Degree Requirements

Master’s Degree Requirements

The master’s degree program requires the equivalent of four semesters of full-time study plus a minimum of 4 credits during the summer, the exact number depending on the specific prerequisites that have been completed prior to entering the graduate program. All course plans are individualized based on student needs. Course selection depends upon the student’s undergraduate preparation and professional and certification goals. A minimum of 67 credits plus successful completion of a comprehensive written examination are required. For qualified students, a thesis may be substituted for the written examination.

Each student’s plan of study must be approved by their faculty advisor. A minimum of 67 credits for courses at the graduate level, with at least 59 credits taken at Boston University, are required for the degree. At least one semester must be devoted to full-time study, and all degree requirements must be completed within five years after initial matriculation in the program. Satisfactory performance on the comprehensive examination is required unless the faculty approves a thesis as a substitute.

Grade Point Average

Continued enrollment in the graduate program is contingent upon the maintenance of a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students whose GPA falls below 3.0 in any semester are placed on probation and are ineligible to participate in a clinical experience while on probation. Students whose GPA falls below 3.0 for more than one consecutive semester will be terminated from the program. This applies to all graduate students enrolled for more than 4 credits in a semester. The acceptability of C or C+ work in required courses is subject to departmental faculty approval. Required courses receiving grades of C– and below must be repeated; a student may repeat a required course only once.

A clinical practicum experience that receives a grade of B– or below must be repeated. If a student receives a second grade of B– or below in a clinical practicum experience, they will be terminated from the program. To count clinical practicum clock and credit hours toward ASHA certification, the student must receive a practicum grade of B– or better.

For prerequisite courses that are being completed by matriculating MS students, any course with a grade of C or below must be repeated. Matriculating MS students must also achieve a grade of B or higher in SAR SH 547/647 Introduction to the Clinical Process before they are eligible to enroll in SAR SH 740 Introduction to Practicum.

Doctoral Degree Requirements

• A minimum of 48 credits in graduate-level coursework (700 level or above)
• A mentored project, qualifying research paper and a dissertation
• Twelve credits of coursework below the 700 level may be allowed with the approval of the student’s doctoral planning committee.

All candidates for the doctoral degree must demonstrate both content area expertise and basic research skills. All degree requirements must be completed within seven years of beginning the MS/PhD program.

Grade Point Average

Candidates must achieve an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher. No more than eight credits of C or C+ work will be accepted toward the degree, and the acceptability of any C or C+ work in required courses is subject to program faculty approval. Continued matriculation in the doctoral program is contingent upon maintaining a minimum 3.0 grade point average.

Doctoral candidates must also fulfill a residency requirement.