Best Master’s in Speech Therapy Programs and Career Outlook

A master’s degree in speech therapy is your last step before becoming a licensed speech-language pathologist. This is what you’ve been waiting for, right? You graduated with a bachelor’s, and now all you need before becoming a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is your master’s degree. Speech therapy programs equip students to address a wide range of communication disorders in various professional settings. In most cases, speech therapists can treat communication disorders completely, or at least improve long-term outcomes.

The Growing Field of Speech-Language Pathology

The rapid growth of the speech-language pathology and speech development profession illustrates how much we’ve neglected people with communication disorders. Imagine how hard life was for people with a developmental challenge 100 years ago. They knew they had an issue, but it didn’t have a name or a solution. These days, people who have communication disorders can at least find a name for their disorder. Speech therapy is one of the quickest-growing fields in the world, and it’s as fruitful as it is lucrative. A career in speech language pathology could be within your grasp!

Top Ranked Graduate Programs

Our #1 ranked school for speech pathology is Purdue University, followed by University of Washington- Seattle Campus. To supply you with the best of the best in Master’s in Speech Therapy degree programs, we considered several points when compiling this list, such as:

• The school’s ability to provide a quality Master’s degree program in the field of Speech Therapy
• Offering various learning degree formats, such as online, on-campus, or hybrid coursework
• Taught by professionals in the field of Speech Therapy
• Displays proper accreditation, pursuant to the field of Speech Therapy
• Prepares graduates for career advancement in Speech Therapy

Purdue University: Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP)

Purdue University offers an excellent Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) Program, ranked #3 by U.S. News & World Report. The school is selective, so you should ensure that your application is of the highest quality. Eligibility for an SLP program often requires a GPA above 3.0. Applying students must submit:

• three letters of recommendation
• official transcripts from all institutions attended
• an updated resume
• GRE scores
• answers to the prompts on Purdue’s application

As a graduate student in Purdue’s speech pathology program, you will take fantastic classes like Neural Bases of Speech & Hearing, Language Disorders in Adults, Motor Disorders of Speech, and School Clinical Methods. Academic accreditation for this speech language pathology degree includes the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and the Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

University of Washington- Seattle Campus

As second place on our list, the University of Washington leaves nothing to be desired. Students enjoy an excellent mix of a beautiful campus, fantastic classes, and faculty who have made an impressionable imprint on speech therapy.

Practical Training and Certification Requirements

These programs emphasize practical training through internships and preparatory steps for certification. As a pre-professional program, the curriculum prepares students for the Praxis test and the required clinical competence. Additionally, you are required to enroll in:

• a clinical practicum
• educational externship
• two healthcare externships

The university also provides students with a year-one and year-two checklist to make sure they’re keeping up with the demands of the program and that they’re prepared for their careers. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals. Then, the world is your oyster; you can work with struggling patients and help the disabled find a way to speak again.