The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology serves either as a professional preparation for clinical certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or as preparation for graduate study leading to the Ph.D. degree. The master's program provides a broad range of basic science courses and specialized offerings emphasizing evaluation and treatment of language, articulation, fluency, voice, swallowing, and neurologically-based communication disorders. Students are prepared for careers as clinicians in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and community clinics. Clinical practicum experiences occur at the on-campus Speech and Hearing Clinic and many affiliated clinics, rehabilitation centers, schools, and hospitals. Within this framework, students must meet the academic and practicum requirements leading to the Clinical Fellowship (CF) that occurs post graduation. Completion of the CF results in national certification (the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology [CCC-SLP] awarded by ASHA) and eligibility for Alabama State Licensure.

The master's program typically extends for five academic semesters, including one partial semester of clinical externship. Graduate assistantships are available annually on a competitive basis. Applications for admission and assistantships are accepted after November 1 with enrollment beginning in the Fall Semester only. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is February 15. Specific information about the master's program is available from the department.

Because the number of applicants is greater than the number of vacancies in the program, applicants are admitted on a competitive basis, based on the criteria stated above. Because of limited course sequencing, applicants are admitted in the Fall Semester only. Applicants must submit complete applications by February 15 of the year they intend to matriculate.

In addition, applicants should have a course in human anatomy and physiology, an adequate background in psychology, and one course each in basic statistics and computer science. In order to meet ASHA certification requirements, students are strongly encouraged to complete course work in areas dealing with multicultural issues, aging/gerontology, and human development. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in other fields will be expected to meet Prerequisite Program requirements in speech pathology and audiology (see below).

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology degree requires a minimum of five semesters of full-time academic study. A portion of the final semester is spent off campus completing the externship.

Applicants admitted to the M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology program who do not hold a bachelor’s degree in the profession (i.e., Communication Sciences and Disorders, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, or Speech and Hearing Sciences) must successfully complete one year of departmental prerequisite courses before beginning the courses of study outlined above. These prerequisite courses are needed to prepare the student for further graduate training and for certification by ASHA. Departmental prerequisite courses do not include out-of-department prerequisites in the areas of math and science. Deficiencies in these areas should be completed before the student begins graduate studies in the department. Applicants interested in this program should contact the department for advising prior to applying. To properly determine course equivalency, potential applicants must provide a list of undergraduate courses including the course numbers, titles, and descriptions taken from the course syllabus or university bulletin.