The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program (MS-SLP) at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) has been granted updated Accreditation Candidacy status from the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. CAA, upon board review, approved this change in accreditation status to launch the MS-SLP program at the University’s new campus in Dallas.
“This accreditation status is awarded to developing or emerging programs and allows USAHS to evolve the MS-SLP program while enrolling students with confidence that the university will document ongoing compliance with standards and achieve full accreditation,” said MS-SLP Academic Program Director Dr. Kathy Wheat.
“We are dedicated to educating passionate health care professionals who will be leaders in their fields and who will advance our communities by helping to fill gaps in critical health care areas. Adding the MS-SLP program to our degree offerings is an important part of increasing the interprofessional nature of our programs and is in direct response to the growing demand for SLP practitioners in Texas, and the nation,” said Dr. Cindy Mathena, Dean of the College of Health Sciences.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the demand for health care practitioners is increasing substantially – especially for speech-language pathologists. The BLS forecast shows that the demand for speech-language pathologists will far outpace the supply in Texas by the year 2026, with a predicted 27 percent increase in the number of new SLP practitioners needed to meet the health care needs of the state.
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences opened the new campus in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex earlier this year to help meet the growing demand for qualified rehabilitative science professionals and advanced-practice nurses in Texas. Located in the Riverside Commons complex in Irving-Las Colinas, USAHS Dallas is situated on a 13-acre campus located at the Southwest corner of Highway 114 and Riverside Drive, adjacent to the Lake Carolyn recreation area.
“The university’s success blends our modern, interdisciplinary health sciences education with a focus on unparalleled patient care and service to the community,” said Dr. Divina Grossman, USAHS President and Chief Academic Officer. “A big part of our mission is to positively impact the communities we serve, and the university has demonstrated that in a variety of ways, from numerous community clinics and other service projects in Texas aimed at helping those with disabilities, mobility challenges due to disease, and senior citizens.”
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) is a graduate institution that offers degree programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, nursing, education and health care administration, as well as continuing education programs. Founded in 1979, USAHS educates students through its network of campuses in San Marcos, California; St. Augustine and Miami in Florida; and Austin and Dallas in Texas. USAHS graduates the largest number of masters and doctoral students in physical therapy and occupational therapy in the United States. USAHS is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and depicts its commitment to social responsibility through its B Corp certification.
