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What is Speech Langauge Pathology (SLP)?
What is Speech Langauge Pathology (SLP)?
Speech Language Pathology is a field focused on diagnosing and treating communication and swallowing disorders. Speech-language pathologists work with individuals of all ages to improve their speech, language, and cognitive communication abilities, enhancing their overall quality of life.
Note: Because there is no official SLP path at Virginia Tech, you will need to take responsibility for finding relevant and up-to-date information. Google “careers in Speech Language Pathology,” and investigate the requirements of the schools that you are interested in attending.
The Basics
The Basics
Most SLP jobs require you to have a masters in Speech Hearing Pathology (SPHR)
Masters programs in SPHR are competitive.
Many programs expect you to have taken pre-requisite courses
Masters programs are typically 2 years long if you have a bachelor’s degree in SPHR, or 3 years long if you don’t.
Virginia Tech does not offer undergraduate or graduate degrees in Speech Language Pathology.
Virginia Tech students do get into masters programs in Speech Language Pathology
Including at UVA, James Madison, Radford, and George Washington.
Usually into 3 year programs
What Virginia Tech Students Should Know
What Virginia Tech Students Should Know
Your Major(s)
You can take any major, and still get into grad school in SPHR!
The most common major for those interested in Speech-Language Pathology has been Human Development, in part because it requires you to get field study hours in order to graduate, and you can do these hours with an SLP. Many graduate programs like to see that you have clinical experience with an SLP to make sure you know what being an SLP entails and that this field is the right choice for you.
Your Minor(s)
You’re on the VTLx website, so we obviously recommend that you take the Language Sciences Minor! Classes in the minor can sometimes count as prerequisites for SLP programs. You should check with the programs you’re interested in to confirm, but we’ve had some success counting:
PSYC 4134: Language Development for language development prerequisites.
ENGL 2034: Analyzing the Sounds of Language and ENGL 1504: Introduction to Linguistics for phonetics pre-requisites
ENGL 4144: Phonology for phonology pre-requisites.
ENGL 4074: English Syntax for syntax pre-requisites (though this is not commonly a pre-requisite for SLP programs)
Many students (also) take the Disability Studies Minor.
Take Pre-Requisite Classes
Some classes at Virginia Tech may count for some prerequisites; it is school-specific. Classes that are not offered at Virginia Tech but do count for graduate school pre-requisites can be taken online at Longwood University: http://www.longwood.edu/continuingeducation/for-credit-courses/speech-language-pathology-prerequisites-online/.
Aside from prerequisites to graduate school, there are also courses that ASHA requires you to take in order to receive a Certificate of Clinical Competence. These courses can be found at https://www.asha.org/Certification/Course-Content-Areas-for-SLP-Standards/. Many of the core requirements for majors such as Human Development or Psychology meet these requirements.
Join Clubs!
Join Clubs!
We strongly recommend you join the SLP Club at Virginia Tech, even as a low-key member. The members help each other get into MA programs by sharing information, connections, and bringing in SLP alumni as invited speakers.
Get Research Experience
To enrich your undergraduate experience, gain skills that may be useful in your future career, and build relationships with your professors, consider joining a research lab on campus. Experience in any sort of lab will be valuable, but you can find language-related labs on our website under Labs.
You may also want to conduct your own independent research project. This is now an integral part of the Language Sciences Minor as the capstone course, but in special cases students can get started earlier if they have a strong idea and enough background. Reach out to a professor and explore the VTLx Undergraduate Research page for more info.
Thank you to former SLP Club president Brittany Russell for helping us put this advice together!
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