There are different speech pathology master’s programs online that would satisfy your curiosity.
The ideal online graduate degree in speech pathology will vary from student to student, depending on factors such as time constraints, geographic location, and preferred modes of education.
We have put together a list of online speech pathology master’s programs as well as details on certain factors that you might keep in mind when going to earn a speech pathology master’s degree online in a way that makes it easy for you to determine which program is ideal for you.
In addition, the rundown of online speech pathology master’s programs includes information on some of the factors that you might consider.
Overview of the Speech pathology master’s programs online
People are better able to interact with one another when they have strong communication abilities. When people are unable to speak freely, it makes communication more challenging.
Speech-language pathologists are in a unique position to assist individuals in enhancing their communication abilities and, as a consequence, their capacity to form meaningful relationships with other people.
They are also able to help those who struggle with various issues that they face on a regular basis, such as swallowing disorders.
You will be entering a potentially lucrative and expanding sector, regardless of whether you choose to concentrate your professional efforts on communication skills or swallowing therapy. It is anticipated that employment opportunities in the field of speech-language pathology will expand by 25 percent over the next decade.
Investigate the possibility of obtaining a master’s degree in speech pathology through an online program in order to better prepare for this crucial career.
Who are speech pathologists?
Speech-language pathologists are clinicians that assist individuals in overcoming challenges in their day-to-day lives by making use of the scientific information they possess regarding oral and verbal processes, as well as communication.
Although the majority of the time it is the responsibility of these specialists to teach people how to correctly construct words and articulate themselves, this is not the only thing that they do.
The following five key areas of concern can benefit from the assistance of speech-language pathologists:
- Cognitive-Communication Disorders
Brain injuries can make it difficult for people to articulate their thoughts in a way that is understandable to others.
People can improve their ability to communicate clearly with the assistance of trained professionals.
- Communication disorders
Speech pathologists are able to offer advice regarding proper ways to communicate with other people when dealing with patients who have communication disorders classified as social. This can entail making decisions on topics that are appropriate and engaging in conversation with one another.
- Problems with Language
Speech specialists are able to assist those who struggle to articulate or write their thoughts in a form that can be understood by others. They also have the ability to teach people how to process the words of others.
- Problems with Speech
Speech-language pathologists are likely best known for assisting individuals with the formation of sounds and words as well as the assembly of these elements into fluent sentences.
- Swallowing disorder
People who have trouble swallowing food or drinks, possibly as a result of illness, injury, or aging, may benefit from the therapeutic services provided by a speech-language pathologist. Swallowing Conditions
The expert knowledge of speech-language pathologists can assist others in achieving success in their interpersonal connections and in the activities that make up their everyday lives.
Master’s Degree Programs in Speech Pathology Available Online
Students who wish to get their master’s degree in speech pathology via distance learning must complete a series of courses that focus on various aspects of the speech and swallowing processes.
Human anatomy, developmental diseases, and communication science are all common subjects of research. The program acquaints students with a variety of speech impairments and teaches them strategies to assist others in overcoming a variety of physical and cognitive challenges.
During your studies for your master’s degree, you could be required to take one or more of the following courses:
- Early-Onset Language Disorders in Young Children
Youngsters develop the majority of their language skills between the ages of birth and five, and related disorders can frequently be recognized at this young age in children.
This workshop will provide you with the opportunity to learn about these problems and will discuss early actions that can improve results.
- Hearing Rehabilitation:
Because hearing loss and speech difficulties are frequently found combined, you will need to acquire the skills necessary to provide services for persons who have hearing impairments.
- Language Disorders in Older Children:
When children start school, whatever social or literacy deficiencies they may have may become more obvious. This session will help you prepare to face linguistic challenges that are prevalent among children and teenagers.
- Disorders of the Voice and the Swallowing Mechanism
Speech-language pathologists are able to assist patients of different ages and stages throughout their careers. The disorders associated with traumatic brain injuries, dementia, developmental delays, and illnesses might be discussed in this session.
- Working in Institutions of Higher Learning and Healthcare
This course will provide information about the laws, policies, and procedures that pertain to the provision of services in typical speech-language environments.
The majority of speech-pathology programs incorporate clinical practicums within their curriculum. Typically, these clinical experiences are dispersed over the entirety of the curriculum.
Those individuals who do not want to pursue a career as a certified speech pathologist might participate in one of the several nonclinical programs.
It is important to keep in mind that choosing a nonclinical course can reduce the number of potential employment alternatives available to you; as a result, you should carefully assess whether or not this strategy is the best one for you.
In certain programs, a thesis is either obligatory or an optional component. Because of this research project, you will have the chance to put what you have studied into practice and delve deeply into a topic that piques your interest. On the other hand, if you choose to complete a thesis, it could lengthen the amount of time it takes you to complete your graduate studies.
Additional admittance requirements may include:
- application with all required materials and payment
- Essay or other kind of personal expression
- Reference letters obtained from previous employers or educational institutions
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Transcripts from any academic programs you have completed, including your bachelor’s degree
- The results of the GRE examinations (if required)
- The GRE is a test that some colleges require prospective students to take, although not all of them do. Because the results of this exam are not necessarily predictive of a student’s ability to do well in graduate school, some educational institutions choose not to take them into account at all.
Others do take GRE scores into consideration when making admissions decisions, but they also remove the requirement for individuals who can demonstrate that they have professional experience, strong undergraduate GPAs, or prior experience studying at the graduate level.
Universities that offer Speech pathology master’s programs online
Below are the best speech pathology master’s program online;
- University of Akron, located in Akron, Ohio
Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology
At the University of Akron, students can get their Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology through a program that is delivered entirely online and requires a minimum of 400 hours of clinical practicum work.
When attending school on a part-time basis, the program lasts for a total of eight semesters and begins every January. Students are responsible for arranging their own practicums in their respective communities.
Graduates of the Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology program have a comprehensive understanding of diagnosing and treating speech abnormalities, which positions them well for professions in the field of speech pathology.
Graduates of the program are qualified to apply for licensing in their respective states as well as certification from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association demonstrating clinical competence.
One hundred percent of graduates from the program earn a passing score on the Praxis test, and one hundred percent of graduates find work after completing the program.
- Bowling Green, Kentucky location of Western Kentucky University
Speech-Language Pathology Master of Science Degree
In order for graduates of the Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology program at Western Kentucky University to apply for state licensure and national certification, the curriculum of this program adheres to the standards established by the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA).
There are a combined total of eight credit hours spent on internships and externships, making the overall number of semester hours for the program sixty. The residence will take place on the Western Kentucky University campus throughout the month of June.
The students will arrange the specifics of their externship credit hours within their local communities. The program’s curriculum includes classes on subjects including Early Intervention in Speech Language Pathology, Dysfluency, and Voice Disorders, among others.
- Idaho State University Pocatello, ID
Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology
At Idaho State University, a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology consisting of 36 credit hours can be earned by attendance on a part-time basis.
The program can be finished in three years and requires two on-campus clinical practicums at the Pocatello campus. These practicums must be completed on-campus.
In addition, students will participate in an eight-week long externship at a full-time level in the community in which they live. Some of the topics covered in the classes include Educational Audiology, School Age Language Development and Disorders, and Principles of Research in Communication Disorders.
A maximum of four credit hours could be obtained through the completion of an independent study.
Due to the fact that the Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology is a Western Regional Graduate Program, tuition for the degree can be reduced for students coming from other states.
Website
- Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FL
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology degree at Nova Southeastern University needs a minimum of 400 hours of supervised clinical contact hours and consists of a total of 53 credit hours of coursework.
Dysphagia, Voice Disorders, and Communication Disorders in Infancy through Preschool will be some of the topics covered in the classes that the students will take.
Additionally, students finish a capstone course that does not count toward their grade but serves to prepare them for the national Praxis exam.
The student should be able to complete the required 400-hour internship within a reasonable distance of their home.
At the beginning of the program, an orientation that lasts for the entire weekend is required of each and every student. After earning their Master of Science in Speech Pathology degrees between the years of 2015 and 2018, 96 percent of students immediately found work in their chosen field.
- The University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (UWEC). Eau Claire, WI
Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Students at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire who enroll in the online Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders program can earn their degrees in three years if they attend classes part-time.
Also, the Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders (MS CSD) program not only makes its graduates eligible for certification and licensure but also trains them to become specialists in the development and behavior of language, as well as in the assessment of speech and hearing disorders and the procedures for investigating communication disorders.
The curriculum consists of a total of 54 credits and requires students to participate in practical activities. The first week of each student’s second, third, and fourth years are spent on the Eau Claire campus for a mandatory one-week residency.
In addition to clinical and academic advising, coursework, and clinical competency demonstrations, the residencies feature opportunities for team-building and social activities. During the final residency, students will be given time to work on their final portfolios and guidance on how to successfully complete a comprehensive exam.
Website
- Texas Woman’s University Denton, TX
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
Graduates of the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program at Texas Woman’s University are encouraged to work in Texas public schools after completing the degree.
Students in the program, which consists of a total of 61 to 62 credits, participate in clinical experiences at school districts and medical facilities located all around the state of Texas. Classes are held online through the use of live webinars.
The curriculum is designed to prepare students for certification as well as licensing. A class on augmentative and alternative communication, language difficulties in preschool children, and augmentative and alternative communication will be offered to the students.
- University of New York in New York New York, NY
Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology
The Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology program at New York University is available both online and on a part-time or full-time basis for students.
In addition to taking classes that focus on instruments and speech and hearing impairments, students are required to complete a total of 14 credits worth of fundamental education.
The program requires students to complete a minimum of 375 hours of clinical practice in a variety of settings. At NYU, students collaborate with a faculty member who has been assigned to them to determine an acceptable practicum field placement.
students in NYU’s Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology program benefit from the university’s extensive network of partnerships with local, regional, and national organizations, institutions, clinics, and hospitals.
These partnerships allow the university to provide students with valuable and pertinent practicum experiences.
- California State University Northridge, CA
Master of Science in Communicative Disorders
The Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology degree program at California State University requires students to complete 56 credits over the course of three years.
Students are expected to complete their practice in the community in which they reside. The remaining prerequisites for the degree can all be completed online.
The required coursework covers a variety of subjects, some of which include Research in Communicative Disorders, Pediatric Audiology, and Interviewing and Counseling in Communicative Disorders. The study of speech-language pathology will consume around 34 units of student time and will cover topics such as neurogenic diseases of cognition and language, developmental language disorders, and adult/pediatric feeding swallowing difficulties. Either a comprehensive written examination or the completion of a thesis is required for graduation for every single student.
- James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA
Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology
James Madison University’s Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology program was developed with flexibility and accessibility for non-traditional students in mind.
Individuals whose professional goals include becoming speech-language pathologists were taken into consideration throughout the development of the SLP program at JMU.
Graduates of the program are qualified to sit for the certification exam administered by the American Speech Language Hearing Association’s Council for Clinical Certification. [American Speech Language and Hearing Association] Students in the program will have to conduct coursework in clinical settings as part of their practicum requirements. The duration of the curriculum, from start to finish, is a whole three years.
The coursework covers themes such as aging and communication, evaluation and treatment of swallowing difficulties, and human communication and aural rehabilitation.
It is necessary that students do a summer practicum at JMU that lasts for a total of six weeks, however, students are also allowed to perform internships in their local communities.
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