Doctoral / PHD Programs in Speech-Language Pathology

It is possible to earn either a MS or PhD in speech pathology, or a doctorate in audiology (Au.D.). The MS degree is required for national certification, and enables one to practice as a speech pathologist. The PhD generally leads to an academic career, which may involve research in the field.

Speech pathologists diagnose, evaluate, and treat communication and swallowing disorders. For example, this would include working with patients who have speech difficulties following a stroke or brain injury, or working with children with delayed language development. Speech pathologists might be employed by public or private schools, hospitals, short and long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, government agencies, and community clinics.

Many programs have specific prerequisite courses that are not available at Wake Forest. There are also programs however, that will admit students with no previous coursework. There are a number of three-year programs that allow you to complete prerequisite courses while completing your graduate degree, and it is possible to take prerequisite courses online through Florida State and other schools. But before pursuing this option, be sure that the program you are applying to accepts online courses. Most programs will accept at least some online courses.

Applicants interested in pursuing an integrated clinical-research training may complete M.A. coursework enroute to the Ph.D. For this option, applicant should HESP Ph.D. program (Program Code: HESP).

Rankings based on the most recent surveys of Best Graduate Schools by U.S. News World Report.

Doctor of Clinical Science in Medical Speech-Language Pathology (CScD).

Blalock, Ph.D., PT, DPT, MPH, CLT.

Dr. Prahl is also a certified speech-language pathologist and has worked with children with various speech and language disorders in the public school setting.

Ph.D., Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University (2020).

Hessling, A., Schuele, C.M. (2020). Individualized Narrative Intervention for School-Age Children with Specific Language Impairment: A Single-Case Research Study. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 51, 687-705.

M., Hessling, A., Kelly, E. M., Singer, L. B., Jones, R. Clinical Characteristics Associated With Stuttering Persistence: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 1-24. Doi: 10.1044 2020_JSLHR-20-00096.

Irvin Rare Books and Special Collections.

The development and use of speech, language and hearing has significant impact on academic performance, career opportunities and socialization.

The Communication Sciences and Disorders in the Arnold School of Public Health offers two master degree programs: a Master of Speech-Language Pathology (MS-Res: residential on-campus, full time) and a Master of Communication Disorders in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-DE: distance education, part time). Both degrees are accredited by the Council of Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Graduates are eligible for national certification, state licensure and South Carolina teacher certification.

The MS-DE is a part-time degree program offered through distance education. The curriculum, course requirements and practicum experiences are identical to the MS-Res program, the only difference being the manner in which content is delivered.

The department also offers a doctoral degree (Ph.D. in communications sciences and disorders) for those interested in scholarly research and who wish to pursue careers in university research and teaching.

Expand allM MS-Res: Master of Science (residential on-campus, full time).

Application information for this degree is available through The Graduate School.

M MS-DE: Master of Science (distance education, part time).

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology degree provides unique academic and clinical training for students preparing for professional practice in speech-language pathology.

MS-SLP student providing services in supervised practicum Photo credit: Callier Center Development Team.

The University of Texas at Dallas Master of Science (M.S.) in Speech-Language Pathology degree program provides unique academic and clinical training for students who are preparing for professional practice in speech-language pathology. The Master of Science program is housed at the UT Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders, known internationally for its programs of research and clinical service, and takes advantage of the wide array of clinical, medical, and educational facilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The program is ranked 10th among U.S. Master programs in speech-language pathology by U.S. News World Report.

The Essential Functions and Technical Standards for Admission and Continued Enrollment describes necessary functions and skills for success in the program. Applicants are responsible for reviewing the technical standards for admission before applying to the SLP MS program.

See the UT Dallas graduate admissions page for general information on the application process.

A graduate student plays pop-up-pirate with a patient.

Students earning a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology enroll in coursework and clinical practicum internship placements each term.

Students entering the program from other fields typically need to complete prerequisite courses, in which case the program requires six semesters of full-time study.

Part-time study is not advised because most classes and practicum take place during the day. The program does not admit non-degree students.

Courses and clinical placements are designed around core requirements that are typically completed during the first three terms of the program, followed by electives that students choose from a broad array of specialties during the remaining terms as they develop their specific clinical interests and career goals. A highly customizable course of study is a hallmark of our program.

Graduate courses in speech-language pathology are listed with the prefix COMD.

The Essential Functions and Technical Standards for Admission and Continued Enrollment describes necessary functions and skills for success in the program.

Students earning a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology enroll in coursework and clinical practicum internship placements each term. Between clinical partnerships with the many programs housed within the Callier Center for Communication Disorders and a wide variety of sites across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, our extensive connections and community resources provide students with experiences in a variety of settings and give them many options in the selection of on and off-campus practicum and internship placements.

Through our network of connections, students have the opportunity to work with clinicians who specialize in areas across the broad scope of practice of speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Students can choose to focus on either adult or pediatric populations, to specialize in a particular area of interest, or to select experiences across the lifespan and scope to attain a well-rounded background.

General information on financial aid for graduate students is available via the UT Dallas graduate admissions page. Financial aid for Master of Science students in the speech-language pathology program is limited and is awarded on a competitive basis after students have been admitted to the program.

MS-SLP students have a variety of opportunities to participate in research. Callier Center Development Team.

Master of Science students are not required to be engaged in research. However, for those who are interested in taking part in research during their graduate career, a variety of laboratories provide either paid or unpaid positions.

Speech-language pathologists practice therapy in a variety of settings including clinical and educational. Callier Center Development Team.

SLPs work to prevent, diagnose and treat communication disorders and swallowing disorders. They are employed in schools, hospitals and clinics they often work collaboratively with other health care providers and educators. by U.S. News and World Report. In addition to clinical practice, SLPs also may be employed as researchers, educators, and administrators.

Through the broad selection of electives that allow our students to tailor their degree plan to their specific interests, graduates from our program enter the field well-prepared to follow their chosen career path. All graduates of the program are qualified for positions as a speech-language pathologist in clinical, educational, and medical settings.

In our SLP program, you will interact with different students in your elective courses and your practicum from semester to semester. This creates a strong program full of individuals with different perspectives, passions and personalities.

I love how customizable the program is! Each semester, you get to pick various electives in areas you are interested in. For example, I am interested in working with the pediatric population, and so this past summer I took Pediatric TBI and loved it! I think the ability to customize your schedule really allows you to explore and gain knowledge in many of the areas that you may want to work with as a future SLP.

Students can join the Texas Speech-Language Hearing Association (TSHA) as well as the national and local chapters of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA), the student correlate of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Each of these organizations provides opportunities for involvement, connection, resources, and networking among students and future colleagues.

We have a wide network of successful alumni both within the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and across the United States. We regularly send communications related to the field of speech-language pathology to our alumni, including job openings in Texas and around the country. Our graduates are highly sought, and we routinely hear from recruiters seeking to hire UTD graduates.

While the program itself provides a community of connections with fellow students, the location offers all the conveniences, attractions, and resources of a large city. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the country, and as such, there is plenty to see and do.

While public transportation is available, it is limited, and SLP students generally find a car to be extremely helpful, if not necessary, for life in Dallas. Students regularly commute to classes and to off-campus practicum sites, which are spread throughout the city and sometimes across the Metroplex.

The UT Dallas Master of Science degree program in speech-language pathology has full-time students than any other SLP program in the U.S. During some semesters, there may be as many as 225 students enrolled in the program. There are many advantages to our size. Because of our program size, we offer elective courses than most SLP programs. We offer 10-12 elective courses from which to choose each semester, and half of the courses in the degree plan will be electives. This allows students to develop their own areas of focus, taking courses across a broad range or shifting directions as their interests and career goals change (as they almost always do). We encourage you to talk with our current students and graduates their experiences.

We typically enroll 85-90 new students in the summer and fall terms combined, and 25-30 new students in the spring term. Students who are admitted for the summer may defer to the fall term, and students who are admitted for the fall term may choose to instead begin in the summer term. Students who have not completed prerequisite coursework are encouraged to enter in the summer.

Inclusion of students from a variety of fields enriches the educational experience for everyone. As a result, we make every effort to limit the number of prerequisite courses to those which cover material not taught at the graduate level. Out-of-field students who are admitted to the SLP MS program have specific prerequisite courses assigned as part of their overall degree plan, which adds one semester to the program duration. Out-of-field students may alternatively choose to take prerequisite courses at other institutions before applying to the UT Dallas Master of Science degree program. All students must complete four basic science courses as required by ASHA.

Students are strongly encouraged to request work-study funds as part of their financial aid package there are many opportunities for employment within the department, including research-oriented positions and administrative positions that expose you to clinical program management and advanced classroom content. Competitive Callier Center scholarships are also available which, when awarded to non-resident students, make them eligible to pay resident tuition. There is no separate application required for the competitively awarded Callier Center scholarships all admitted students are considered for these scholarships regardless of residency status.

Program graduates enjoy excellent outcomes including high program completion, Praxis examination scores, and rates of employment.

Students with exceptional academic records who have career goals in university teaching and research may apply for admission to both the Master of Science degree program in Speech-Language Pathology and the PhD program in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. The PhD is a research-intensive degree, not an advanced clinical degree, and completing the PhD will generally require an additional 3-4 years of study beyond the Master of Science degree. Students pursuing both degrees may have the opportunity to complete their clinical fellowship year at the Callier Center while enrolled in the doctoral program however, a leave of absence from the PhD program is necessary if you are engaged in full-time clinical activities that preclude progress towards PhD program milestones.

In general, we recommend that students who are interested in both the MS and PhD programs apply first to the MS program.

We do not recommend combining a Master of Science degree in speech-language pathology with a Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree. Each summer, the Callier Center hosts a camp for children who have cochlear implants and their families and a community-based program for adults with hearing loss. Speech-Language Pathology MS students and Audiology students earning the AuD are active participants in those programs.

Most graduate courses are held at Callier Dallas. Some practicum experiences and a few elective courses are offered at Callier Richardson, but graduate students are at Callier Dallas most of the time. MS students should plan accordingly when deciding on a place to live. Public transportation is often limited but commuting by car is relatively easy and many students live in other areas of the city or Metroplex. Online search engines can be used to filter potential apartment complexes that fit a specific price range and target location.

The Callier Center Clinic and facilities are subject to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) federal vaccine requirement because they are regulated under CMS standards, specifically 42 CFR 485.701 et. Conditions of Participation for Clinics, Rehabilitation Agencies, and Public Health Agencies as Providers of Outpatient Physical Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology Services. MS SLP students are required to comply with the federal vaccination mandate as it applies to the Callier Center. Proof of vaccination is required students that receive exemptions from the vaccine requirement are required to wear face coverings at all times within the Callier clinics. Other practicum sites may limit participation by students who do not provide proof of vaccination.

Current Students Advising Compliance and Standards Financial Wellness Education Abroad Student Leadership and Involvement Graduate Professional Student Resources Our Team Other Resources.

Academic Programs Bachelor in CSD Speech-Language Pathology (M.S.) Residential Speech-Language Pathology (M.S.) online M.S. in CSD (research focus) Doctor of Audiology Dual Au.D Ph.d in Audiology Ph.D in CSD CSD Minor.

Dr. Ashley Bourque Meaux joined the University in 2021 as part of the MS-SLP leadership team.

Dr. Meaux earned four degrees from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA.

Dr. Meaux has practiced as a speech-language pathologist since 2008 as an early intervention provider and school-based clinician. Dr. Meaux has numerous presentations at the local, state and national level, and serves on the editorial board for Language, Speech, Hearing Services in Schools.