Northern Illinois University
School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders
College of Health and Human Sciences

The Multicultural Certificate in Speech-Language Pathology is a 12-credit hour program designed to give you the skills you need to provide culturally and linguistically responsive, evidence-based speech-language pathology assessment and intervention services to individuals across the lifespan.  

If you're currently a graduate student in speech-language pathology, you are eligible to apply for the Multicultural Certificate in Speech-Language Pathology program.

Through this program you'll study:

• Terminology and concepts related to multicultural aspects of speech-language pathology.
• Sociocultural influences on language development, child rearing/family dynamics and daily interactions.
• Typical second language acquisition.
• Evidence-based assessment and intervention approaches for individuals who speak a language and/or dialect other than or in addition to Standard American English across the lifespan.
• Skills necessary for critical appraisal of research to ensure equitable and inclusive approaches to research studies of individuals who speak a language and/or dialect other than or in addition to Standard American English across the lifespan.
• Policies and laws to prepare you to advocate for your future clients to ensure equity and inclusion for all clients served by speech-language pathologists.
• Evidence-based components necessary for cultural humility, including but not limited to discussion on privilege, implicit biases, identifying and responding to microaggressions, and the importance of self-reflection and life-long learning.

Admission

You must have an undergraduate degree and be admitted to the graduate program in speech-language pathology and be in good standing as a graduate student.

Apply Now

To the Multicultural Certificate in Speech-Language Pathology program.

Fall application deadline: August 15

Program Requirements

This 12-credit hour program includes five required courses from the Communicative Disorders program, the Literacy Education program, and the Human Development and Family Sciences program. Visit the graduate catalog for a complete list of requirements. Learn more about the example plan of study.

• COMD 610: Multicultural Aspects of Speech-Language Pathology (3)
• COMD 700: Portfolio (0)
• COMD 775: Seminar in Speech-Language Pathology (3)
• HDFS 588: Working with Ethnically Diverse Children & Families in the U.S. (3)
• LTIC 547: Assessment of Language Minority Students (3)

A service-learning project and supervised clinical experiences with individuals who speak a language or dialect other than or in addition to Standard American English is also required.