MS in Speech-Language Pathology

Strategic Plan 2023-2026

Are You a Patient?

Vision

The USC Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology will become a premier program in Speech-Language Pathology, providing our students a training experience that involves deep connections to research, focus on clinical care and service to individuals with communication and swallowing disorders within a multicultural urban community.

Click to view the USC MS SLP Strategic Plan 2023 – 2026.

Photo of the Tommy Trojan statue at USC main campus.

Values

Ethics – Inclusive Spirit – Cultural Sensitivity – Leadership – Community Engagement and Service – Access and Opportunity – Person Centered Care – Wellness – Compassion – Research – Collaboration and Interprofessional Education – Innovation

Mission Statement

The USC M.S. Speech-Language Pathology Program is dedicated to providing engaging and innovative academic and clinical education to prepare speech- language pathologists with the knowledge and skills to:

Provide evidence-based and culturally-sensitive services to persons with communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan;

Engage in interprofessional and collaborative practice for the prevention, identification, assessment and treatment of those in their care, and

Advocate for persons with communication and swallowing disorders, their families and the profession with an inquisitive mindset to ensure the pursuit of life-long learning regarding advancements in the field.

Strategic Priorities

  • Goal

    CAA Initial Accreditation Approval

    Strategic Objectives

    1. Approval of CAA Annual Reports submitted 8/1
    2. Address concerns raised by CAA
    3. Submit Application for Initial Accreditation
    4. Initial Accreditation Approval
    2023-2024 2024-2025 2025-2026
    1. Report submitted 8/1/23 was approved February 2024 No annual report required this year, since we had a site visit and are under consideration for Initial Accreditation.  
    2. No concerns Following site visit two items required follow-up and this was submitted in May per the deadline given.  
    3. To be submitted 8/1/24 Site Visit for Initial Accreditation was conducted Feb 27 – 28, 2025; awaiting CAA final determination in August 2025.  

    Issues (Barriers)

    1. Time to work on reports for CAA
    2. Addressing surprises in CAA feedback
    3. Keeping up with new CAA requirements and/or changes

    Baseline

    1. Approval of first Annual Report 2022

    Desired Outcomes

    1. CAA Initial Accreditation Approved

  • Goal

    Exceptional Preparation resulting in a variety of career options

    Strategic Objectives

    1. Build more clinical placements in health care and private practice
    2. Alignment of academic training and clinical opportunities
    2023-2024 2024-2025 2025-2026
    1.  Increase of placements (more medical and private practice); overall increase of 10 new placement sites for this year to 135 clinical placements. Continued to increase private practices and hospital placements to provide more adult hours; 2024 – increase by 13; 2025 – increase by 16  
     2. Ongoing.  More direct connections between clinical educators and clinical faculty.  Created more opportunities for guest lectures and hands-on clinical trainings. More academic alignment with clinical through having academic faculty join clinical faculty in site visits and discussing student preparation and readiness with CEs. Offer training every semester to CE. Curriculum alignment between academic course instructors to ensure that students are prepared for clinical experience. Ongoing.  The academic and clinical faculty meet regularly to discuss what skills need to be emphasized in academic classes so that students can be successful in clinical settings, based on either student or clinical educator (CE) feedback.  Adult/medical faculty member visits clinical sites to discuss student success with CEs.  Ongoing curriculum alignment and CE training.  

    Issues (Barriers)

    1. Geographic area large making access difficult for students and faculty in some areas
    2. Health care settings limited in the number of student placements they will take, including number of students they can take for placement
    3. Time for academic faculty to connect with clinical educators to ensure application of skills

    Baseline

    1. Robust academic requirements
    2. Estimated 125 clinical placements

    Baseline

    1. Robust academic requirements
    2. Estimated 125 clinical placements

    Desired Outcomes

    1. Increase health care placements
    2. Increase private practice placements
    3. Increase number and variety of clinical opportunities.
    4. Support Student specialization and employment opportunities
    5. More academic and clinical connections

     

  • Goal

    Expand the USC MS-SLP Student Experience through program traditions and engagement with the KSOM and the USC community

    Strategic Objectives

    1. Increase Access to Well-Being Resources
    2. Increase Faculty Training and Resources to support students
    3. Identify opportunities to expand experiences unique to USC program
    2023-2024 2024-2025 2025-2026
    1. Guest speakers at Coffee and Conversation to discuss mental health issues (social worker, OT, mental health dean); faculty advising; NSSHLA organized activities for community building; Participation in Keck Wellness Survey; OT Life Design faculty provided training on aspects of well-being – sleep hygiene, study habits, etc. during Coffee and Conversation.  Topics based on student voting.

    Student Advisory meetings every two months with Program Director and Clinical Education Director to share student concerns.

    Utilize “YOU ASKED – WE DID” format to report back to students on responses to their input.

    We are more responsive in addressing community concerns and how these impact our students.  For example, contacting them and checking on their safety during the LA Fires and also providing other community resources for other community needs.

    		  
    2. Trainings within KECK; OASIS met with faculty; Participation in Wellness survey KSOM Medical Education conference attendance by all faculty; other KECK trainings attended; Most faculty attended ASHA Convention;  Utilization of USC Center for  Excellence and Teaching trainings and resources; Participation on Health Sciences Campus Student Affairs Council (new this year) ; NSSHLA Gold Chapter status.  
    3. IPE day; NSSHLA community events (Black History Month, LA Times Festival of Books, CHLA walk; Apraxia Walk) Added Brain Anatomy Lab; Dysphagia and Voice classes collaboration for labs and speakers for greater clarity  for laryngeal dysfunction; Expansion of Capstone labs.  

    Issues (Barriers)

    1. Time limitations for both faculty and students
    2. Awareness of our program throughout university and Health Sciences
    3. Limitations of resources

    Baseline

    1. KSOM Wellbeing Survey for SLP showing high level of burnout, although high level of engagement in their studies
    2. Participation on KSOM Learner Wellbeing Committee (Students and Faculty)
    3. Increased number of faculty to make connections

    Desired Outcomes

    1. Develop Well-being plan for MS SLP
    2. Dedicated time to promote program within other programs

  • Goal

    Local, State and National Program Recognition through Increased Outreach to USC, KSOM and CSD Community

    Strategic Objectives

    1. Identify opportunities to expand community outreach
    2. Build stronger presence w/ USC, KSOM, Keck
    3. Establishing Mechanisms for Post-Grad engagement such as Alumni network/USC Professional Network/Outreach to former USC CSD Alums
    2023-2024 2024-2025 2025-2026
    1. CHLA walk with NSSHLA; Pride Walk, Festival of Books; World Voice Day. Participation in various groups’ walks – CHLA, Dysphonia, etc. ; Participated in USC Earth Day clean up; Spoke at several high school and UG sessions to increase awareness of SLP; Students participated in Community Health Fair;

    Community Advisory Meeting discussions at annual meeting in October and participation in CAA Site Visit

    		  
    2. Volunteered BHM; Wellbeing activities at library Participated in KSOM Graduation at Galen Center; Student placements within OHNS clinics.  
    3. Data base for alumni using email, phone, social media Ongoing.  Survey of alumni with positive results. Survey of employers about our graduated – positive results;  

    Issues (Barriers)

    1. New Program
    2. Large institution
    3. Time constraints for outreach and networking due to other responsibilities

    Baseline

    1. IPE Day Participation and Faculty Planning
    2. New NSSHLA Chapter

    Desired Outcomes

    1. Initiate training opportunities for clinical educators and CSD community
    2. Host One Professional Conference Annually
    3. Establish Alumni Club
    4. Increased faculty participation on KSOM committees

  • Goal

    Connect the MS-SLP Program to Academic, Research and Clinical Opportunities within the University and KSOM, including scholarship support

    Strategic Objectives

    1. Scholarships
      • Connect with Donors
      • Funding -Development Fundraisers
    2. Investigate funding resources from UPC for KSOM
    3. Explore resources for faculty research
    4. Ways to involve students in presenting capstone research
    2023-2024 2024-2025 2025-2026
    1. Attempts have been made to work with development officer; ongoing Ongoing attempts to work with USC fundraisers have not been successful; however, we have become aware of some scholarships available to our students and one received a $10,000 award;  Orange County Chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) awarded two $1,000 scholarships to students from OC.  Faculty developed the process;

    We have developed a site containing a collection of possible scholarships for students; this is posted on the student hub for MS SLP Students. Faculty share resources with students as they learn about them.

    		  
    2. Ongoing    
    3. Exploring deans’ funding and university funding Resources from USC Research are emailed to all faculty; two faculty have participated in ASHA Pathways and Lessons for Success  
    4. Cohorts present to each other; students have submitted to ASHA and other conferences; students develop posters as their final
    		ASHA, CSHA Presentations; ongoing presentations in fall and spring to first year students by the second year capstones – successful  

    Issues (Barriers)

    1. No Scholarships
    2. Time to work on this
    3. No dedicated time for research for faculty

    Baseline

    1. Dean’s Scholarship 2023
    2. Education Fund for MS SLP Established
    3. Growing faculty engagement with researchers

    Desired Outcomes

    1. Create information on Scholarships and other Financial Aid resources for students
    2. Build Student Education Fund

Mechanism for Regular Evaluation of the Strategic Plan

The Faculty of the MS Speech-Language Pathology Program reviews the strategies and goals of the Strategic Plan once a year during the annual (July) Faculty Retreat. The Strategic Plan is also be reviewed at the Annual Community Advisory meeting (October). In addition, the Strategic Plan is posted to the website.