Emphasis in Bilingual Speech-Language Pathology
 The emphasis in bilingual speech-language pathology (EBSLP) is a specialized option within the graduate program in speech-language pathology at Texas Christian University. Students specializing in bilingual speech-language pathology receive academic and clinical training in:
- Speech and language development and disorders in bilingual chidren, with an emphasis on Spanish-English speakers.
- Speech and language processing, and communication disorders in adult bilinguals, with an emphasis on Spanish-English speakers.
- Clinical techniques for the identification, assessment, and management of communication disorders in linguistically and culturally adults and children.
The EBSLP program equips bilingual students to provide clinical services to linguistically and culturally diverse children and adults who present communication disorders. Students enrolled into the bilingual track will obtain the majority of their clinical experiences with bilingual children and adults. Because of TCU's location in a state with a large Hispanic population, the language of focus in the program is Spanish. However, the information and skills acquired in the courses and clinical work are applicable for working with individuals whose primary language is other than English and Spanish.
EBSLP Faculty
The EBSLP enjoys the support of all members of the clinical and academic faculty. In particular, a student enrolled in the EBSLP program will interact with the following faculty due their academic, clinical, and/or research interests.
Maria L. Muñoz, Ph.D., (University of Texas), Associate Professor; CCC SLP. Areas of interest: adult neurogenic language disorders, speech and language disorders in bilingual populations; multicultural issues.
E-mail address: m.munoz@tcu.edu
Web page
Irmgard Payne, M.S., (Texas Christian University), Instructor; CCC-SLP. Areas of interest: speech and language disorders in bilingual populations; multicultural issues; foreign accent modification.
E-mail address: i.payne@tcu.edu
Web page
Raul Prezas, PhD, (Wichita
State University), Assistant Professor; CCC-SLP. Areas of interest:
Phonological development and disorders; bilingual assessment
and intervention; Care of the professional voice.
Email: r.prezas@tcu.edu
Web
page
Jennifer B. Watson, Ph.D.,
(Northwestern University), Associate Professor; CCC-SLP. Areas
of interest: fluency disorders and stuttering; research methodology;
linguistically and culturally diverse populations.
E-mail address: j.watson@tcu.edu
Web page
Lynita Yarbrough, M.S., (Texas Christian University), Adjunct; CCC-SLP. Areas of interest: speech and language disorders in bilingual populations; multicultural issues.
E-mail address: losyarbros4@mac.com
Admission to the Emphasis in Bilingual Speech Language Pathology
Prospective students must complete the TCU application for admissions for graduate studies in speech-pathology. On the application, please indicate your interest in the bilingual program by answering yes to the following question “Do you intend to pursue the Bilingual program with your MS in Speech-Language Pathology?” Once the completed application is received, you will be contacted by phone to determine eligibility for the bilingual training program.
Students who wish to be considered for enrollment in EBSLP must meet the following prerequisites:
- Native or near-native proficiency in spoken and written Spanish and English
- B.A. in speech-language pathology, or its equivalent.
- A 3.0 scholastic average on a 4.0 scale.
Scholarship Opportunities
Qualified applicants may receive one of several forms of financial assistance. These awards offer tuition remission and require up to eight hours per week of service to the program. Some awards include a monthly stipend. A limited number of scholarships are available.
Contact Information
For questions related specifically to the EBSLP please contact:
Dr. Maria L. Muñoz, PhD, CCC-SLP
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
TCU BOX 297450
Fort Worth, TX 76129
817-257-7621
For general questions regarding admissions to graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology please contact:
Dr. Christopher Watts
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
TCU BOX 297450
Fort Worth, TX 76129
817-257-7621
Academic Training and the EBSLP
Students are expected to complete the required coursework
for a Masters of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
In lieu of COSD 60353 (Sociolinguistics), students in the bilingual
training program enroll in COSD 60273. Additionally, students
will enroll in an advanced course in bilingual speech pathology
(COSD 60233).
COSD 60233 Speech, Language, and Cognition in Adult Bilinguals.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing in speech-language pathology
and consent of instructor. Study of literature in neurolinguistics,
psycholinguistics and sociolinguistic aspects of bilingualism
in adulthood. Includes current practices in the assessment
and treatment of communication disorders in non-English
speaking and bilingual adults.
COSD 60273 Assessment and Treatment of Communication Disorders
in Bilingual Children.
Prerequisites: Graduate
standing in speech-language pathology and consent of instructor.
Study of bilingual speech and language development, societal
and individual influences on bilingualism, and current practices
in the assessment and treatment of communication disorders
in non-English speaking and bilingual children.
The MA in Speech pathology is a 2 year
program. The following is a typical degree
plan for a student enrolled in the EBSLP program.
Research Opportunities
Students are encouraged to participate in the multicultural research being conducted by faculty in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Students who are awarded scholarships will be assigned to a faculty member to serve as a research and teaching assistant. Students enrolled in the EBSLP will be assigned to a faculty member conducting research related to bilingual speech-language pathology. Activities include transcribing speech and language samples collected from adults and children, collecting and analyzing data, and participating in clinical research. Additionally, students with an interest in conducting supervised research will be encouraged to consider completing a thesis to meet graduation requirements.
Active projects include the following:
Clinical Research in Bilingual (Spanish/English) Aphasia
Lead researcher: Dr. Maria L. Muñoz
Stuttering in Spanish Speakers
Lead researcher: Dr. Jennifer Watson
Phonological development and bilingual
children
Lead researcher: Dr. Raul Prezas
Clinical Training and the EBSLP
Students are expected to complete a minimum of 125 (out of 400) clinical clock hours with bilingual and non-English speaking individuals. The COSD faculty is committed to ensuring that students in the bilingual speech-language pathology training program can meet ASHA requirements while serving a culturally and linguistically diverse population, particularly Spanish speaking children and adults.
Head Start
During the first year of graduate training, the bilingual student clinicians provide supervised speech-language screening, assessment, and treatment services to pre-school children enrolled in Head Start. The students and supervisor travel to several Head Start centers in the Fort Worth area to provide services on-site. The Head Start centers that participate have significant number of children who are Spanish-speaking or bilingual.
Miller Speech and Hearing Clinic
During the first and second years, students are assigned to diagnostic and treatment slots at the Miller Speech and Hearing Clinic. Students are supervised by various members of the academic and clinical faculty. Bilingual students will often be assigned to clients who are bilingual or Spanish speaking. This allows students to gain experience working with adults and children with a variety of communication disorders (aphasia, traumatic brain injury, stuttering, voice, etc).
Externships
Students are assigned to externship sites the summer following their first year, and during one semester of their second year. A variety of sites are available, including schools and local hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Every effort is made to assign bilingual students to externship sites with a significant bilingual and Spanish-speaking patient/student population. Strong support for the bilingual training program exists within the Fort Worth community. Many bilingual graduates of TCU serve as externship supervisors.
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