Speech Language Pathology - Master of Science
Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology (MS)
This program is designed for people with a college degree who want to become Speech-Language Pathologists.
Historically, about half of our students have an undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology, while the rest have a diversity of undergraduate degrees including linguistics, education, biology, psychology, English, business, engineering, drama, music, family/child studies and world languages.
This comprehensive, innovative program:
- Is a two-year, full-time program that starts each September
- Integrates intensive study of written language disorders with the traditional study of spoken language disorders
- Emphasizes both educational and medical speech-language pathology, enabling you to work with the full range of congenital, developmental and acquired disorders
See the program's application process for prerequisites and other admission requirements.
Optional Concentrations for Specialty Training
The program's extensive core curriculum and specialty electives eliminate the need for tracking into either a medical or educational course of study. Instead, you may specialize in an area of interest through concentrations, including:
- Adult Neurogenic Communication Disorders
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Early Intervention
- Literacy
- Literacy with preparation for Reading Specialist Licensure
- Medical Speech Pathology
- Voice Disorders
Our integration of written with spoken language disorders studies also allows you to become eligible for:
Many of our students graduate with extra credit hours simply because they want to take full advantage of the powerful, scholarly opportunities afforded them through our elective offerings.
Research and Thesis Options
Research opportunities and thesis options are available if you wish to pursue them. Faculty research projects are ongoing in the areas of autism, voice, reading/literacy, aphasia, motor speech disorders, cognitive impairment, and phonology.
You can participate in faculty research and take advantage of our centralized location within the hub of New England’s top teaching and research institutions and our affiliation with the world-class Mass General Brigham and our more than 200 active affiliates.
Upon completion of the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program, you will be prepared to serve in both educational and health care settings as a Speech-Language Pathologist.
Clinical Experience
To integrate classroom and clinical learning, our program offers intensive but supportive clinical experiences. Two initial in-house practica, involving work with developmental speech-language and reading problems, take place onsite under close faculty supervision in the MGH Institute Speech, Language and Literacy Center. During these two semesters, students pair up in dyads sharing in planning and conducting evaluations and therapy with clients who have spoken and written language disorders.
Students participate in intermediate and advanced clinical experiences across New England in our affiliated partner sites. Practicum placements are individually determined through consultation with faculty coordinators to best ensure the acquisition of knowledge and skills.
The MGH Institute Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders currently has clinical education affiliations with prominent hospitals and schools in the Greater Boston area, and throughout New England including close affiliations with our partner institution Mass General Brigham.