Interested in becoming a Speech Language Pathologist?
Click each box to learn more about what Speech Language Pathologist do and what it will take to become one.
Responsibilities and Education
Responsibilities: Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.
Salary: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage for a Speech Language Pathologist is $90,000+.
Education:
Obtain a degree in a Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) major or Non-CSD major. Since Mississippi State University does not offer a CSD major, our students often pursue one of the following options, and complete pre-requisites through our Cross Registration partnership.
- Educational Psychology with an Emphasis Area in Speech Language Pathology
- Human Development and Family Sciences - Child Development
- Interdisciplinary Studies with Emphasis Areas in Educational Psychology, Communication, and Psychology
- Special Education
Complete a Master's Degree in Speech Language Pathology in approximately 2 years. This usually consists of coursework, a clinical practicum, and potentially a comprehensive exam/capstone research project. Once these are complete and a passing score on the Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology is received, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certification can be obtained.
Preparation and Application for Speech Language Pathology Programs
GPA: Each school will vary on their minimum GPA requirements, but 3.0 is the minimum, but higher is considered competitive for Speech Language Pathology Master's programs.
Pre-Requisites:
Per the requirements of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the accreditation body for Speech Language Pathology Programs, the following courses are required for all programs.
- Biological Sciences + Lab (Biology 1, General A&P, Genetics, etc.)
- Physical Sciences + Lab (General or Survey of Chemistry or Physics)
- Social/Behavioral Sciences (Psychology or Sociology)
- Elementary Statistics
- College Algebra
Required classes for these programs will vary, so it is wise to periodically check your selected programs' websites, attend information sessions, and stay in contact with their admissions team. While not limited to or exclusive of, the courses below are examples of commonly required pre-requisites for Speech Language Pathology programs. The course names may vary per institution. Mississippi State University does not offer these courses. Please see the section Cross Registration Process to learn more about obtaining these pre-requisites.
- Phonetics
- Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism
- Speech and Hearing Science
- Development of Normal Speech and Language
- Introduction to Audiology
- Strategies in Therapy for the Hearing Impaired
- Neurology
Testing Requirements: Most if not all schools will require the Graduate Record Examination/GRE.
Observation/Shadowing: Per the requirements of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the accreditation body for Speech Language Pathology Programs, 25 guided observation hours are required. For those that choose to cross register, these hours will be obtained throughout those courses mentioned above.
Involvement/Extracurriculars: Admissions committees can derive a skillset from anything that you do. For students who are working while in their undergrad, they may not be involved in as many clubs, teams, and organizations. And that is okay in the holistic review process! Our goal is to be a well-rounded pre-professional student and that will look different for each individual.
Example: Pre-SLP Club
Letters of Recommendation: Programs will vary in this requirement. Some will ask for specific people as recommenders, while others may only request an amount without specifying who they should be. Many programs require at least one letter coming from Strong recommenders might be your supervisors, professors, advisors, or anyone that can attest to your abilities, ethics, and character. To be professional, always ask someone before you list them as a recommender.
Cross-Registration Process
Since Mississippi State University does not offer the Speech and Language Disorders pre-requisites that most Speech Language Pathology programs require, we partner with The W to cross-register our students. Cross registration allows for our Pre-Speech Language Pathology students to be full-time MSU students, while obtaining 1-2 courses a semester at The W typically within their Sophomore year. It is best to start the process beginning Spring semester of Freshman year to ensure paperwork is filed to begin the following Fall.
If interested in cross-registration or learning more about this process, please make an appointment with Mrs. Taylor Allen. Here you will go over the necessary steps for the cross-registration process and be advised for your Pre-Speech Language Pathology pathway.