What Makes Northeastern University's Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Programs Different?

We offer an MS in Speech-Language Pathology and an Au.D. Most programs in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology have similarities in the curriculum since our scope of practice is determined by our national accrediting agency, the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). The differences among the programs are in the settings of the programs (College, University or Hospital) the research interests of the faculty, and the facilities. Here are some of the features that we believe make Northeastern unique and attractive to graduate students:

1. Our faculty is comprised of internationally recognized researchers who are all active in their fields and involve students in their research.

Please visit our faculty page to see all of their bios. They combine interests in theory with a focus on practice-oriented research.

Our faculty have links with world-recognized hospitals such as Boston's Children's
Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital, Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

2. We have student-centered and friendly faculty.

Students comment on the close relationship they develop with faculty and the
willingness of faculty to support students to reach their maximum potential. We
also help students develop extra curricular activities through professional clubs and associations as well as parties! Our Director of SLP Clinical Services and official party chair is Marjorie North, who is much-loved by our students. Matthews Distinguished Professor Mary Florentine and SLP Clinic Director Marjorie North are actively involved in guiding our NU Student Speech-Language and Hearing Association (NUSSHLA).

3. We have a few foci that distinguish us from other Programs.

We have programs in both speech-language pathology and audiology. This allows
students to learn more than usual about these two disciplines and how they
relate, which is particularly important in dealing with children with cochlear
implants, for example. We are the only program in Boston with an Au.D.

A group of our faculty has a focus on technology use and development with a
particular interest in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). We all
develop and use technology in our research but it must be "technology with a
human face." It must meet the needs of the user. For example, Ralf Schlosser, the
Department Chair, is using speech output systems to teach autistic children to read.
Rupal Patel is working on a communication system that selects vocabulary
according to which room the user is in. She is also developing technology to
help children read fluently by training them to understand and incorporate
prosody into their reading aloud.

We are all involved in evidence-based practice led by Ralf Schlosser, an expert
in this area. This approach requires clinical practice to be motivated by the
most pertinent findings in the literature, as they relate to individual clients.

4. Our facilities are new and state of the art.

We have faculty offices and newly renovated research space in the Forsyth
Building. We utilize the classrooms in the high-tech Behrakis Health Sciences
Center, which opened in 2003.

5. Our Speech-Language and Hearing Center, our on-site Clinic, is the heart of the Department.

Our goal is to provide our students with an unparalleled interdisciplinary clinical experience both on and off campus. The center provides services in both speech-language pathology and audiology to members of the Boston Community. These services are provided by the students under the supervision of our clinical faculty, five days and two evenings a week. Our center houses over $800,000 of new equipment.

6. Our clinical audiology program, ably directed by Sandra Cleveland, benefits from a recent endowment of over a million dollars from the Boston Guild for the Hard of Hearing, a distinguished and venerable charitable organization, whose roots
in Boston go back to the early 1900s.

This generous gift allows us to expand our educational and support services into
the community.

7. The university campus is a green and pleasant place for students and faculty to spend their time.

Students describe Northeastern University as having a "campus feel." The landscaping and design give Northeastern University a small-town feeling.

Northeastern University's location in the heart of the city allows rapid access to sports venues, shopping, museums, concert-halls and, most importantly, clinical sites. We are conveniently close to public transportation.

8. Northeastern is large urban University nationally recognized for its focus on practice-oriented education.

Students have endless opportunities to combine theory and practice through academics, clinical experiences, research, and community service.

Students frequently choose to enroll in elective courses in areas of personal interest as part of their graduate program. For example, some of our students take electives in American Sign Language, Multicultural Service Delivery, and Neuroscience.

Students may elect to complete a thesis.

Students may contribute their developing skills to various groups or causes within the local, national, and international communities.

Ralf Schlosser, SLPA Department Chair
Tel: 617-373-3785
E-mail: r.schlosser@neu.edu