Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology
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The online Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology program is designed to prepare you with the skills to treat patients of all ages experiencing communication and swallowing issues.
The curriculum includes online coursework, clinical simulation, and three in-person full-time clinical practicums completed in a variety of settings. All practicum experiences occur at clinical sites that maintain active affiliation agreements with South College. Supervision is provided by ASHA certified and state-licensed speech language pathologists who meet ASHA and applicable state supervision requirements for clinical supervision. These clinical practicum experiences are coordinated by the program. These in-person clinical practicum experiences are designed to equip you with practical clinical skills and meaningful exposure across the scope of practice, lifespan, and diverse populations. In addition to developing clinical competency, the program prepares you to collaborate effectively with professionals in healthcare, education, and social service environments to support high-quality, interprofessional client care.
Full-time students can complete this master’s degree in as little as 18 months following the program-designed curriculum pathway.
Develop Essential Skills In
- Communication disorder identification, prevention, evaluation, and intervention
- Comprehensive and holistic patient care
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Patient advocacy
- Ethical decision-making and professionalism
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Ready For Your Next Step?
You May Enjoy This Line of Study If You…
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Have a passion for helping people with speech and language disorders -
Get along with most people and are good at communicating and listening -
Are known for being compassionate and empathetic -
Like thinking creatively and working with others to solve problems -
Can be professional and ethical with diverse patients and teammates
Mission
The mission of the Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology program is to prepare compassionate, culturally responsive, and skilled clinicians equipped to address the diverse communication needs of individuals across the lifespan and scope of practice.
Through a flexible, evidence-based, and accessible online learning environment, the program is designed to empower future speech-language pathologists to lead with ethical, research-informed practice and make a positive impact on their communities, including those in underserved or rural areas.
We are committed to excellence in clinical training, interdisciplinary collaboration, and fostering lifelong professional growth.
Program Goals
- Graduate speech-language pathology professionals who have disciplinary knowledge, skills, and competencies to provide entry-level services to diverse caseloads and to meet the needs of their community.
- Graduate speech-language pathology professionals who have clinical preparation and dispositions to provide entry-level services to diverse caseloads and to meet the needs of their community.
- Graduate speech-language pathology professionals who meet the requirements for certification, licensure, and education credentials.
- Graduate speech-language pathology professionals who value lifelong learning and advocacy.
Student Learning Outcomes
Following the program completion, students will be able to:
- Implement foundational knowledge and practical skills in speech, language, and swallowing disorders to ensure high-quality clinical care across settings.
- Exemplify ethical decision-making and professionalism in all areas of practice, ensuring students are prepared to meet the ethical standards of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
- Create comprehensive, holistic care for clients by collaborating with other healthcare, education, and social service professionals.
- Develop a commitment to lifelong learning by preparing students for ongoing professional growth, certification, and career advancement within the Speech Language Pathology field.
- Formulate strategies to advocate for individuals with communication disorders, raising awareness and improving access to services within their communities.
- Develop strategies to engage in public health initiatives and preventive programs that support the identification and early intervention of speech and language issues across populations.
Admission Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
In order to be considered for admission to the MS Speech Language Pathology program at South College, the following criteria must be met:
- Complete a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution prior to classes beginning. Conditional admission may be granted pending completion of the degree prior to the start of the term.
- Complete all required prerequisite courses with a grade of C or above.
- Students may have no more than 2 Cs in prerequisite courses to be considered for program admission.
- Evidence of a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.00 or greater on a 4.00 scale.
- Applicants with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 may still qualify for admission if they demonstrate a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 credits of their undergraduate program or in a completed graduate degree program in a comparable subject area.
- An application for admission may be submitted, and a conditional acceptance may be awarded, during enrollment in an undergraduate degree program or completion of prerequisite course work as long as courses are successfully completed by the start of the first quarter.
- Evidence of at least 25 hours of SLP observation.
- For all applicants for whom English is not their first language or those who have completed a degree and prerequisite courses in a foreign country, demonstration of English language proficiency is required through completion of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). TOEFL: 550 TOEFL PBT, 213 TOEFL CBT, or 80 TOEFL iBT.
- Successful completion of an admission interview. Applicants are selected for interviews based on a holistic evaluation of their application and supporting documents.
- Evidence of ability to fulfill the Technical Standards for admission outlined in the MS SLP program information in the South College Catalog.
- Completion and receipt of an acceptable Criminal Background Check (CBC) prior to matriculation.
Pre-requisite courses:
3 semester credit hours or 4.5 quarter hours in each of the following:
- Phonetics
- Typical language development
- Speech and hearing science
- Anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanism
- Audiology
- Aural rehabilitation
- Human biology
- Chemistry or Physics
- Statistics
- Social Sciences
Matriculation Requirements
Each prospective student must provide proof of ability to perform the essential functions needed to practice speech language pathology effectively. Because students participate in clinical education at affiliated education and healthcare sites, students must meet all MS-SLP Program and clinical site requirements.
All MS-SLP students must comply with compliance requirements established by the MS-SLP Program and its affiliated clinical sites, including communicable diseases/blood-borne pathogen requirements. Prospective applicants should carefully review the following requirements and should only apply if they are able to meet the requirements within the established deadlines. Additional requirements may be required depending on individual clinical sites.
- Physical Examination: By Week 2, Day 7 of Quarter 1, submit a completed MS-SLP Physical Exam Form documenting a health history and physical examination and certifying the ability to perform the required functions of the profession. The examination must be dated within 12 months of student’s program start date.
- Immunizations: By Week 2, Day 7 of Quarter 1, provide documentation of the following communicable disease immunization or immunity:
- MMR (2-dose series),
- Tdap (1-dose required every 10 years),
- Varicella vaccine (2-dose series).
Some clinical sites may require titers even when proof of previous immunization is submitted.
- Hepatitis B: By Week 2, Day 7 of Quarter 1, provide documentation of:
- Hepatitis B immunization (3-dose series),
- Heplisav-B immunization (2-dose series), OR
- Positive Hepatitis B surface antibody titer demonstrating immunity
If a titer is negative, low, or equivocal, the required 3-dose Hepatitis B or 2-dose Heplisav-B vaccination series must be completed.
- Tuberculosis Screening: By Week 2, Day 7 of Quarter 1, provide documentation of a QuantiFERON Gold (QTBG) TB blood test dated within 3 months of program start date. T-SPOT and TB skin tests are not accepted. If the QuantiFERON-TB Gold result is positive, the student must also provide documentation of a negative chest X-ray. QuantiFERON-TB Gold testing must be repeated every two years while enrolled in the MS-SLP Program. Students with a prior positive result must comply with applicable annual chest X-ray requirements.
- Health Insurance: By Week 2, Day 7 of Quarter 1 and throughout the duration of the MS-SLP Program, provide proof of active health insurance coverage. Documentation must demonstrate annual coverage and clearly identify the coverage period, including an expiration or coverage end date. Updated proof of coverage must be submitted prior to expiration to demonstrate continuous health insurance coverage throughout enrollment in the program.
- Government-Issued Photo ID: By Week 2, Day 7 of Quarter 1 provide a copy of a valid government-issued photo identification.
- Drug Screening: By Week 2, Day 7 of Quarter 1, complete an acceptable drug screen through the program-designated process. Additional drug screening may be required throughout the program based on clinical site requirements. Marijuana, or its metabolite, is not an accepted substance in drug screens and will result in a positive drug screen. In the event of a dilute or positive drug screen, the student will receive program notification regarding next steps.
- Criminal Background Check: By Week 2, Day 7 of Quarter 1, complete an acceptable criminal background check through the program-designated process. Additional background checks may be required based on clinical site requirements. Criminal history may affect program progression and eligibility for clinical placement. Students whose criminal background prevents clinical placements may be unable to progress in the program, resulting in failure of clinical courses and program completion.
Students who have resided in New York within the previous seven years will be required to complete an additional New York background check. The cost of this additional background check is the responsibility of the student.
- Clinical Placement Preference Form: By Week 2, Day 7 of Quarter 1, submit a completed Clinical Placement Preference Form documenting the student’s U.S.-based geographic location throughout the program and identifying a minimum of six different clinical placement sites in accordance with instructions provided by the MS-SLP Clinical Education team.
- Guided Clinical Observation Hours: By Week 2, Day 7 of Quarter 1, provide documentation of 25 guided clinical observation hours in speech-language pathology. Documentation must meet MS-SLP Program requirements and be submitted as directed by the Clinical Education team.
- NSSLHA Membership: By Week 2, Day 7 of Quarter 1, provide documentation of active National NSSLHA membership and maintain membership as required by the MS-SLP Program.
- Influenza Vaccination: Provide documentation of an annual influenza vaccination by October 31 of each calendar year while enrolled in the program.
South College does not control the health, safety, or compliance requirements established by clinical sites. Students who choose not to, or are unable to meet, the requirements established by the MS-SLP Program or an assigned clinical site will be ineligible to participate in required clinical education components of the program. This includes students who have received partial vaccinations but are not fully immunized. Because clinical experiences are required for program and degree completion, failure to meet these requirements may significantly limit clinical placement opportunities, delay program progression, delay graduation, or prevent graduation from the program.
All matriculation requirements must be completed and submitted by Week 2, Day 7 of the student’s first quarter. Students with outstanding matriculation requirements after this deadline will be reviewed and deferred to the next available cohort start date once all required documentation has been completed and submitted.
Accreditation
The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in speech language pathology {distance education} at South College is a Candidate for Accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. Candidacy is a “preaccreditation” status with the CAA, awarded to developing or emerging programs for a maximum period of 5 years. This status was awarded May 2026.
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