Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology Degree at Nova Southeastern University

Historical Perspective:
Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is an independent, nonsectarian, nonprofit university charted by the state of Florida in 1964. NSU is located in South Florida in one of the largest and most culturally diverse counties within the state. NSU is currently ranked the 16^th largest private university in the country.

From its inception, the university has been distinguished by its innovative outlook, its unique educational programs that provide traditional and non-traditional choices, and its multidisciplinary research aimed at solving problems of immediate concern to mankind. The university's centers and programs share a common mission, to prepare students to assume leadership roles in a variety of professions.

The SLP.D. program at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) represents an innovative, practical, and realistic approach to professional doctoral studies. The program was initiated in 1996 as the first distance education delivery program for doctoral candidates.



Program Philosophy, Purpose and Goals:

The philosophy for development of the program was based on the identified needs of the working professional, including; being able to access an "earned" doctoral degree within their profession, at a time and place convenient for the student.

The program purpose is to improve the lives of patients and families by augmenting the professional and leadership skills of speech-language professionals. Additionally, the program was developed to improve the quality of service within the profession of speech-language.

The program goals are to improve the speech-language pathology professional in areas of clinical practice, research, knowledge, problem-solving, leadership, and perspective.

The Cohort Concept:

Each cohort is a group of 8 to 15 speech-language pathology professionals who live and work in a variety of settings and begin the program at the same time. The cohort is intended to serve both administrative and educational purposes. Each cohort operates under the direction of a cohort facilitator who coordinates administrative details and cohort activities and serves to support students through consistent and ongoing contact.

Formal instruction takes place during weekend seminars, on campus, at a variety of distance sites, or via a home-based distance option. Students participate in faculty-directed independent reading and writing assignments between class meetings. All instruction is delivered via live electronic communication and technologies into the distance students' homes.