Graduate Programs
Master of Science Education Program
in Speech-Language Pathology
Master of Science education program in Speech-Language Pathology
The Master of Science education program in Speech-Language Pathology is a 64 credit hour program which is composed of 43 hours of didactic coursework in addition to 21 hours of clinical coursework to prepare master’s level students to provide services as competent clinicians, future Ph.D. or clinical doctoral level students (SLPD), and professional representatives of the communication sciences and disorders community. The completion of this program will prepare graduates for the national Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology, in addition to qualifying graduates for state licensure and preparedness for potential higher education.
Application Deadline
February 1 - Priority Deadline
Admissions Requirements At a Glance
- Official Transcripts
- Two-Minute Personal Video Statement
- Prerequisite Coursework
- 25 Observation Hours
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. GRE scores will be waived for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree at West Liberty University.
- Curriculum Vitae/Resume
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- An interview may be requested after a review of all other application materials.
- Application Fee of $40
Additional Requirements for International Student Applicants
Mission and Vision
Mission Statement: Educating future Speech-Language Pathologists to be compassionate,
innovative leaders and effectively serve the local and global communities through competent and ethical decision making.
Vision Statement: Empowering our students to affect meaningful and progressive change,
through mindful engagement as global citizens within the greater community, as well as
effectively serving those with communication impairments.
Program Goals
- To provide graduate education in the Master of Science education program in Speech-Language Pathology and to prepare students to meet the most current professional standards for clinical certification and licensure
- To develop the professional preparation of future clinicians in the areas of communication sciences and disorders which includes, but is not limited to, speech production, language, cognition, voice, fluency, feeding and swallowing, resonance, and auditory (re)habilitation in both the pediatric and adult populations
- To give students a wide range of clinical and research opportunities to meet the needs of the community, state, and nation and to prepare students for any occupational setting following the completion of the program
- To ensure a strong foundation of evidence-based practice including research, client and caregiver considerations, and clinical experience
- To foster and utilize a life-long commitment to professional development as it relates to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association standards, scope of practice, and ethics
requirements
Upon completion of the Master of Science education program in Speech-Language Pathology, graduates will be able to:
- Knowledge: Integrate didactic knowledge within the nine major competency areas: speech sound production, fluency/fluency disorders, voice and resonance, receptive and expressive language, hearing, swallowing/feeding, cognitive aspects of communication, social aspects of communication, and augmentative and alternative modalities
- Kinesthetic Learning: Demonstrate appropriate professional and clinical skills through hands-on coursework, in-house clinical rotations, community clinical rotations, and externship placements
- Clinical Decision Making: Display positive critical thinking and decision-making skills within evaluation, identification, diagnosis, planning, implementation, report writing and/or intervention as it applies to the topics in speech-language pathology
- Evidence-Based Critical Thinking: Apply evidence-informed decision making through educated information seeking, collaboration, and interpretation of research utilizing analytical skills
The following are the minimum requirements for the WLU Master of Science education program in Speech-Language Pathology:
- Completion of all required courses in the graduate curriculum
- An overall graduate grade point average of at least 3.00 with a minimum competency level of B in all didactic and clinical courses
- A grade of “C” in one course will require remediation. A grade of “C” in two courses will result in dismissal from the program
- A minimum of 400 clock hours of supervised practicum, including at least 25 observation hours and 375 hours of direct therapy/patient contact hours
- Completion of both educational and healthcare clinical placement settings
- Completion of a Professional Development Portfolio
- Passing score of 80% or higher on the Comprehensive Assessment of Content Knowledge exam
| ON-TIME PROGRAM COMPLETION RATES | ||
| Reporting Period | # Completed within Expected Time Frame | % Completed within Expected Time Frame |
| 2025-2026 (Recent Year) | N/A | N/A |
| 2024-2025 (1 Year Prior) | N/A | N/A |
| 2023-2024 (2 Years Prior) | In progress | In progress |
| PRAXIS EXAMINATION PASS RATES OF TEST-TAKERS | |||
| Reporting Period | # Taking the Exam | # Passed Exam | % Passed Exam Rate |
| 2025-2026 (Recent Year) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2024-2025 (1 Year Prior) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2023-2024 (2 Years Prior) | In progress | In progress | In progress |
| EMPLOYMENT RATES OF GRADUATES | ||
| Reporting Period | Employment Rate in Profession | |
| # of Graduates | % of Graduates | |
| 2025-2026 (Recent Year) | N/A | N/A |
| 2024-2025 (1 Year Prior) | N/A | N/A |
| 2023-2024 (2 Years Prior) | In progress | In progress |
Curriculum
Fall Year 1
SLP 501 Research Methods in Speech-Language Pathology
SLP 503 Clinical Speech Anatomy, Physiology, and Motor Control
SLP 505 Speech Sound Disorders in Pediatric Populations
SLP 507 Diagnostic Techniques in Speech-Language Pathology
SLP 540 Clinical Seminar I
SLP 550 Clinical Practicum I
Spring Year 1
SLP 502 Childhood Language and Literacy Disorders
SLP 504 Fluency Disorders
SLP 506 Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology in Speech-Language Pathology
SLP 508 Audiology and Hearing Disorders for the SLP
SLP 541 Clinical Seminar II
SLP 551 Clinical Practicum II
Summer Year 1 (Online Coursework)
SLP 510 Capstone in Speech-Language Pathology
SLP 511 Interprofessional Education
SLP 512 Professional Writing in Research for the Speech-Language Pathologist
SLP 542 Advanced Clinical Seminar I
SLP 552 Advanced Clinical Practicum I
Fall Year 2
SLP 515 Augmentative and Alternative Communication
SLP 517 Motor Speech and Language Disorders in Adults
SLP 519 Voice and Resonance Disorders
SLP 525 Dysphagia
SLP 543 Advanced Clinical Seminar II
SLP 553 Advanced Clinical Practicum II
Spring Year 2
SLP 560 Clinical Externship
Optional Courses
SLP 570 Medical SLP
SLP 571 Educational Service Delivery
SLP 578 Special Topics (1-3 hrs)
Total 64 Credit Hours
Accreditation
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
American Speech-Language Hearing Association
2200 Research Boulevard #310
Rockville, MD 20850
800-498-2071
The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in speech-language pathology (residential) at West Liberty University 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.
The West Liberty University Master of Science (MS) education program in Speech-Language Pathology is an applicant for candidacy accreditation status by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. This is a “pre-accreditation” status with the CAA, awarded to developing or emerging programs for a maximum period of five years.
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
American Speech-Language Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.
Notice of Non-Discrimination
The Master of Science (MS) education program in Speech-Language Pathology is an equal opportunity program and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind. The program will maintain a positive academic and clinical environment and will fully support the University’s policy which states, “West Liberty University adheres to the principle of equal opportunity without regard to race, sex, color, creed, national origin, or physical handicap. This policy extends to all programs and activities supported by the University.”
Notice of Non-Discrimination
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is an equal opportunity department and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind. The department is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. We promise to maintain a positive academic and clinical environment and will fully support the University’s mission which states, “West Liberty University’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will provide a nurturing environment of diversity, inclusion, and equity in our community where everyone is respected, valued, included, treated fairly, and welcomed—regardless of one’s race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and/or socioeconomic status.” Students who believe they have been subjected to any kind of discrimination that conflicts with WLU’s diversity policy and initiatives should seek assistance The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at officeofdei@westliberty.edu.
Additional Information
Please see the Master of Science (MS) education program in Speech-Language Pathology’s 5 year strategic plan.
All program and student information may be found in the Master of Science (MS) education program in Speech-Language Pathology’s graduate student handbook.
All clinical education information and policies/procedures pertaining to the Speech and Hearing Clinic may be found in the clinic handbook. For a copy of either handbook, please request this from the department chair below.
For more information on the services we provide and to schedule an appointment in the Speech and Hearing Clinic, please click here.
For more information on the Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology and Audiology, please click here.
Your Future as a Speech-Language Pathologist
Percent Change in Employment 2030
Ranked # 3 in healthcare jobs, the employment opportunity for Speech-Language Pathologists is predicted to be one of the fastest growing occupations. From 2021 to 2031, the projected growth for Speech-Language Pathologists is 21%. Speech-Language Pathologists held about 158,800 jobs in 2021 with a median salary of $79,060.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Speech-Language Pathologists, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm (visited November 20, 2022).
Call for Public Comment
The CAA provides the opportunity for public comment regarding the program that will receive a site visit, as fully described in the CAA’s Policy and Procedures on Public Comment.
The CAA publishes on its website the list of programs that have submitted an application for candidacy, initial accreditation, or reaccreditation during that calendar year for which CAA is seeking public comment as part of its current accreditation review of the published programs. The listing will include the date of the scheduled site visit for each program.
Individuals who wish to submit written testimony about any of the programs scheduled for a site visit must adhere to the following procedures.
(1) by submitting written comments prior to the accreditation site visit in accordance with the procedures specified below or
(2) by attending and providing comments at a public meeting during the program’s scheduled site visit. This meeting will be on Thursday, September 2, 2021 from 5:00-5:30pm via Zoom.
All comments provided must:
- relate to a program’s compliance with the published Standards for Accreditation of Graduate Education Programs in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology in effect at the time comments are submitted, and
- identify the specific program seeking candidacy, initial accreditation, or reaccreditation with the CAA. Comments not meeting these requirements will not be considered, and the individual or group commenting will be so notified.
A copy of the Standards for Accreditation and/or the CAA’s Policy on Public Comment may be obtained by contacting the Accreditation Office at ASHA, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, Maryland 20850, calling ASHA’s Action Center at 1-800-498-2071, or accessing the documents online at https://caa.asha.org/.
(2021). Retrieved 15 July 2021, from https://caa.asha.org/siteassets/files/accreditation-handbook.pdf
Join Us!
Sign up here for the Public Comment session. We will send you the zoom link.
Contact
Stephanie Bradley, Chair
Campbell Hall: 321D
Phone: (304) 336-8100
stephanie.bradley@westliberty.edu
Would you like to learn more about Speech-Language Pathology?
For further resources pertaining to communication sciences and disorders, please click here.
Donate
Make a gift to the Graduate Studies Program by clicking here!
Notice of Non-Discrimination
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is an equal opportunity department and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind. The department is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. We promise to maintain a positive academic and clinical environment and will fully support the University’s mission which states, “West Liberty University’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will provide a nurturing environment of diversity, inclusion, and equity in our community where everyone is respected, valued, included, treated fairly, and welcomed—regardless of one’s race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and/or socioeconomic status.” Students who believe they have been subjected to any kind of discrimination that conflicts with WLU’s diversity policy and initiatives should seek assistance The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at officeofdei@westliberty.edu.
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