American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) describes speech language pathologists (SLPs) as healthcare providers that work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults. Typically SLPs can work in a variety of environments such as research, education and health care settings. SLPs often work as part of a interdisciplinary team, which may include physicians, audiologists, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, teachers and more. Please visit the ASHA website for details.
To become a speech language pathologist you must graduate from an accredited masters level speech language pathology program. Typically a SLP graduate degree is a two year program after your bachelor's degree. There are over 300 accredited speech language pathology masters degree programs in the United States.
It is important for students to check each school's requirements carefully as some schools will require courses not listed below. For more information about specific programs, contact that program directly.
| Prerequisite Courses |
| One Course in Biological Sciences |
| One Course in Physical Sciences either Physics or Chemistry |
| One Course in Statistics |
| One Course in Psychology, Sociology or Education |
| Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders |
| Phonetics |
| Normal Child Language Development |
| Introduction to Speech Sound Disorders |
| Aural Rehabilitation |
| Introduction to Audiology |
| Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech, Language, Swallowing and Hearing Mechanisms |
| Speech and Hearing Science |
Students should meet with their academic advisor and pre-health advisor each quarter to make sure they are taking the correct courses for their major/professional interest.
Below is a sample timeline for a Health Sciences - Public Health Science Concentration major. Please be aware that speech language pathology programs do not require or prefer a specific major and the below timeline should not be used to replace meeting with an academic advisor.
| |
Autumn |
Winter |
Spring |
| 1st Year |
LSP 110
WRD 103
LD - SCBI - PSY 105
BIO 191
|
LSP 112
WRD 104
LD - PI
SLP 101
|
HLTH 201
LD - A&L
BIO 206
SLP 210
|
| 2nd Year |
HLTH 202
LSP 200
LD - A&L
PHY 150
|
HLTH 210
LD - PI - PHL 229
HLTH 250
Public Health Elective
|
LD - SCBI
LD - HI
HLTH 194
SLP 310
|
| 3rd Year |
LD - A&L
HLTH 195
HLTH 335
SLP 320
|
LD - SCBI
SOC 351
HLTH 336
SLP 330
|
Experiential Learning
LD - HI
HLTH 310
SLP 332
|
| 4th Year |
LSP 120
PSY 354
Public Health Elective
SLP 340
|
LD - RD
HLTH 360
Public Health Elective
SLP 342
LSP 121
|
HLTH 350
CMNS 315
Public Health Elective
LD - RD
|
Shirley Ryan Ability Lab
Students who take speech language pathology courses at DePaul University may be able to receive a minimum of 15 observation hours.
Information is coming soon. Page is currently under construction.
Most programs require that a student has a 3.0 overall undergraduate GPA and a 3.0 prerequisite GPA, with a B- or above in prequisite courses.
For information about a specific program, contact that program directly.