit hour

($1,286/credit hour for past semesters)

Join us to learn about the additional perks of being a Shark by attending our virtual open house!

Reach the highest practice levels as a working SLP

You’re a practicing speech-language pathologist driven to make a bigger impact in the profession. Perhaps you seek a master clinician or senior administrator role — or to shape the next generation of practitioners. Or dive deeper into an SLP specialization you’re passionate about pursuing.

Your Nova Southeastern University Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology program expands your depth and breadth of expertise through a variety of forums, readying you to land those higher-level, higher-impact roles you seek.

  • Incorporate current research, ethical decision-making and models of best practice to foster your knowledge, leadership, problem-solving skills and research.
  • Analyze, synthesize and apply research-based theory to your current work environment, as well as through the development of the applied dissertation.

 

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Quick Facts

Delivery Options

Hybrid program: online study combined with a one-week Winter Research Institute in Florida

Start Dates

SLP.D. program starts once per year every fall semester in August.

Tuition

Visit the Tuition and Fees page for more information.

Credit Hours

The Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP.D.) degree program totals 53 credit hours.

A Trailblazing Program

NSU was the first to offer an online degree program for Speech-Language Pathology. As a result, other universities are modeling their SLP.D. programs after us.

Elevate your SLP career without disrupting it.

NSU’s SLP.D. is a flexible blend of online study, with some on-campus presence. It’s ideal for experienced speech-language professionals balancing their busy career, life, and family. You’re assured every bit as rigorous and comprehensive a doctoral education as you would experience inside a traditional full-time classroom.

Winter Research Institute

When attending the Winter Research Institute, students are engaged through various course activities in interprofessional education. This program also includes students from other doctoral programs including occupational therapy, physical therapy, and health science.

Prefer to speak with someone directly?

Email Brian Tachick, your Admissions Counselor, or call him at (954) 262-7496.

Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology: Program Details

  • Completed admission application packet
  • Official transcripts indicating conferral of a master’s degree by a regionally accredited institution (minimum 3.2 grade point average required)
  • Official transcripts from all previously attended postsecondary institutions
  • Copy of current vitae/resume which includes work experience of at least three years (cumulative) as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) - Applicants with less than three years of experience will be considered under the provision that they are employed during their enrollment in the program.
  • Two professional letters of recommendation by two different individuals who can attest to the applicant’s ability to succeed in a doctoral program
  • Valid documentation of the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) and a copy of current state SLP licensure - OR - Provide proof of the accepted credential in the country of practice -Applicants that are in process of completing their CF during the admissions cycle will be considered; however, these students will be under the provision that they must obtain the CCC-SLP or equivalent credential during the first year of admittance in the program.
  • Written responses to questions/essays provided in the application
  • Applicant interview

FOR NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS

Applicants whose native language is not English may be required to demonstrate English proficiency. The standardized tests listed below satisfy the university's English requirement for non-native English speakers. Test results must be sent directly from the testing agency to NSU's Enrollment Processing Services (EPS):

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Score of 213 on the computer-based test or 79-80 on the Internet-based test
  • International English Testing System (IELTS): Score of 6.0 on the test module
  • Pearson Test of English – Academic: Score of 54
  • American College Test (ACT): Minimum score of 20 on the verbal section

Proof of English language competency can also be in the form of a degree at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.

FOR NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS

International students living in the United States must present verification of student visa or residency status.

(updated: 7.6.2023)

Courses in the Major (53 credits minimum)

Core Courses (26 credits)

Course Number Course Title & Description
SLPD 7000 Technology and Instrumentation in Communication Sciences

This course presents advanced applications in the use of computer hardware and software in communication sciences and disorders. Doctoral students will receive hands-on experience in the use, application, and configuration of software for distance learning technologies for management of clients and for business issues.

Prerequisite/s: None
SLPD 7030 Gerontology

This course will provide students with an overview of gerontology.  The older adult population often present with complex, interacting issues.  Thus, a holistic approach to patient care will be considered, encompassing biological, social, psychological, and cultural aspects related to aging.  Analysis of day-to-day functioning of the aging patient will be covered.  An emphasis will be placed on differentiation between normal aging processes and pathological changes related to speech-language pathology and communication disorders.  Learning will take place via class lectures and discussions experimental exercises, written case studies, student presentations and panel discussions.  Discussion of ethical issues related to aging will augment the learning process.  

Prerequisite/s: None

SLPD 7040 Supervision

Supervision: The identification and analysis of the processes of supervision along the continuum of supervision from support personnel to peer will be examined. Topics will include planning and executing the supervisory conference, data collection procedures, and evaluation. The research in the field of supervision will be examined with an emphasis on practical application. The impact of cultural diversity on supervision will be addressed.

Prerequisite/s: None
SLPD 7060 Genetics

This course will provide students with a summary of genetics and the opportunity investigate the spectrum of genetic syndromes common to clients with communication disorders.  Doctoral candidates will study the embryologic development with an emphasis on a normal and abnormal or interrupted development at various states and outcomes.

Prerequisite/s: None
SLPD 7070 Pharmacology

The goal of this course is to introduce the student to the advanced science and clinical pharmacology that impacts the practice of speech-language pathology.  The clinical use and understanding of the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and the potential positive and negative outcomes of medications will be emphasized. Lectures, videos and hand-on learning activities will be explored during the course.  Doctoral candidates will learn the general principles of drug action, particularly as related to communicative function.  The classes of drugs used in clinical practice will be examined with emphasis on activity, mode of action, side effects, toxicity, and drug interactions.  Case studies in the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology will be presented.

Prerequisite/s: None
SLPD 7075 Counseling

Emphasis on counseling approaches for use with clients will communication disorders and/or their families. doctoral candidates will explore theories of counseling with an emphasis on management of individuals with communication disorders and their families. Doctoral candidates will experiment with different approaches to interacting with clients and their families individually and in groups. Cultural impact on the counseling process will be addressed. Doctoral candidates will conduct to role-play situations for use with clients demonstrating a variety of audiologic and/or speech-language problems.

Prerequisite/s: None

SLPD 7080 Business Management and Leadership

Doctoral candidates will learn basic management principles as they relate to the conduct of speech-language or audiology practice in a variety of settings. Legal and ethical issues in practice management will be covered. Doctoral candidates preparing for personal and professional development assess the skills and behaviors of the leader of change agent in terms of their own potential for growth and future leadership positions.

Prerequisite/s: None
SLPD 7200 Neuroscience/Neuropsychology and Communication Disorders

Neurological foundations of speech-language and cognitive disorders will be presented. The emphasis will be a study of neuropathological conditions and the speech-language disorders that result from these conditions.

Prerequisite/s: None
SLPD 7210 Advanced Seminar in Pediatric Development

Theories and application of cognitive, social, psychological, and cultural development of children and adolescents will be examined. Current thinking will augment classical theory.  Application of current thinking as well as therapeutic, teaching and caregiving practices stemming from these ideas will be stressed.

SLPD 7220 Advanced Seminar in Voice and Swallowing

Advanced Seminars in Voice and Swallowing is a doctoral-level course exploring best practices in voice and swallowing disorders. This course is not designed to develop voice and swallowing clinicians nor is it designed to impart the full breadth of information available in the areas of voice and swallowing disorders. Rather, this course is designed to enhance the student's comprehension of the specialty areas of voice and swallowing disorders that were taught to them at the master's level, expand their knowledge base of best practices in voice and swallowing disorders, and develop a working sense of the scope of practice in voice and swallowing.

Prerequisite/s: None
SLPD 7250 Advanced Seminar in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

This study area provides a discussion of the critical issues in augmentative and alternative communication and assistive technology, with a focus on self-determination, family-centered practices, and AAC outcomes. Students will gain experience with non-electronic communication displays, various input devices, and low-tech communication devices, as well a high technology voice output communication aids. Current issues in ethics, funding, and the impact of culture on AAC are presented. A discussion of recent trends and future needs as well as strategies for keeping up with new technology and a rapidly expanding knowledge base will be included.

Prerequisite/s: None

Research Courses (12 credits)

Course Number Course Title & Description
SLPD 7300

Biostatistics I (3 CREDITS)

The application of quantitative techniques has expanded rapidly in medical decision-making. The emphasis on evidence-based health care means that health care workers must be able to evaluate the results from published health care research studies. This course is the first of two courses designed to provide students with knowledge of quantitative techniques. The course will cover descriptive statistics; parametric, group-comparison statistics; and basic, nonparametric statistics. It will also provide an introduction to linear modeling.

Prerequisite/s: None

SLPD 7411

Quantitative Research Design (3 CREDITS)

This course will provide students with a simple understanding of basic methods and approaches used in health care research. A major emphasis of the course will be on the conceptualization and design of research studies. The course will cover ethics, formulation of research questions, study design, reliability, validity, sampling, measurement, and interpretation of research findings. It will prepare students to critically evaluate published literature, and to design sound research studies. The course will be both theoretical and applied. Students will be challenged to apply the theoretical concepts presented in the classroom and in the readings to design a study to address a health-related issue of their choice.

Prerequisite/s: None

SLPD 7410

Qualitative Research Design (3 CREDITS)

This course will focus primarily on the knowledge and skill competencies needed to conduct qualitative research successfully. In this pursuit, students will immerse themselves in the epistemological, theoretical, ethical, methodological, and procedural understanding of qualitative research. They will apply this knowledge to the conceptualization and conduct of qualitative research, report the findings of the research in the form of a research article, and appraise the quality of such qualitative research products. Upon completion of the course, students will demonstrate that they have mastered the competencies needed to create, plan, and complete a qualitative research dissertation.

Prerequisite/s: None

Choose one of the following (3 credits)

Course Number Course Title & Description
SLPD 7310

Biostatistics II (3 CREDITS)

The aim of this course is to enable students to appreciate the richness of statistical science and to invite them to the concept of probabilistic thinking. Statistics is the science of the future. Any technique that they are going to learn will help them to understand the unknown better, and in turn, will increase their success in other courses and in future professional careers. Principles of statistical inference build upon the course of Biostatistics I. As such, a prerequisite for enrolling in this course is satisfactory completion of Biostatistics I. The goals of this course are threefold: (1) introduce the basic concepts of probability and methods for calculating the probability of an event; (2) assist students in developing an understanding of probability theory and sampling distributions; and (3) familiarize students about inferences involving one or two populations ANOVA, regression analysis, and chi-square tests.

Prerequisite: HPH 7300 Biostatistics I

SLPD 7700 Test and Measurement (3 CREDITS)

This course covers basic concepts and methods employed in single-subject research. Participants will learn about single-subject research designs including the case study, AB and its variations, changing criterion, multiple baseline, and alternating treatment. Important factors in designing and critically reviewing single-subject research will be presented, along with options for analyzing data from single-subject research studies. Ethical issues in single- subject research will also be reviewed.

Additional Electives

Additional electives are available through the PCHCS as Shared Core Courses. Prior approval must be granted by the SLPD program director for registration in the PCHCS Shared Core Courses.

Course Number Course Title and Description
SLPD 7222

Research Ethics (3 credits)

This course introduces students to ethics concepts as they apply to questions and challenges in conducting research with human subjects. The aim is to increase student awareness of, and ability to reason through, ethical issues that arise in human subjects research. The course will draw upon historical examples, codes, declarations, and other sources of ethical guidance, including discussions of contemporary controversies in human subjects research.

SLPD 7500

Philosophy of Science (3 credits)
Philosophy of Science will address classical issues in the philosophy of science, including demarcation, the distinction between what science is and is not, hypothesis development, confirmation and falsification, causation, and explanation. The course will also explore the ontological, epistemological, methodological, and axiological foundations of the major paradigms within which inquiry in the human services professions are located. Issues of congruence between research question selection and paradigm selection will also be addressed.

SLPD 7600

Grant Writing and Publication (3 credits)
This course is designed to provide writing experiences that prepare the learner for manuscript and grant proposal submissions. This introductory experience into the grant process from proposal to funding to management will include project management, funding sources, and funding challenges. Other course requirements include a research proposal (manuscript) that is ready for submission for publication and the development of a dissertation proposal.

 

Applied Dissertation (12 credits)

The applied dissertation is a detailed, accurate, and cohesive account of a scholarly investigation designed to answer a research question directed toward the improvement of practice in the field of speech-language pathology. Research is distinguished by a theory-to-practice model encompassing a diversity of disciplines. Each student is assigned a faculty committee to facilitate and supervise the process.

There are three benchmarks in the completion of the applied dissertation: (1) the concept paper, (2) the dissertation proposal and Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, and (3) the dissertation.

Course Number Course Title & Description
SLPD 8966 Applied Dissertation Seminar 1—Concept Paper (2 CREDITS)

The content of Applied Dissertation Service 1 (Concept Paper) focuses on developing a preliminary literature review and formulating research questions of the concept paper. The committee chair and member roles are discussed as well as the roles and responsibilities of the Applied Research Center's faculty and staff. This service will culminate in the completion of the first corresponding benchmark: the concept paper. Credit for this service will be assigned following approval of the concept paper.

Prerequisite/s: None.
SLPD 8967 Applied Dissertation Seminar 2—Proposal (5 CREDITS)

The content of Applied Dissertation Service 2 (Dissertation Proposal) emphasizes the formulation and writing of the dissertation proposal and the process for Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. Methodology and content for each of the proposal chapters are defined, including a thorough discussion of the role of the literature review to support or refute the dissertation topic. This service focusing on scientific inquiry will culminate in the completion of the second corresponding benchmark: the applied dissertation proposal. Credit for this service will be assigned following approval of the proposal.

Prerequisite/s: SLPD 8966.
SLPD 8968 Applied Dissertation Seminar 3—Dissertation (5 CREDITS)

Applied Dissertation Service 3 (Final Report) involves data collection and implementation, the applied dissertation (i.e., final report), and the final-approval process. Content and format issues, as well as recommendations for further research, are highlighted. Dissemination of the dissertation and possible outlets for publication are covered. This service will culminate in the completion of the third corresponding benchmark: the applied dissertation. Credits for this service will be assigned following approval of the applied dissertation.

Prerequisite/s: SLPD 8967.

Continuing Dissertation Services

If the program is not completed within 24 months, continuing dissertation services will begin on the 25th month. Students will be automatically enrolled in ADS 8090 between the 25th and 36th months of their program and must enroll themselves in ADS 8091 beginning the 37th month of their program in order to receive dissertation services from their committee chair and or the applied research center.

Course Number Course Title & Description
SLPD 8090 Applied Dissertation Services I

Applied Dissertation Services I is continuing dissertation services for students who complete all of their doctoral coursework during the first 24 months of the program. Students are automatically enrolled in SLPD 8090. No charges will apply for services.

Prerequisite/s: None.
SLPD 8091 Applied Dissertation Services II

Dissertation services for continuing doctoral students previously enrolled in SLPD 8090 who did not complete the applied dissertation. SLPD 8091 is also for currently enrolled students who are entering the 37th month of the doctoral program. Students are responsible for registering for SLPD 8091. Service fees will apply.

Prerequisite/s: None.

Transfer of Credits

A maximum of nine (9) semester hours of post-master’s degree, doctoral-level credit, earned from a regionally accredited institution within the past 5 years, will be considered toward meeting the doctoral program's degree requirements. Grades for courses transferred must be at the grade of A or B or equivalent. Acceptance of transfer credit is not guaranteed.

Applicants who wish to request evaluation no prior coursework for consideration as transfer credit should note this on their application, send course descriptions, and request that official transcripts be sent to the Speech-Language Pathology Department. Current doctoral candidates should request and receive prior written approval from the chair of the speech-language pathology department before enrolling in any other institution's courses that are intended to be submitted for transfer credit. This request should include an explanation and related course description(s).

Credits earned a Nova Southeastern University are transferable at the discretion of the receiving college, university, and/or program. Students who wish to transfer credits from NSU should contact the admissions office or program of the receiving school for information.

The SLP.D. program is a hybrid (face-to-face/online) program that represents an innovative, practical, and realistic approach to doctoral studies. A new cohort is developed once a year that consists of 5 to 10 speech-language pathology professionals who live and work in a variety of settings. The cohort follows a program of study for matriculation through the courses. The cohort is intended to serve as both an administrative and educational vehicle for the program. The cohort format provides opportunities for sharing the expertise of individual cohort members and fosters professional dialogue.

The hybrid (face-to-face/online) format is provided to each cohort which includes formal instruction as delivered through hybrid (face-to-face/online), online only and one live summer residency. The hybrid instructors teach from the Fort Lauderdale main campus. For these hybrid classes, students are provided with software which allows them to learn and view (instructor/class) online. Students participate in faculty-directed independent reading and writing assignments between class meetings.

During the second semester of the program, all students are required to attend the Winter Research Institute in Florida.

Computer Requirements

All doctoral students are expected to have a computer with Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, and Excel software. Some programs used to augment coursework require a computer with the Windows operating system.

A program orientation will be included in the first course, SLP.D 7000 Technology and Instrumentation in Communication Sciences. The purpose of the orientation portion of the course is to provide students with the information needed to successfully begin and complete the SLP.D. program.

  • be of good moral and ethical character
  • participation in the Winter Research Institute in Florida
  • satisfactorily complete all required courses
  • successfully complete an applied dissertation
  • have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher
  • complete the program within seven years from the initial term of enrollment
  • submit an application for degree and satisfy all NSU/HPD financial obligations

A maximum of (9) nine semester hours of post-master’s degree, doctoral-level credit, earned from a regionally accredited institution within the past 5 years, will be considered toward meeting the doctoral program's degree requirements. Grades for courses transferred must be at the grade of A or B or equivalent. Acceptance of transfer credit is not guaranteed.

Applicants who wish to request evaluation no prior coursework for consideration as transfer credit should note this on their application, send course descriptions, and request that official transcripts be sent to the Speech-Language Pathology Department. Current doctoral candidates should request and receive prior written approval from the chair of the speech-language pathology department before enrolling in any other institution's courses that are intended to be submitted for transfer credit. This request should include an explanation and related course description(s).

Credits earned a Nova Southeastern University are transferable at the discretion of the receiving college, university, and/or program. Students who wish to transfer credits from NSU should contact the admissions office or program of the receiving school for information.

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Sample Dissertation Track

Sample Non-Dissertation Track

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