Maryville University online M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology
Maryville’s online speech-language pathology master’s degree is a career-focused graduate credential designed to prepare you for success in the field through the expected student competencies outlined by ASHA. The program comprises 57 credit hours across 19 courses designed to help you build knowledge, master key skills, and broaden your understanding of voice, speech, language, fluency, swallowing, hearing disorders, cognitive, social pragmatic, and communication modalities.
Through coursework, real-world experiences, and practical simulated exercises, you’ll have the chance to evaluate, treat, and prevent speech and language disorders, practice ethical and compassionate treatment, and advance your clinical assessment and intervention skills.
Please note that the master’s in speech-language pathology program is intended for students who have completed a relevant bachelor’s or certificate program or the prerequisite coursework.
Didactic Courses (36 credit hours)
| SPLP 510 | Speech Sound Disorders | 3 Credits |
| Participants will work on the etiologies and characteristics of phonological disorders. Specific types of disorders will be studied along with methods of assessment and treatment for these disorders. | ||
| SPLP 520 | Assessment and Differential Diagnosis | 3 Credits |
| Participants will learn diagnostic processes in the field of communication sciences and disorders. This course will include theoretical foundations of assessment as well as clinical application. Students will identify appropriate assessments, practice giving formal and informal assessments, and participate in diagnostic clinical evaluations. | ||
| SPLP 530 | Acquired Disorders of Language and Cognition | 3 Credits |
| Participants will learn etiologies, characteristics, assessment strategies, and intervention techniques for effective treatment of neurologically-based language and cognitive disorders, such as aphasia, dementia, right hemisphere impairment, and traumatic brain injury. | ||
| SPLP 550 | Language Disorders in Children | 3 Credits |
| Participants will learn strategies for diagnosing and treating children with language disorders from birth through adolescence. Characteristics and etiologies of these disorders developmental and acquired language disorders will be discussed. | ||
| SPLP 560 | Research Methods and Evidence Based Practice | 3 Credits |
| This course will prepare participants to become critical consumers of speech-language pathology research. Participants will learn how to apply concepts presented in research studies to clinical practice in order to meet evidence-based practice guidelines. In addition, participants will learn about research design and analysis to prepare them clinical research. | ||
| SPLP 570 | Motor Speech Disorders | 3 Credits |
| Participants will develop a thorough understanding of the etiologies of motor speech disorders, such as cerebral palsy and Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and the speech disorders they may experience, such as dysarthria and apraxia. Participants will learn and practice assessment and treatment strategies to help clients in this challenging population across the lifespan. | ||
| SPLP 590 | Language and Literacy for Speech Language Pathology | 3 Credits |
| Participants will learn how language and literacy are intertwined and the role of the speech-language pathologist in assessing and treating patients with literacy disorders including students with dyslexia and English Language Learners. | ||
| SPLP 595 | Voice & Fluency Disorders | 3 Credits |
| Participants will study the anatomy and physiology related to voice and fluency disorders and in-depth assessment and treatment strategies in order to work with members of these client populations across the lifespan. | ||
| SPLP 600 | Augmentative and Alternative Communication | 2 Credits |
| This course provides participants with an in-depth understanding of assessment and treatment of clients who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), such as pointing to pictures and communication devices with voice output. Hands-on practice will be provided to prepare participants to work with clients in this population across the lifespan. | ||
| SPLP 610 | Professional Issues I: Ethics and Standards | 1 Credit |
| Participants in this course will learn about the administrative, legal, and ethical issues in the field of speech-language pathology, such as ethical and professional behavior, national certification and professional organizations. Participants will also demonstrate the ASHA standards necessary for becoming certified speech-language pathologists. Demonstration may include case studies, practice tests, and learning strategies. | ||
| SPLP 620 | Dysphagia | 3 Credits |
| Participants will learn etiologies, assessment, and treatment for individuals with feeding and swallowing disorders in both pediatric and adult populations. Anatomy and physiology for normal and disordered swallowing will be examined. Diagnostic procedures including modified barium swallow (MBS) studies and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) will be included. | ||
| SPLP 630 | Special Populations: Autism and Craniofacial Anomalies | 3 Credits |
| Special Populations in Communication Disorders is designed to present information regarding less prevalent disorders in speech-language pathology. These disorders include cleft palate, autism, chromosome disorders, etc. Material covered will include etiologies & characteristics, evaluation instruments and procedures, characteristics, interpreting, integrating, and synthesizing test results, history, and other behavioral observations to develop diagnoses, completing administrative and reporting functions necessary to support evaluation, referring individuals to appropriate service providers, interprofessional collaboration, evidence based practice techniques, and current trends within the field of speech-language pathology and medicine. | ||
| SPLP 650 | Professional Issues II: Ethics and Career Planning | 1 Credit |
| Participants in this course will learn about the administrative, legal, and ethical issues in the field of speech-language pathology, such as funding and billing issues, ethical and professional behavior, state licensing, national certification, specialty recognition certifications, professional organizations, resumes, professional portfolios, and interviewing in order to prepare participants to begin their careers in this field. | ||
| SPLP 660 | Multicultural Issues in Communication Sciences and Disorders | 2 Credits |
| Participants will learn how cultural and linguistic diversity affect the assessment and treatment of speech-language pathology clients. Participants will also learn about other cultures and will develop intercultural communication competence to prepare them for working with clients and co-workers from diverse backgrounds. | ||
Clinical Experiences Courses (21 credit hours)
| SPLP 540 | Practicum I | 3 Credits |
| Participants will apply skills learned in academic coursework to this clinical practicum. Direct client contact is required, and participants will be supervised by speech-language pathologists with their clinical certification (CCC-SLP). Participants will be responsible for all aspects of their client’s treatment including planning, treating, communicating with the client and the client’s family, and report-writing. | ||
| SPLP 575 | Practicum II | 3 Credits |
| Participants will apply skills learned in academic coursework to this clinical practicum. Direct client contact is required, and participants will be supervised by speech-language pathologists with their clinical certification (CCC-SLP). Participants will be responsible for all aspects of their client’s treatment including planning, treating, communicating with the client and the client’s family, and report-writing. | ||
| SPLP 580 | Practicum III | 3 Credits |
| Participants will apply skills learned in academic coursework to this clinical practicum. Direct client contact is required, and participants will be supervised by speech-language pathologists with their clinical certification (CCC-SLP). Participants will be responsible for all aspects of their client’s treatment including planning, treating, communicating with the client and the client’s family, and report-writing. | ||
| SPLP 670 | School Externship | 6 Credits |
| Participants will provide speech and language assessment and intervention services in a school or pediatric setting under the supervision of a CCC-SLP credentialed speech pathologist who is employed by the facility. University faculty or clinical staff will monitor the participant’s progress. | ||
| SPLP 680 | Medical Externship | 6 Credits |
| Participants will provide speech and language assessment and intervention services in a hospital, skilled nursing, or other medical setting under the supervision of a CCC-SLP credentialed speech pathologist who is employed by the facility. University faculty or clinical staff will monitor the participant’s progress. | ||
To ensure the best possible educational experience for our students, we may update our curriculum to reflect emerging and changing employer and industry trends. Professional licensure and certification regulations vary by jurisdiction. Students are encouraged to visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for the state in which they intend to practice to verify specific licensure requirements, which include ensuring the program of interest meets the licensure requirements prior to enrolling. Students may visit the professional licensure page or reach out to our team of enrollment advisors for guidance.