677 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 625
Honolulu, HI 96813
Tel: (808) 692-1581
Fax: (808) 566-6292
Email: uhmcsd@hawaii.edu
Web: csd.jabsom.hawaii.edu

Faculty

*Graduate Faculty

C. Bartlett, MS—speech-language pathology
J. Hall, PhD—audiology
K. Kawamura, MS—speech-language pathology
M. Ogawa, MS—speech-language pathology

Degrees Offered: MS in communication sciences and disorders

The Academic Program

The UH Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (UH CSD) offers a Master of Science (MS) degree in CSD with emphasis in speech-language pathology (SLP). Speech-language pathologists work to prevent, identify, evaluate, diagnose, and treat speech-language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in individuals across the life span.

The Master of Science (MS) education program in speechlanguage pathology (residential) at UH Mānoa is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-LanguageHearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, (800) 498-2071 or (301) 296-5700. UH CSD is the only program in the state of Hawai‘i that is accredited by ASHA’s CAA. Graduates of CAA-accredited programs are educated with a core set of knowledge and skills required for entry into independent professional practice. Students who earn an MS degree from UH CSD are eligible to apply for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from ASHA after successful completion of a post-graduate Clinical Fellowship.

The UH CSD department defines its mission using the C.A.R.E.S. Model to establish a center of excellence for:

  • Clinical services for people challenged with speech-language, cognitive, swallowing, hearing and related disorders;
  • Administrative infrastructure for internal and external collaboration and support;
  • Research to support evidence-based practice;
  • Educational training to prepare highly qualified professionals in communication sciences and disorders; and
  • Service to promote public awareness of UH CSD and establish collaborative partnerships at the university, state, national, and international levels.

Plans of Study for the UH CSD Master of Science (MS) Degree

The MS degree program is typically completed in 2 years across 6 semesters including summer sessions. Both Master’s Plan A (thesis, 81 credits) and Plan B (non-thesis, 74 credits) are options for graduate study. Clinical education is a strength of the UH CSD program. The on-campus rotations at the University Health Partners of Hawai‘i Speech and Hearing Clinic (UHPSHC) and off-campus sites in Hawai‘i provide students with a breadth and depth of supervised clinical experiences to gain knowledge and skills in preparation for entry into the profession.

To complete the program, students must fulfill the following graduation requirements:

  • Complete required course work in the UH CSD Program of Study with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and a minimum passing grade of B- (80%) for all required courses and clinical practicum;
  • Earn a minimum of 400 clock hours of supervised clinical experience in the practice of speech-language pathology (25 hours of guided clinical observation, 375 hours in direct client/patient contact, at least 325 hours while enrolled in graduate study);
  • Demonstrate achievement of the UH CSD Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) to fulfill standards for the ASHA Clinical Certification in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP);
  • Complete an Individualized Directed Research project (Plan B) or thesis (Plan A) under supervision of a research mentor or thesis advisor to fulfill the research requirement, which provides students with the foundation to engage in evidence-based practice;
  • Pass the Praxis® Examination in Speech-Language Pathology. The exam assesses knowledge and current practices in SLP, and is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), www.asha.org/practice-portal/.

Academic Advising

Students who are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in CSD may contact the UH CSD department by email (uhmcsd@hawaii.edu) or phone (808-692-1581). The UH CSD website (csd.jabsom.hawaii.edu/) provides information on the program including admission requirements. Academic advising for UH undergraduate students is available from the Pre-Health Pre-Law Advising Center (undergrad/PAC/).

Speech Pathology and Audiology Prerequisite Program (SPAPP) and Undergraduate Courses

The UH CSD SPAPP program offers eight online undergraduate courses through JABSOM and the UH Mānoa Outreach College. These courses provide the foundational training for partial fulfillment of prerequisites required for graduate programs in speech-language pathology. The courses can be completed within one year.