The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program (SLP Master’s Program) provides a broad-based technical education in speech-language pathology in an environment that supports clinical services and research. Students are exposed to a wide range of approaches towards diagnostic testing, treatment interventions, and clinical methodology in speech-language pathology, coupled with research and scientific foundations that support those approaches. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), the prevalence of speech sound disorder in young children is 8 to 9%. The majority of these speech disorders have no known causes. Therefore, students who wish to engage themselves in rewarding careers that promote health, improve the quality of life, reduce health disparities, and manage disability or injury are certain to benefit tremendously from a Master’s in Speech Pathology online program. While many colleges refer to this program as Master of Science in Speech Pathology, there are even more that go with the title Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. They are both identical degrees.
Across the United States, Colleges offer Master’s in Speech Pathology degrees, but they vary considerably from state to state because of state government guidelines that need to be adhered to. However, the best Speech Pathology schools offer substantial coursework with additional clinical and research exposure and consider other important factors such as the quality of teaching, infrastructure, access to internships, and cost. A few top Colleges offering the best Speech Pathology graduate programs are:
<a href="https://www.onlinemasterscolleges.com/masters-in-speech-pathology-online/">Speech Pathology Online</a>
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College Name & Address | Tuition | Graduation Rate |
---|---|---|
#1 New York University 70 Washington Sq South, New York, New York 10012 | $34,704 | 85% |
#2 James Madison University 800 South Main Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807 | $10,848 | 84% |
#3 Emerson College 120 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 | $31,104 | 82% |
#4 Baylor University Waco, Texas 76798 | $33,408 | 78% |
#5 University of Cincinnati, Main Campus 2624 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221 | $13,224 | 71% |
#6 East Carolina University East 5th Street, Greenville, North Carolina 27858 | $4,749 | 66% |
#7 University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire 105 Garfield Ave, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701 | $8,027 | 67% |
#8 Nova Southeastern University 3301 College Ave, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314 | $20,618 | 58% |
#9 California State University, Northridge 18111 Nordhoff St, Northridge, California 91330 | $7,176 | 55% |
#10 University of Northern Colorado Carter Hall – Rm 4000, Greeley, Colorado 80639 | $10,867 | 52% |
#11 University of Akron 302 Buchtel Common, Akron, Ohio 44325 | $8,306 | 46% |
#12 Western Kentucky University 1906 College Heights Blvd, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101 | $12,140 | 48% |
#13 Texas Woman’s University 304 Administration Dr, Denton, Texas 76204 | $5,053 | 43% |
#14 Idaho State University 921 S 8th Ave, Pocatello, Idaho 83209 | $7,982 | 36% |
#15 Tennessee State University 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd, Nashville, Tennessee 37209 | $9,276 | 32% |
Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available
Pursuing a Master’s in Speech Pathology is, more often than not, an expensive affair. While keeping an eye on the cost of this degree, it is imperative to bear in mind the quality of education too. After extensive research, Online Masters Colleges has prepared a list of some of the most affordable Speech Pathology graduate programs:
<a href="https://www.onlinemasterscolleges.com/masters-in-speech-pathology-online/">Speech Pathology Online</a>
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College Name & Address | Tuition | Graduation Rate |
---|---|---|
#1 East Carolina University East 5th Street, Greenville, North Carolina 27858 | $4,749 | 66% |
#2 Texas Woman’s University 304 Administration Dr, Denton, Texas 76204 | $5,053 | 43% |
#3 California State University, Northridge 18111 Nordhoff St, Northridge, California 91330 | $7,176 | 55% |
#4 Idaho State University 921 S 8th Ave, Pocatello, Idaho 83209 | $7,982 | 36% |
#5 University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire 105 Garfield Ave, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701 | $8,027 | 67% |
#6 University of Akron 302 Buchtel Common, Akron, Ohio 44325 | $8,306 | 46% |
#7 University of South Florida Online 4202 East Fowler Ave, Tampa, Florida 33620 | $8,350 | 75% |
#8 Tennessee State University 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd, Nashville, Tennessee 37209 | $9,276 | 32% |
#9 James Madison University 800 South Main Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807 | $10,848 | 84% |
#10 University of Northern Colorado Carter Hall – Rm 4000, Greeley, Colorado 80639 | $10,867 | 52% |
#11 Western Kentucky University 1906 College Heights Blvd, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101 | $12,140 | 48% |
#12 University of Cincinnati, Main Campus 2624 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221 | $13,224 | 71% |
Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available
A Master’s in Speech Pathology online program (also known as ‘Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology) focuses on teaching and training students who go on to be competent, qualified, and ethical professionals when it comes to assessing, diagnosing, and treating communication disorders. Usually, the program spans two academic years (20 to 24 months) but can take 3 to 7 years for some part-time programs. The program imparts knowledge on speech and other communication disorders in general, and specializations dive deeper into a particular field area. Although a speech pathology degree sounds like a medical degree, it is not classified as medical and is considered more clinical.
A Master’s in Speech Pathology online is fundamentally a scientific and technical degree, which is why there seems to be only one flavor of it that almost all colleges offer – the Master of Science or MS in Speech Pathology.
MS or Master of Science in Speech Pathology is typically a 2-year program with coursework, research, and hands-on training in clinical, educational, or medical environments through Practicum or Internship. In most cases, application of this degree requires additional certification/s or licensing as well.
A Master’s in Speech Pathology online is a broad approach to speech impairments. Specializations are therefore essential to focus on one or more key areas and study, research, and work on them. Some specializations that a Master’s in Speech Pathology student would qualify for are:
Students who wish to dedicate themselves to research can also choose from a wide range of specific areas of communication disorders, including but not limited to:
The Master’s in Speech Pathology degree offers students unique clinical and academic opportunities. The curriculum of this degree is crafted around a core of critical competencies and has a broad array of elective courses as well. In many cases, Colleges allow the use of community resources to provide students with an experience in a variety of real-life scenarios. Additionally, there are also research opportunities available to students in areas such as autism, speech-sound disorders, cognitive neuroscience, and more.
In broad terms, there are common courses in a Master’s in Speech Pathology online program, but they too can vary by college. The list of featured Speech Pathology courses/subjects below is only indicative of what one is expected to learn in this Master’s Program:
In addition to core courses, students are required to complete at least three elective courses, 2 in the field of language disorders in children and 1 in language disorders in adults. Again, these mandates can vary by college and program.
Many Colleges also insist on some Practicum or Internship in Communication Disorders each semester. (It is recommended for students to check with Program requirements as they differ considerably.)
Graduates of a Master’s in Speech Pathology are trained to handle a complete range of human communication and swallowing disorders across all age groups. Some of the skills students would have learned by the end of the program are:
A Master’s in Speech Pathology online program is of no use to anyone if the program is not accredited. Accredited Speech Pathology programs are not only important for further specializations, but they are also usually a basic requirement to work as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Never overlook accreditation for a Master’s in Speech Pathology online Program. Almost all top universities are accredited by the CAA or Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. They are designed to meet the academic and clinical requirements of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA).
Most Masters in Speech Pathology online Programs last 2 to 3 years. There are accelerated programs that combine a Bachelor’s Degree with a Master’s Degree, which takes five years to complete, instead of 6 years. Colleges that emphasize credits often require a minimum of 48 semester credit hours, not including fieldwork. If time and money are constraints, students have the option of enrolling for part-time Masters in Speech Pathology online programs that can take anywhere from 3 to 7 years to complete.
The basis for admission to a Master’s in Speech Pathology online program is a BA (Bachelor of Arts) or BS (Bachelor of Science) Degree, usually in Speech-Language Pathology or Communication Science and Disorders. A BA or BS in any other field may require certain prerequisite courses to be undertaken, such as:
In other Speech Pathologist education requirements, students are usually asked to present a brief Personal Statement describing their interest in the field and career objectives, official transcripts, a GRE score, academic or professional letters of recommendation, and sometimes a Résumé as well. Needless to say, a completed application form and its requisite fee are also a must.
Grad school requirements for Speech Pathology vary by program. Therefore, students are advised to conduct their own research on getting into SLP grad school by reading the published program guidelines.
While most colleges require GRE as an admission requirement, few offer SLP Master’s online no GRE programs, but conditionally. For example, GRE scores taken within the last five years are waived by some Universities, and some others do not require the score if the student holds a Master’s Degree or higher from an accredited institution. Without having to go through its rigors, no GRE programs are popular and sought by many students. Some of the Universities that have a Master’s in Speech Pathology online program with no GRE are:
Unfortunately, there is no way to fast-track a Master’s in Speech Pathology Online Program. The only exception to do so is to take up an accelerated Speech Pathology program or twin-program that combines a Bachelor’s Degree with a Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology. Opting for this will reduce the total duration of the course from 6 years to 5 years. The fastest Master’s in Speech Pathology online program will almost certainly take at least 20 months to complete.
How much is grad school for Speech Pathology? Annual tuition fees for Master’s in Speech Pathology can range from an estimated $25,000 to $45,000 or more. Adding living expenses and other educational expenses to these figures is enough for aspiring students to feel dizzy! Unfortunately, with every passing year, the cost of Master’s Programs only goes up, making it a financial burden for most students. Scholarships, Grants, and Government Aid such as FAFSA are some of the ways to ease this burden. Here is a quick list of such options to explore before applying for a Master’s in Speech Pathology online program:
With a Master’s in Speech Pathology, there is always a chance to bag a scholarship or grant awarded by Colleges, Philanthropists, or Private Organizations.
The Federal Government offers Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS Loans for qualifying/eligible students.
Some Colleges offer a flexible payment plan wherein students can stagger their tuition fees over the tenure of their course, rather than paying upfront.
You can get more information on funding with the best Financial Guide and read up on how to avoid being trapped by scholarship scams as well.
Since obtaining a Master’s in Speech Pathology online can be an expensive proposition, many students applying for or currently pursuing this degree seek scholarships and grants to help them pay off their debt. The easiest funding option for students is scholarships, only a few of which are listed below:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation offers a scholarship for students who are undergraduate seniors accepted to a Master’s Program or students currently pursuing Master’s or Doctoral (research or clinical) degrees. Up to 15 scholarships of $5,000 each are available. Application Deadline: May 19, 2023.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is not a scholarship in itself but a wealth of resources for those looking for Scholarships, Research Grants, Federal, and State-Funded Education Programs, Loans, and Training Grants. The site has all the links to make finding financial aid easy.
EBS Healthcare has school, bilingual, and multicultural-based scholarships and grants, each worth up to $7,500. Application Deadline: Varies
Plural Publishing Research Scholarships, sponsored by the Council of Academic Programs in Communication and Disorders (CAPCSD), awards Scholarships of $3,000 each to Master’s and Doctoral Degree students every year. Application Deadline: TBA.
Med Travelers offer a $5,000 scholarship (awarded in the form of a check) twice a year to current Speech-Language Pathology, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy graduate students. Application Deadline: May 7, 2023.
Full-time students of Master’s in Speech Pathology typically take between 20 and 36 months to graduate. Part-timers can complete the program from anywhere between 3 and 7 years. Accelerated programs are usually for those who want to do their Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees parallelly, which takes about five years to complete instead of 6 years.
Specialization is more important in Speech Pathology than a standalone Master’s Degree. There is a whole range of options to choose from and specialize in, cited in this article.
Graduates of Master’s in Speech Pathology online are typically qualified to work in Clinical, educational, and medical environments as Speech Pathologists. Referred to by the common acronym – SLP (Speech-Language Pathologist(s) – these professionals are trained to treat patients’ communication disorders, some of which include but are not limited to Motor Speech Disorders or Autism. SLPs can also work with people who have challenges such as Down Syndrome, Head and Neck Cancers, Dementia, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Cerebral Palsy, and many more.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Speech-Language Pathology salaries in the United States range from $75,670 to $114,790 (as of May 2020), based on experience and the industry. The Bureau also reports that SLP jobs are expected to grow 25% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. In conclusion, a Master’s in Speech Pathology Program presents tremendous potential for a secure career and enviable remuneration.
Speech Pathology career options are many, and Speech-Language Pathologists can work in many different employment settings: education, research, and healthcare, with varying roles and levels of responsibility.
Although Speech-Language Pathology is not a medical degree, students who have successfully graduated with a Master’s in Speech Pathology online should have additional certifications, the minimum prescribed clinical experience, and pass a national examination, to qualify as SLPs or Speech-Language Pathologists. One such certification that is required is the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). Based on the chosen career path, students may have to consider an SLP Certification online, a list of which includes:
Speech-Language Pathology can be a very demanding job. Sometimes, all the study and experience may not be enough for a Speech-Language Pathologist to find the right approach to a sticky situation. Networking and staying abreast with the latest developments in the field of Speech-Language Pathology can be of immense help when faced with problems that need solving. Joining a community of SLPs and attending virtual events will almost always help one’s career and certainly advance one’s knowledge. Below is a small list of additional resources for Speech Pathology professionals, and students of a Master’s in Speech Pathology online program, to delve into:
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