COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at DePaul University offers a comprehensive curriculum that prepares students to diagnose and treat a wide range of communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan. The program covers key areas such as fluency, receptive and expressive language, cognitive aspects of communication including attention, memory, and problem solving, voice and resonance, speech sound production, augmentative and alternative communication, hearing and its impact on speech and language, swallowing disorders, and the social aspects of communication. Students complete coursework in basic sciences, specific communication and swallowing disorders, and research methods, building a strong theoretical and analytical foundation. A central component of the curriculum is clinical training, which includes 400 hours of supervised clinical experience, allowing students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Through these experiences, students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills necessary for independent clinical practice. The program prepares graduates to work in a variety of professional environments, including schools, hospitals, clinics, and private practice. In addition, the curriculum meets the requirements of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology, Illinois state licensure requirements, and the Professional Educator License endorsement in Speech-Language Pathology for work in public schools. By integrating academic study with extensive clinical preparation, the program equips students with the expertise and credentials needed to become effective and qualified speech-language pathologists.