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Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Program at Wilson College is an accelerated, hybrid program requiring the completion of 56 total semester credit hours delivered in 4 semesters over 16 months. Semesters are 16 weeks in length with two 8-week terms built into each semester. Clinical experiences will span the entire 16-week semester. During this time, students are onsite in the Philadelphia metropolitan region twice for lab immersions that are up to 5 days in length. The remainder of the didactic curriculum is delivered online synchronously and asynchronously. 

 

 

Lab Site Address:

Wilson College

1275 Drummers Lane, Suite 100

Wayne, PA 19807

 

The SLP program is designed to prepare compassionate, skilled professionals through rigorous education and mentorship. We strive to empower future leaders and advocates to deliver evidence-based prevention, assessment, and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan, serving diverse populations with excellence and integrity. The program’s curriculum is grounded in theoretical and scientific bases of the profession, consistent with its goal to develop critical thinkers and effective communicators. Graduates of the program are prepared as entry-level generalists who are eligible to sit for the Praxis examination once the program is a candidate for accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) and seek licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist.  

 

Mission

The Wilson College Master’s Program in Speech-Language Pathology prepares compassionate, skilled professionals through rigorous education and mentorship. We empower future leaders and advocates to deliver evidence-based prevention, assessment, and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan, serving diverse populations with excellence and integrity. 

Vision

To lead the future of speech-language pathology through an innovative hybrid accelerated education model that emphasizes academic and clinical excellence, grounded in evidence-based practice and ethical integrity. We foster a culture of lifelong learning, servant leadership, and interprofessional collaboration to meaningfully impact society, and transform the lives of the diverse individuals we serve. 

Accreditation:

The program is in the process of achieving candidacy status through CAA of the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), located at 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850. CAA’s telephone number is (800) 498-2071 and its web address is https://caa.asha.org/.

Admissions Policies

The admissions criteria for our program exceed Wilson College’s general requirements to ensure the selection of candidates who are best equipped for the academic and clinical demands of graduate-level education in Speech-Language Pathology. While Wilson College establishes a minimum GPA of 3.0 for graduate admissions, our program requires additional admission requirements to reflect the specialized and intensive nature of the curriculum. In addition to academic performance, our admissions process employs a holistic review that encompass a thorough assessment of non-academic attributes, including research involvement, volunteer and clinical experience, professional background, and contributions to cultural and linguistic diversity. These elements are critical in evaluating a candidate’s preparedness for the clinical and research components of the program, as well as their potential to contribute meaningfully to a diverse professional community. Emphasis is placed on the applicant’s GPA in SLP-specific coursework. This targeted evaluation underscores the importance of foundational knowledge in the discipline and its relevance to future success in the program. Furthermore, our criteria encompass a thorough assessment of non-academic attributes, including research involvement, volunteer and clinical experience, professional background, and contributions to cultural and research components of the program, as well as their potential to contribute meaningfully to a diverse professional community. By integrating both academic and experiential factors, our admissions process reflects the program’s commitment to cultivating person- and family-centered, culturally responsive, and clinically competent practitioners who are equipped to address the diverse needs of the population they will serve.

Application Requirements: All applications must be completed online through CSDCAS

Degree Requirements: Applicants are required to hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to the start of the program. Transcripts must be submitted from all institutions attended.

Course Prerequisites:

Pre-requisite courses in several areas are required by the Wilson College MS-SLP program and ASHA to uphold standards of professional practice. There are 3 categories of pre-requisites that must be fulfilled: Speech-Language Pathology Core Pre-requisites, Guided Observation Hours, and ASHA required pre-requisites. 

SLP Core Leveling Courses

The following SLP Core Leveling Courses are required for matriculation to the MS-SLP program. Six credits of SLP Core Leveling courses must be completed and have transcript grades from an accredited college at the time of application for determination of admission. The remaining SLP Core Leveling courses must be completed prior to enrollment in the program. These courses can be taken through the Wilson College leveling program. If courses are completed at another institution, students must provide a syllabus to the Coordinator of Admissions to verify that the content and learning objectives meet the same standards. 

  • Anatomy & Physiology for SLPs
  • CSD Across the Lifespan
  • Language & Communication Science
  • Phonetic Science
  • Intro Audiology & Aural Rehab
  • Normal Speech & Lang Development

 

Guided Observation Hours:

Applicants with an undergraduate major in CSD are not required to complete guided observation hours. Applicants with non-CSD majors are required to complete 25 hours of guided observations in speech-language pathology before matriculation to the program. Observation hours may be completed in the student’s community or through our leveling program. Proof of guided observation hours must be reported with the signature and ASHA number of the practicing SLP.

 

ASHA Required Pre-Requisites

ASHA requires specific undergraduate prerequisite courses to be completed before the onset of the clinical fellowship year. The program requires students to complete these prerequisites prior to matriculation to ensure that they will be ready to pursue graduate coursework and advance as a clinical fellow at the end of the program. One course should be taken in each area and the SLP Core Leveling courses may not be used to fulfill these pre-requisites. At the discretion of the program, one course may be used to fulfill two prerequisite content areas. Further descriptions and options for fulfilling the requirements are found at https://www.asha.org/certification/course-content-aread-for-slp-standards/.

 

The academic pre-requisite coursework requirements are: 

  • Biological Sciences
  • Physical Sciences (Physics or Chemistry)
  • Statistics and/or Research Methods (focused on quantitative analysis) 
  • Behavioral and/or Social Sciences

 

GPA Requirement:

  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 from the last 60 credits earned at a regionally accredited institution prior to enrollment
  • 3.0 GPA on SLP Core Leveling, with no single course grade below a B-.

 

Letters of Recommendation:

Two letters of recommendation that speak to your servant leadership, academic and career readiness, lifelong learning mindset, problem solving and critical thinking, and emotional intelligence.

  • One letter may be from an SLP/CSD course instructor, SLP/CSD faculty member, or an ASHA-certified licensed SLP practitioner. The letter should speak to the applicant's servant leadership, academic and career readiness, lifelong learning mindset, problem solving and critical thinking, and emotional intelligence.
  • One letter must be from a professional reference (e.g., professor, employer, supervisor, volunteer coordinator, student organization advisor, etc.).The letter should speak to the applicant's servant leadership, academic and career readiness, lifelong learning mindset, problem solving and critical thinking, and emotional intelligence.

Personal Statement: Applicants are required to write a personal statement addressing how they plan to use their education as a speech-language pathologist to positively impact the individuals and communities they serve?

Technical Standards: Applicants must attest that they meet the technical standards necessary to perform effectively in the program.

Interview: An asynchronous interview is required for eligible applicants.

Additional Information:

All students enrolled in the Wilson College MS-SLP program are expected to demonstrate effective communication skills in both spoken and written English. English proficiency is essential for successful participation in coursework, clinical training, and interprofessional collaboration.

Applicants whose primary language is not English, or who have completed their academic preparation in a country where English is not the official language of instruction, are required to submit verified results from an approved English language proficiency assessment. Minimum score requirements for accepted assessments are outlined below.

  • TOEFL-IBT with a minimum overall score of 61 and at least 5 in the Speaking English subtest.
  • IELTS with a minimum score of 8.0
  • STEP score minimum of Pre-1st
  • English-3 Proficiency score of 5
  • Duolingo score of 100

Admissions Procedures:

Applicants must submit:

  • A completed application through the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS).
    • All information must be submitted directly to CSDCAS to complete the application, and the application must be considered complete by the application deadline. The CSDCAS application includes detailed instructions for completing all application requirements. CSDCAS requires 4-6 weeks to process student information and verify transcripts.
  • Completed application includes:
    • Required application fees
    • Official transcript
      • Submit official transcripts showing completion of all pre-requisites and conferral of a bachelor’s degree.
    • Personal Statement
    • 2 Letters of Recommendation
    • English proficiency test scores (as applicable) 
    • Optional: Resume 
  • Eligible applicants will complete a virtual asynchronous interview.
  • MS-SLP faculty will complete a review of each application, interview, and supporting documents.
  • Applicants will be notified of admission decisions.
  • The Wilson College MS-SLP program utilizes rolling admissions, meaning applications are reviewed as they are received. Acceptances will be granted to qualified applicants until the cohort maximum is reached. Once the cohort maximum is reached; additional acceptances will be deferred to the next start date.

Policies on Academic Standing progressing and Student Progress

Academic Probation Criteria

GPA Requirement: To ensure continued progress and readiness for professional practice, students enrolled in the MS-SLP Program are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

Course Grade Requirement:

  • Students who earn below a B on any assignment or examination will be required to complete supportive and targeted knowledge and skill building tasks individually established by the instructor.
  • If a student receives a final course grade below a B, they are required to enroll in the Student Success and Development Pathway (0 credits). In collaboration with the course instructor, the student will develop an academic RISEE Plan, which outlines specific goals, strategies, and a completion timeline. The academic RISEE Plan will be signed by both the student and the course instructor, then formally documented, filed in the student’s academic record, and monitored by the student’s faculty advisor.
  • Students who do not meet the learning objectives or competencies outlined in the academic RISEE Plan by the completion date will be placed on academic probation
  • In clinical practicum, if a student receives a grade below a B from any clinical instructor or clinical supervisor during a practicum experience (on or off campus), they will be placed on clinical probation. Upon placement on probation, the student will develop a clinical RISEE Plan in collaboration with the Director of Clinical Education and their faculty advisor to address areas of concern and outline specific goals, strategies, and a timeline for completion.
  • If the student does not meet the clinical competencies outlined in the RISEE Plan by the completion date, they will receive a C for clinical practicum and be placed on academic probation for clinical concerns. If this is the student’s only C in the program, they may continue with additional support from the Director of Clinical Education, clinical mentors, or faculty advisor. However, if the student receives a second C grade, academic or clinical, they will be dismissed from the program.

     

    Comprehensive Examination:

  • To be eligible for program recommendation to take the Praxis Examination and graduate from the MS-SLP Program, students must achieve a minimum passing score of 80% on the Comprehensive Examination.
  • If a student scores below 80%, they will be referred to their academic faculty advisor to review the exam results and identify specific areas of difficulty. Based on this review, the student will be required to enroll in the Student Success and Development Pathway (0 credits) and develop a RISEE Plan in collaboration with their advisor and relevant course instructors or coordinators. The RISEE Plan will outline targeted strategies for improvement in identified content areas and include a timeline for completion.
  • Following completion of the RISEE Plan, the student may retake the Comprehensive Examination one time. If the student does not achieve a passing score of 80% on the second attempt, they will be required to decelerate their studies and repeat coursework in the areas identified for improvement. A third attempt may be permitted no sooner than one semester after the second attempt, contingent upon successful completion of the revised academic plan.
  • If a student does not pass the Comprehensive Examination on the third attempt, they will not be recommended for graduation.

Dismissal Criteria

A student will be dismissed from the program if they: 

  • Fail to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0, or 
  • Receive two or more final course grades of C or lower or 
  • Does not successfully complete all components of the RISEE plan when repeating a course for the second time

Professional Behavior: If a student fails to adhere to professional standards in line with the Wilson Honor Code, ASHA Code of Ethics, and MS-SLP program standards, they will be dismissed from the MS-SLP program.

Year One - Semester 1 Requirements

Term 1

SLP 500Global Perspectives in SLP

2
SLP 502Methods & Materials in CSD

2
SLP 510Language Development Birth-3

3

Term 2

SLP 590Residency Pediatric/Education

1
SLP 512Pediatric Speech Sound Diff

3
SLP 504Neuroscience for SLPs

2
SLP 514School-Age Lang & Literacy

3

All Term

SLP 592Virtual Practicum

2

Year One- Semester 2 Requirements

Term 1

SLP 540Research & EBP in SLP

2
SLP 542AAC Across the Lifespan

2
SLP 520Adult Dysphagia

2

Term 2

SLP 522Acquired & Progressive Aphasia

3
SLP 516Neurodiverse Social Comm

2
SLP 518Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing

2

All Term

SLP 593Hybrid Clinical Experience

2
OR
SLP 594Externship Pediatric/Education

2

Year One - Semester 3 Requirements

Term 1

SLP 591Residency Adult/Medical

1
SLP 524Voice Assess/Intervention

2
SLP 526Cog-Comm Assess/Intervention

2

Term 2

SLP 528Motor Speech Assess/Interv

2
SLP 506Fluency Assess/Intervention

2

All Term

SLP 544Mentored Research

1
 
SLP 593Hybrid Clinical Experience

2
OR
SLP 594Externship Pediatric/Education

2

Year Two - Semester 1 Requirements

Term 1

SLP 546IPE & Collaborative Care

2
SLP 548Clinical & Prof Topics in SLP

2

Term 2

SLP 529Aural (Re)habilitation

2
SLP 519Craniofacial Assess/Interv

1

All Term

SLP 550Advanced Seminar in SLP

2
SLP 596Externship Adult/Medical

2