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Suncoast Program Requirements

This nine-semester program is specifically designed to educate bachelor's level professionals working full time as Speech-Language clinicians in a Suncoast Consortium school district. For a list of the public school districts within the Suncoast Consortium, please click here. Students must be employed full time in a participating Florida public school district as a Speech-Language clinician, and the school must provide mentorship and supervision throughout the student’s program of study. Suncoast students complete the same curriculum as Residential students via distance learning. Pediatric clinical experiences are obtained at students’ worksites, and adult-based practicum are completed in summer semesters. Students should be aware that there is an additional technology fee for distance courses. Once accepted into the program, students must maintain full-time employment as a bachelor’s level Speech-Language clinician in a collaborating school district.

Please note, some school districts may require that a student apply and be admitted to the Suncoast Master's program prior to official hiring. In this case, students may apply for the Suncoast Master's program and employment with their school district must begin prior to beginning coursework in the fall. Additionally, the school district Speech and Language Coordinator will need to write a letter stating that the district will provide a mentor to support the applicant during all practica scheduled to occur in the public school system (a total of 4 practica). 

The Suncoast program requires students to have access to computers with high-speed internet connections and peripheral hardware (e.g., combined microphone/headsets, video recording equipment etc.). Students will complete practicum experiences in the collaborating school district in which they are employed. Students must also complete at least one clinical practicum at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center in Lakeland, Florida, and one externship experience during two of the summers of their three-year program.  

A limited number of students are admitted to the Suncoast Consortium each year, and students will progress through the program as a cohort. 

Additional Suncoast Requirements

All applicants must meet general University requirements (see Graduate Admissions) and have completed the following set of pre‐requisite courses at an accredited institution, which are also required for state licensure and national certification in speech‐language pathology. 91tvӰԺ Course Codes are given for reference.

• Introduction to Language Development and Disorders (SPA 3004)
• Introduction to Speech Science (SPA 3011)
• Introduction to Hearing Science (SPA 3030)
• Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism (SPA 3101)
• Applied Phonetics in Communication Disorders (SPA 3112)
• Introduction to Disorders of Hearing (SPA 3310)
• Neuroanatomy (SPA 4104)

If you have an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders:

Completed coursework should be in the basic speech, language, and hearing sciences. No practicum experience is required. The admissions committee will review your transcript to ensure that all of the pre-requisite coursework listed above has been completed. Please take special note of the requirement for a course in Neuroanatomy prior to entry in the graduate program. This course may be completed at 91tvӰԺ during the summer prior to Fall admission. Completion of this course is required for ASHA certification.

If you come from a non-CSD background:

The pre-requisite coursework does not need to be completed by the application deadline. However, in order to apply for the graduate program, the applicant must demonstrate that he/she will have completed this coursework prior to matriculation into the graduate program in the Fall semester.

GPA of 3.2 or above is required for all completed coursework after the first 60 hours.