Post-Master’s Certificate in Bilingual Speech-Language Pathology for Practitioners

Bilingual Speech-Language Pathology for Practitioners is offered through the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. The program offers a unique and much-need educational opportunity to clinicians who work with culturally and linguistically diverse populations, with the long-term of goal growing the number of qualified bilingual service providers.

Mentoring and advising are an essential part of the program. Students meet with faculty and the academic program director to ensure that educational goals and career learning and development goals are met. Students should contact Professor Karen Miranda, via email: kmm29@umd.edu.

The Post-Master’s in Bilingual Speech-Language Pathology for Practitioners, Online (Z167) is a 12-credit, 5-course graduate program that emphasizes the clinical application and training in bilingual service delivery.

• Provides licensed speech language pathologists with the knowledge and skills needed to serve clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Intended for both bilingual and monolingual speech-language pathologists who work with bilingual clients.
• Upon completion, students can diagnose communication disorders in both bilingual and monolingual speakers, apply intervention strategies for treatment of communication disorders, demonstrate knowledge about current issues in cultural and linguistic diversity in the field of speech-language pathology, and explain the social and cognitive processes underlying bilingualism and bilingual language development.
• Can be completed in twelve months of continuous enrollment. See Designation of Full-time/Part-time Status.

Registration Overview

• See the sample plan of study, below. Students should use this as a guide to develop a plan with the academic program director.
• Actual course offerings are determined by the program and may vary semester to semester. Students should note if a course has a pre-requisite or co-requisite.
• Specific class meeting information (days and time) is posted on UMD’s interactive web service services, Testudo. Once on that site, select “Schedule of Classes,” then the term/year. Courses are listed by academic unit. 
• The program uses specific section codes for registration, which are listed on the sample plan of study.

Sample Plan

Courses

For a listing of program courses, see the Graduate School Catalog program requirements for Z167. For course descriptions that includes pre-requisites or co-requisites, see HESP.

Overall 

• Uses the semester academic calendar with classes held in fall and spring semester (16 weeks each), Winter Session (3-weeks), and Summer Session (two 6-week sessions).
• Instruction provided by University of Maryland faculty and professionals in the field.

Online Learning

• Using advanced audio and video technology, UMD’s online learning environment delivers dynamic and interactive content. 
• Featuring convenience and flexibility, online instruction permits asynchronous or synchronous participation.
• Lectures are video archived. Students who are unable to attend in real time can review the session through asynchronous participation.

Upon successful completion, graduates will have mastered the following competencies:

• Diagnose communication disorders in both bilingual and monolingual speakers of a language other than English. This includes the ability to distinguish between a language difference and a language disorder.
• Effectively apply intervention strategies for treatment of communication disorders in the language or mode of communication most appropriate for the needs of the individual, taking into account cultural practices.
• Demonstrate knowledge about current issues in cultural and linguistic diversity in the field of speech-language pathology, and current best practices.
• Use and explain the social and cognitive processes underlying bilingualism and bilingual language development, and the application to clinical practice.