Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, M.S.

Saint Louis University offers a Master of Science in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences designed to prepare professionals to provide evidence-based, high-quality services to persons with communication and swallowing disorders. The program focuses on developing clinicians who are prepared to serve culturally and linguistically diverse populations across the lifespan.

To apply to the graduate program, students must have a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders or speech-language pathology. Students interested in the communication sciences and disorders graduate degree with a bachelor's degree in a different discipline can complete the SLU SLHS leveling option before applying.

Program Highlights

• SLU's Master of Science in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences is a two-year, six-semester program that starts in the summer semester.
• The typical class size is 30 to 40 students.
• Over the past three years, the program’s graduation rate has been 97%, while both the Praxis pass rate and the employment rate of the graduating class are 99%.
• Graduate students will complete a clinical practicum each term.

Curriculum Overview

All graduate students must complete 61 credits, including a required clinical practicum each term. Research students will also complete a thesis for six elective credits.

Students must enroll in five terms (semester or summer) of graduate course credit clinical practicum during their study. Additionally, six credits of off-campus clinical practice are completed during the last semester of study.

SLHS Graduate Handbook

Clinical and Research Opportunities

A significant strength of SLU's M.S. in speech, language and hearing sciences is the wide variety of clinical practicum experiences available to graduate students. The department has strong working relationships with hospitals, schools, rehabilitation facilities and community clinics in St. Louis and surrounding areas. Research opportunities include independent studies worth 1-2 credits of elective credit or a 6-credit research thesis.

Clinical Practicum Sites

Students will experience at least two separate off-campus clinical placements, often obtaining 50 clinical hours or more at each site. Additionally, students gain experience in SLU's Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic. Students are ready for a full-time internship during their last semester, consisting of placements in both medical and educational settings. Students typically obtain considerably more than the minimum clock hours required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and are well-prepared to begin their professional careers.

Careers

Graduates of SLU's M.S. in speech, language and hearing sciences program have gone on to careers at public and private schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health agencies, clinics, private practices and universities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics rates speech-language pathology as one of the fastest-growing professions in the country — it’s predicted to grow 25% by 2029. The median annual salary for a speech-language pathologist in 2022 was $84,140.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders or have successfully completed the prerequisite courses in the field.

Individuals with a bachelor's degree in a different discipline are not eligible for admission into the graduate program until completion of the undergraduate prerequisite courses. Students may be eligible for admission into the speech, language and hearing sciences leveling program.

Students must meet clinical practicum eligibility requirements for participation in the required clinical practicum.

Application Requirements

• Application through CSDCAS (The SLU CSDCAS code is 4621.)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Résumé
• Professional goal statement
• Applicants must possess a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and 3.0 GPA in the major
• Visit (encouraged)

Requirements for International Students

Note: Students must score in the High Intermediate to Advanced range on the TOEFL Reading, Listening and Writing sections and must score in the Advanced range on the TOEFL Speaking section.

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:
  • Courses taken and/or lectures attended
  • Practical laboratory work
  • The maximum and minimum grades attainable
  • The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
  • Any honors or degrees received.
• WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
• In order to be issued an I-20 for your F-1 visa application, students must submit financial documents. Proof of financial support that must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University

Assistantship Application Deadline

Students who want to be considered for an assistantship must submit their application by the date specified on the assistant application. 

Review Process

The department admissions committee uses a rolling admission process. Each application and supporting materials is comprehensively reviewed for admission consideration.

Students who are offered admission to the program will receive an assistantship application at the time of their acceptance notification.

The Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences adheres to the national deadline of April 15 to extend offers of admission to applicants as set forth by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Council of Graduate Schools.

Leveling Option

The leveling option is designed for students who wish to pursue a graduate degree in speech-language pathology or audiology and already have a baccalaureate degree in a different discipline. The leveling option's curriculum (29 credits) is based on the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences undergraduate curriculum. It is designed to provide the courses necessary to apply to a graduate program in one of these professions. 

See the Roadmap tab for courses in the Leveling Program.

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Net Price Calculator

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for graduate assistantship, apply by Feb. 1.

For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

Accreditation

For more information about the SLU speech, language, and hearing sciences program's student outcomes data (completion rates, Praxis exam pass rates, and employment rates), CAA complaint policy and accreditation information, please see the student outcome data and accreditation information below.

View Student Outcome Data and Accreditation Information (PDF) 

Students in the speech, language and hearing sciences master's program take the following courses:

Electives: Six credits of electives are required. Thesis credits may meet the elective requirements and are not required for graduation.

All graduate students must complete 58 credits: 41 academic credits and 17 clinical practicum credits. Students are required to enroll in one of the clinical practicum courses every semester.

It is a requirement of the speech, language and hearing sciences graduate program that all students complete a course in Aural Rehabilitation and Neurological Bases of Communication. Students who have not had these courses as an undergraduate will need to take them in the graduate program in addition to the master’s program requirements. 

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Leveling Program

The leveling option is designed for students who wish to pursue a graduate degree in speech-language pathology or audiology and already have a baccalaureate degree in a different discipline. The leveling option's curriculum (29 credits) is based on the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences undergraduate curriculum. It is designed to provide the courses necessary to apply to a graduate program in one of these professions.