Learning Therapy Preparation

www.smu.edu/LearningTherapy

The Learning Therapy Preparation curriculum is designed for individuals interested in working with children or adults who have dyslexia or related written-language learning disorders. Participants are trained in the structures of written English, multisensory teaching methods and sequential procedures for teaching written-language skills and learning strategies. Learning Therapy Preparation requires two years of graduate study, extensive practicum teaching hours, seminars and clinical teaching hours. All of the courses (totaling 22 credit hours) are designed to teach the knowledge and skills prescribed by the National Academic Language Therapy Association and the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council, which accredits courses that prepare individuals in the use of multisensory structured language education programs.

Students who would like to complete the M.Ed. degree program while engaged in learning therapy preparation should apply to the Master of Education program and apply the 22 credit-hour specialization in Learning Therapy to the MEd program requirements. Although students preparing for careers in learning therapy primarily come from elementary and secondary education, nursing, psychology, speech-language pathology, diagnostics, and counseling, a wide variety of other educational and professional fields may be appropriate backgrounds for the profession.

Admission Requirements

Before enrolling in Learning Therapy Preparation, all students must provide the following:

1. A formal application with the $40 nonrefundable application fee.
2. An official transcript from the school that awarded the applicant’s baccalaureate degree; the transcript must show both degree status (such as bachelor’s degrees completed) and an overall GPA of 3.000 or better.
3. A personal statement of goals that reflects an interest in learning and motivation for becoming an academic language therapist.
4. A written summary of work experience.
5. Admission requirements are periodically updated. Please visit the Teaching and Learning website at www.smu.edu/teacher for specific admission requirements.