Master of Science Speech Language Pathology Degree
Program Overview
Program Overview
The University of Montana's School of Speech, Language, Hearing and Occupational Sciences offers a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS SLP) degree. This program is designed to prepare students for a career as a certified speech-language pathologist, assessing and treating individuals with speech, language, and swallowing disorders.
Program Description
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to become certified speech-language pathologists, able to assess and treat infants, children, and adults with acquired or developmental speech, language, and/or swallowing disorders. The program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
Program Options
There are two degree options available:
- Thesis Option: 71 total graduate credits
- Non-thesis Option: 65-68 total graduate credits
SLP Graduate Program Prerequisites
Students entering the program must have:
- An undergraduate degree with a communicative sciences and disorders (CSD) undergraduate major, or
- An undergraduate degree in a non-CSD area with the additional completion of CSD leveling courses.
Degree Requirements
The program requires:
- 30 credits of clinical practicum
- A minimum of 375 supervised clock hours
- Completion of prerequisite coursework in physical science, biological science, social/behavioral science, and statistics
Required Clinical Education Coursework
Clinical education coursework includes:
- 30 credits of clinical practicum
- Working with children and adults with developmental/acquired/swallowing disorders
- A minimum of 375 supervised clock hours
Additional Prerequisite Requirements
In addition to the required CSD courses, students must complete prerequisite coursework in:
- Physical Science: Physics or chemistry
- Biological Science: Science of living things (human or animal)
- Social/Behavioral Science: Psychology, sociology, anthropology, or public health
- Statistics: One stand-alone course is required
Program Policies and Procedures
The program follows the policies and procedures outlined in the SLP Graduate Student Handbooks, which include information on clinical requirements, academic and clinical handbooks, and graduate policy and procedures.