Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

At Sacred Heart University, you will gain the hands-on, clinical experience you need to become a certified speech-language pathologist and make an impact on the lives of your clients.

Why Earn Your Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology at Sacred Heart?

The Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology degree will prepare you with the knowledge and clinical skills to prevent, assess, and treat all aspects of human communication and swallowing disorders. 

At Sacred Heart, you will gain hands-on internship experience starting in your first semester, and graduate with at least 375 hours of supervised clinical practicum in a variety of settings including public schools, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers. 

Taught by our professors, all of whom have worked clinically in school or medical settings, your course of study will include examination of case studies, emphasis on problem-based learning approaches, cooperative learning, and laboratory experiences. You'll participate in interprofessional problem-based learning sessions two to four times per semester, and make four case presentations at interprofessional round tables.

Complete your degree in two or three years

With two full-time, on-campus tracks of study

Dual Degree Option

Students apply to the Bachelor’s-Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Dual Degree Program as incoming freshmen and are admitted directly into the graduate program at the same time as their admission as undergraduate students. All Speech-Language Pathology dual degree students must major in Communication Disorders as an undergraduate student.

In the Speech-Language Pathology program, you will:

• Meet all requirements for national certification and state licensure as a speech language pathologist (based on ASHA's Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology and requirements from the CT Department of Public Health)
• Have the opportunity to earn a specialty certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorder or Medical Speech-Language Pathology
• Participate in intensive externships and a capstone clinical research experience 
• Have the opportunity to participate in inter-professional service learning trips
• Gain valuable mentorship and support by joining the SLP “GRO” (Speech- Language Pathology Graduate Organization)

Graduate Assistantships for SLP students

Every year a limited number of Graduate Assistantship (GA) positions are offered competitively in the SLP Program. Depending on departmental revenue, two to eight GA positions, ranging from $2,500-$10,000, are offered.

GA duties may involve work as a Research Assistant assigned to a faculty member or Program Assistant assigned to the Department Administrative Assistant.

To explore the GA opportunities available to SLP graduate students, please visit Graduate Assistants and Hall Directors.

Graduate prepared for a career or further study

Graduates of the master’s degree program in Speech-Language Pathology are prepared to practice as licensed and certified speech-language pathologists in:

• Schools and preschools
• Birth-to-three centers
• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Rehabilitation centers
• Private practice

Accreditation

The Master of Science (MS) education program in speech-language pathology (residential) at Sacred Heart University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

The Master of Science (MS) education program in Speech-Language Pathology at Sacred Heart University is accredited by the Connecticut Office of Higher Education. These accreditations allow the program to matriculate and graduate students who, upon successful completion of the program, will meet all requirements for national certification and state licensure as Speech-Language Pathologists. Our program for teacher endorsement has also been approved by the Connecticut State Department of Education, making graduates eligible to serve as SLPs in Connecticut public schools.

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