Speech Language Pathology
Help patients find their voice with a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology (MSSLP). This degree prepares you to support patients’ unique needs with a curriculum built around hands-on learning.
Our master’s in speech language pathology is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology. Complete it in two years, or take the 4+1 program to graduate with both a BS and an MS in speech language pathology in five years.
Whichever route you choose, you’ll graduate ready to launch a thriving speech and language therapy career.
SLP Bridge Program
At Saint Mary’s College, you can earn your master’s degree in speech language pathology without a bachelor’s degree in communication science and disorders. Our SLP Bridge Program allows students with an undergraduate degree in another field to complete the prerequisite courses needed to move on to a master’s in SLP. This program prepares you for our graduate programs and provides:
- Clinical opportunities on campus before you start your master’s program
- Meaningful professional connections
- The chance for a second bachelor’s degree for Saint Mary’s alumnae
A Master’s in SLP Founded on Experiential Learning
While completing your master’s in speech language pathology, you’ll have on-campus access to several settings where you can apply your studies in real-world situations.
The Judd Leighton Speech and Language Clinic (JLSLC) is a free clinic on Saint Mary’s campus. Under the supervision of certified and licensed speech language pathologists, you’ll work with a broad variety of patients at the general clinic, support patients with neurogenic disorders in the adult clinic, and be at the forefront of innovation in our new Auditory and Language Processing Clinic.
In addition to the clinics at the JLSLC working within a collaborative model, master’s in SLP students also get hands-on experience with young children at our Early Childhood Development Center.
If your passion lies with older adults, you’ll also have opportunities to support elderly patients at the Sisters of the Holy Cross long-term care facility on campus.
Support for Your Speech Therapy Career
Our rigorous curriculum and high-quality education prepare you for a successful speech and language therapy career.
We also support you by providing robust career counseling, as well as networking opportunities through our chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA).
In addition, students get direct experience in the professional world through placements in interesting, career-relevant externships. We support students by finding them clinical placements in hospitals, private practices, schools, and more.
In 2021 the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association conducted a survey of SLPs in six categories of healthcare and found the average annual salary for a full-time speech language pathologist is $80,000. Most SLPs can expect to earn around $64,000 annually upon graduation.
Careers for Speech Language Pathology Graduates
Speech language pathology is an in-demand, growing field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the industry will expand by 21 percent between 2021 and 2023 — drastically faster than average.
Graduates with a master’s in speech language pathology have found work performing speech therapy in a wide variety of settings, including:
- Elementary, middle, and high schools
- Home health agencies and rehabilitation centers
- Early intervention in-home services for children birth to 3 years
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Hospitals and outpatient clinics
- Offices of ear, nose, and throat doctors
Graduates can also go on to pursue doctoral degrees.