How to Choose an Online Speech Pathology Program

The right online speech pathology graduate degree is different for everyone—it depends on your schedule, where you live and how you learn best. To make it easier to decide which program is best for you, we have compiled a list of online speech pathology master’s programs as well as information on some of the factors you might take into consideration when earning a speech pathology master’s online.

Sponsored Online Speech Pathology Programs

Online MS: Pursue SLP Certification. Study FT/PT

Speech@Emerson enables you to earn an MS online and pursue SLP certification in as few as 20 mos. Learn the same curriculum as the on-campus program. Study FT or PT.

• Prepares you to pursue certification as an SLP generalist
• In-person clinical placements at faculty-approved partner sites
• As few as 20 months to complete

Request more info from Emerson College.

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Want to Become an SLP? Earn an MS Online at NYU

NYU Steinhardt’s online master of science program in Communicative Sciences and Disorders prepares aspiring speech-language pathologists with a comprehensive professional education.

• Prepares students to pursue SLP licensure 
• Accredited by ASHA’s Council on Academic Accreditation 
• As few as six terms to complete 
• Full-time and part-time plans of study

Request more info from New York University.

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Earn Your CSD Master’s Online From Baylor

Baylor’s CSD master’s program online can be completed full time in 20 months or part time in 25 months. Bachelor’s required. No GRE required.

• Part-time and full-time options: 20 and 25 months
• Industry-leading curriculum in a faith-based environment
• Bachelor’s Degree Required

Request more info from Baylor University.

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A majority of states require an aspiring speech-language pathologist SLP to get their master’s in speech pathology from a program accredited by or equal to standards set by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and its accrediting body, the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA). It is important to know what your state requires in terms of accreditation so that you can choose a program that is valid for speech-language pathologist (SLP) licensure in your state.

Also, if you are interested in earning ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP), you will need to attend a CAA-accredited graduate SLP program. The CCC-SLP is only required by a handful of states, but there are benefits to ASHA certification: The Association indicates it could make you eligible for salary supplements in some states and school districts even if it is not required.

Not all online speech language pathology master’s programs are created equal, so accreditation or pending accreditation is an indicator that the program you are applying to has met certain standards.

Below is a table comparing all of the ASHA-accredited online graduate speech pathology programs:

Before you start applying to online SLP programs, make sure you meet the program’s admissions requirements. Requirements vary by school but will often include:

Learn more about how to become a speech-language pathologist.

Online speech pathology master’s programs offer you the flexibility to go to class wherever you are. During semesters when there are no clinical hours, online SLP curriculums often make it easier to balance work and class. Many programs have options to go to school full or part time, so you can choose a schedule that works best for you.

Part-time online SLP master’s programs spread coursework out over more semesters as a way to allow you more time for work or other commitments. Remember that no matter what type of online program you choose, there is usually less flexibility during practicum components. You may need to either be away from work for several weeks at a time to get clinical hours in or be able to work at a practicum site multiple days per week over a semester. Each program is different.

Are you looking for classes where you can watch lectures in real time and ask professors and classmates questions? Some online master’s in speech pathology programs will offer synchronous courses like this, while others will be taught in an asynchronous format where you watch prerecorded lectures or learn in a way that is not lecture-based at all. There are also a few hybrid options available where online learning and in-class lectures are part of the program. Think about how you learn best and choose an online SLP program accordingly.

The practicum is an integral part of a master’s in speech pathology, often requiring 400-plus hours of work in clinical settings. Depending on the program, placement services typically offered to on-campus students may not always extend to online speech-language pathology students living further away from campus. Online SLP programs offer varying levels of field placement services to help secure clinical sites for online students. Some programs will require that these students find placements on their own. Other programs will use the connections they have to find placements for online SLP students who are geographically close to the school but may not have the ability to place students who are farther away. There are also programs that are able to place students in a practicum site no matter where the student is located.

Some online SLP graduate programs require that a certain amount of practicum hours are completed at on-site clinics, so students may need to travel to the school for up to several weeks to complete those portions of the practicum. Think about what level of assistance you will want when securing your placements and how much you are able to travel if you do indeed need to go to campus for portions of the online program. These speech pathology clinical experiences may affect your preferred speech pathology job setting for your speech pathology career