Detailed Information
Program of Study
The Department of Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology at Loyola University Maryland (formerly Loyola College in Maryland) prepares outstanding professionals to begin careers as speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Students in the two-year, full-time master’s program experience an academic curriculum that provides the knowledge base for understanding human communication systems and disorders while receiving clinical training in the assessment and treatment of communication disorders in children and adults through facilities on campus and in an extensive network of externship sites. The program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Before applying for the program, prospective students whose undergraduate degree was not in speech-language pathology must complete a foundation curriculum that consists of 25 observation hours and eight courses in audiology, speech and hearing science, phonetics, and other relevant areas. Loyola offers a one-year intensive postbaccalaureate program to prepare individuals for admission into the degree program. Upon entering the postbaccalaureate program, students will complete 75 credit hours in courses that cover the principles and methods of prevention, assessment, and intervention as well as the areas of research, professional issues, and ethical standards.
During the first year of the master’s program, students participate in a clinical internship that involves working with clinical faculty members to develop therapeutic and diagnostic skills. Typically, students spend 2 to 3 days per week at one of Loyola’s clinical centers plus one day in a specially designed lab-type class. During the second year, students participate in externships in schools, hospitals, and private clinical facilities in the Baltimore metropolitan area. Students complete two different externship experiences, typically one that is medically based and one that is focused on education. Throughout each clinical experience, students gain expertise with clients of different ages and diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and with a variety of speech-language and hearing disorders.
Research Facilities
Several facilities are dedicated to research in speech, language, and clinical hearing impairments. The Margaret A. McManus-Moag Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic offers diagnostic hearing assessment; specialty therapies for those with specific language/learning disabilities, fluency disorders, and adult neurogenic disorders; and a full range of audiological test procedures.
In addition, the Columbia Speech and Language Center serves families in the greater Baltimore and Washington areas, including children with developmental delays or communication disorders and adolescents and adults with voice disorders. The center also houses the Center for Excellence in Down Syndrome, a special language intervention program for children with Down syndrome. The Multidisciplinary Assessment Clinic allows students to work with other disciplines assessing children and young adults with learning disorders, ADHD, and developmental speech and language disorders.
The Loyola Notre Dame Library contains approximately 463,000 books and bound periodical volumes; over 11,000 videos, DVDs, and CDs; and 989 print periodical subscriptions. The library’s Web site serves as a gateway to a variety of Internet resources, including numerous databases such as ERIC, Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, Maryland Digital Library, Cambridge Scientific, and Business Source Premier, as well as full-text articles from over 23,000 periodicals.
Financial Aid
A variety of financial assistance is available to graduate students. Graduate assistants work 10–20 hours per week in faculty and administrative departments in exchange for a stipend and tuition remission. A number of scholarships are available from the University; award amounts, entry requirements, and eligibility criteria vary. Federal Stafford Loans provide up to $8500 per year in subsidized loans or $20,500 in unsubsidized loans. The Federal Graduate PLUS Loan Program allows students to borrow up to the full cost of attendance, less other aid received. Other loans may be available from alternative sources. Some students may be eligible for federal work-study.
Cost of Study
In 2009–10, tuition is $615 per credit hour. Full-time students expect to spend $20,395 during the first year and $20,050 during the second year. Other costs include a $25 registration fee.
Living and Housing Costs
The University does not offer on-campus housing for graduate students, except those who work as resident assistants as part of their financial aid package. However, off-campus housing is available. Students can expect to spend $400–$1000 per month for a one-bedroom apartment and $850–$1300 for a two-bedroom apartment, depending on size and location.
Student Group
Approximately 75 students are enrolled in the program in any given year. These students come from a wide variety of social and economic backgrounds, but all are expected to have completed foundational courses in the areas of speech-language pathology and audiology, either through an undergraduate degree in the area or through foundational courses offered by the department.
Student Outcomes
Graduates of the program enter into careers as speech-language pathologists and/or audiologists, working with children and adults in a variety of settings, including public and private schools, acute and chronic care hospitals, rehabilitation centers, health departments, and home health agencies.
Location
Baltimore is one of the most visited cities in the nation, with 12 million visitors each year. The city has a variety of museums, art galleries, theaters, and music venues, as well as annual festivals. The Inner Harbor, a popular waterfront attraction, is surrounded by historic neighborhoods with unique shops and restaurants for every style and taste.
The University
Founded by Jesuits in 1852, Loyola University Maryland remains committed to the ideals embodied by the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus, which include an emphasis on academic excellence, the importance of the liberal arts, and the education of the whole person. The University enrolls approximately 6,100 students in a broad spectrum of programs that are practitioner-oriented and designed for professionals seeking a greater level of expertise and satisfaction in their careers.
Applying
Prospective students must submit a completed application form, official transcripts from each college or university attended, official GRE scores, a current resume or vitae, three letters of recommendation, an essay responding to the question on the application form, a Prerequisite Course Information Form, and a nonrefundable $50 application fee. The deadline to apply is February 15 for fall admission; decisions are made on a rolling basis until all open positions are filled.
The Faculty and Their Research
- Andrea Atticks, Professor; M.A., Colorado at Boulder. Dysphagia, aphasia, and traumatic brain injury.
- Cheryl Councill, Affiliate Clinical Faculty; M.S., Loyola (Baltimore). Early language intervention and Down syndrome, speech and language development in children with Down syndrome.
- Carin Feldman, Clinical Division Director; M.S., CUNY, Brooklyn. Language and management techniques.
- Sally Gallena, Affiliate Clinical Faculty; M.S., Loyola (Baltimore). Disorders of the larynx and voice, treatment of vocal cord dysfunction in athletes, treatment of habit cough.
- Mina Goodman, Affiliate Clinical Faculty and Division Director; M.Ed., M.S., Loyola (Baltimore). Early language intervention, speech and language development, treatment for children with Down syndrome.
- Marie Kerins, Assistant Professor; Ed.D., Johns Hopkins. Literacy and language in school-aged children, communication disorders of youth with emotional and behavioral problems.
- Libby Kumin, Professor; Ph.D., NYU. Communication skills in infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, and adults with Down syndrome.
- Danielle Matrangola, Affiliate Instructor; M.S., Loyola (Baltimore). Computerized approaches to rehabilitation; adult neurogenic disorders and dysphagia in sub-acute, acute care, and outpatient settings.
- Barbara Ness, Affiliate Clinical Faculty; M.S., Loyola (Baltimore). Apraxia, oral motor, children with infrequently occurring genetic disorders, early literacy.
- Donna Pitts, Affiliate Clinical Faculty; Au.D., Central Michigan. Central auditory processing issues, occupational hearing loss.
- Janet Preis, Assistant Professor; Ed.D., Johns Hopkins. Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders, role of communication on social functioning.
- Lisa Schoenbrodt, Professor; Ed.D., Johns Hopkins. Language learning disabilities in children and adolescents, pediatric traumatic brain injury, language development in post-institutionalized children.
- Kathleen Siren, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Kansas. Articulation and phonological development and disorders, acoustic analysis of speech and voice.
- Erin Stauder, Assistant Professor; M.S., Loyola (Baltimore). Issues in the birth–5 population, prevention programs, issues facing English language learners.
- Kara Tignor, Assistant Professor; M.S., Loyola (Baltimore). Language-based learning disorders and literacy development, phonological awareness development and disorders.
- Lura Vogelman, Affiliate Clinical Faculty; M.S., Loyola (Baltimore). Adult neurogenic disorders, dysphagia.
- Kathleen Ann Kelliher Ward, Affiliate Clinical Faculty; M.S., Towson. Audiology, sign language, aural rehabilitation.
Correspondence and Information
Loyola University Maryland
Office of Graduate Admission
4501 North Charles Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21210
Telephone:
410-617-5020
800-221-9107 Ext. 5020 (toll-free)
Email:
graduate@loyola.edu
