Clinical Education

Clinical education and clinical experiences are infused throughout the curriculum in our master's program.

Students have multiple opportunities to apply the knowledge they gain in academic courses and practice their clinical skills. Prior to graduation, students complete at least 400 clock hours of supervised clinical practicum that includes screening, assessment, and intervention of individuals with speech, language, voice, cognition, and communication differences and disorders across the lifespan.

Students in the master's degree program are required to earn a minimum of 375 supervised clinical practicum clock hours and 25 observation hours which could include up to 50 hours of CCC-supervised practica at the undergraduate level. Students can earn clinical hours through simulated cases and in our simulation lab, in our on-campus clinic and community partnerships, and through two off-campus externship experiences.

Given the wide number of clinical offerings available at Penn State, no two students will have the same clinical experiences. We aim to offer students a breadth of clinical experiences to provide a solid foundation for future clinical skills.

Simulated cases and simulation lab

By integrating simulated clinical opportunities we create a comprehensive learning experience aimed to equip our graduate students with the necessary skills, critical thinking abilities, and hands-on experience to excel in their future clinical practice. Students may earn up to 75 clinical hours using simulated cases.

Simucase

Simucase is an innovative platform that allows students to navigate through realistic case scenarios and apply the principles they have learned in the classroom.

The Simucase simulations are integrated into the academic coursework, providing students with the chance to bridge the gap between theory and practice. By working through these simulated cases, students can develop their critical thinking skills, clinical decision-making abilities, and hands-on competencies in a safe and controlled environment.

Simulation lab

Our Simulation Lab, located within the Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic, replicates an inpatient hospital room. This simulation-based learning approach allows students to practice their clinical skills and techniques in a low-stakes setting, honing their expertise and confidence before engaging with real clients. 

On-campus clinic and community partnerships (Practica)

Master's students are assigned to clinical practica in the Penn State Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic during the first fall and spring semesters and second fall semester of their degree program.

These clinical experiences are supervised by Penn State clinical faculty who oversee the on-campus, community outreach, and telepractice services provided by our students. Additionally, students may have the opportunity for a one-day-per-week placement with one of our community partners.

Our comprehensive clinical education program ensures that our graduate students receive diverse, hands-on training to develop their skills and prepare them for successful careers in the field of speech-language pathology.

You can view the speech and language services provided as an example of possible clinical experiences.

All clinical faculty are certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and licensed by the State of Pennsylvania Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

Externships

All students in our graduate program in speech-language pathology complete two off-campus externships in addition to their on-campus clinical practica. Our externship coordinator has fostered relationships with various sites to place students in externship opportunities that enhance their professional and personal development. Students do not enroll in additional coursework during these externships, allowing them to focus entirely on the externship experience. 

Typically, students complete a 10-week externship during the summer session and a 15-week externship during their final spring semester. Before they are permitted to go on their final semester externship, students must have completed 200 hours of CCC-supervised practica.

The externship sites and individual placements are determined by the externship coordinator, with consideration given to the students' geographic preferences and interests for professional development. While students may not always get their first choice of externship placements, we strive to provide them with a variety of clinical experiences across our field to ensure they are well-prepared for their clinical fellowship.

Students interested in earning Pennsylvania Department of Education Instructional Level I certification must complete their final externship in a school setting. 

Based on student preferences, we have placed students across Pennsylvania and throughout the northeastern United States; however, a clinical placement within driving distance of the University Park campus is also an available option. 

We have developed many partnerships with ASHA-certified externship supervisors at sites in medical and education settings, such as:

• Rehabilitation centers
• Child-development centers
• In-patient and out-patient hospitals
• Community clinics
• School districts