Aspiring speech-language pathologists invest years of training across academic and clinical skills to become highly skilled, competent clinicians. More speech-language pathologists are needed to fill vacancies across the country, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimating a 15% growth in roles from 2024 to 2034. Your hard work and sacrifice can pay dividends not only for your career but also for your community.

The average speech-language pathologist earned $95,140 in 2024, with the top 10% of earners making at least $132,850. You also gain satisfaction from helping people of all ages with language, communication, and swallowing disorders express themselves. As you consider building on your bachelor’s degree, it is a good idea to think about the speech-language competencies learned in graduate programs.

 

Essential Skills Learned in Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Programs

Graduate schools in speech-language pathology prepare students for a variety of clinical environments. Your career may take you into private practice, schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. Five key competencies will be developed in graduate SLP programs and applied across various practice settings.

 

1. Bases of Speech, Language, & Swallowing

A core component of speech-language pathology is an advanced understanding of typical development and normal structural/functional aspects across anatomical, physiological, linguistic, neurological, psychological, auditory, and behavioral bases of speech, language, and swallowing. For example, if we examine just one area of clinical practice, assessment and treatment of speech sound disorders, Speech-language pathologists need to understand the subsystems of speech involved in speech production. There are five subsystems of speech production that speech-language pathologists must understand to support their clients:

• Resonance – the enhancing and dampening of sound through the nasal cavity
• Respiration – the driving force behind speech production
• Phonation- the production of sound from the vibration of the vocal folds
• Articulation- the shaping of sound as it moves through the oral cavity
• Prosody- the inflection, rate, rhythm, and intonation of speech that supports message clarity

You will obtain advanced understanding of the speech system along with so many other systems of swallowing, speech, and language in a graduate speech-language pathology program.

 

2. Communication and Swallowing Disorders

Individuals with communication disorders struggle with using verbal and non-verbal forms of communication. These disorders may take the form of impaired understanding of language, an inability to produce intelligible speech sounds, or a hearing disorder. Speech-language pathologists are trained to identify communication disorders like:

• Aphasia
• Developmental language disorder
• Motor speech disorders
• Speech-sound disorders
• Stuttering and disfluency

Clients who have difficulty swallowing may be exhibiting symptoms of dysphagia. Dysphagia is diagnosed by speech-language pathologists are careful evaluation and medical review. The complexity of the systems involved in swallowing means that there are multiple potential causes for this disorder. Graduate programs in the discipline teach future practitioners about the varied types of dysphagia and the complex, underlying issues related to dysphagia.

 

3. Clinical Observation and Diagnosis

Speech-language pathologists often encounter clients who have communication or swallowing disorders co-occurring with a wide variety of other health issues. Screenings and consultations may identify conditions ranging from emotional trauma to brain injuries. The following diagnostic practices are taught in graduate programs and supervised clinical experiences:

• Completing client histories with past medical events and family health
• Interviewing clients as part of evaluating symptoms
• Using standardized, norm-referenced tests
• Using criterion referenced or developmentally based assessments
• Screening for possible hearing difficulties and recommending follow up with an audiologist if warranted
• Evaluating oral mechanism structure and function
• Recommending follow-up with a variety of other educational and health providers such as an Ear Nose Throat doctor for a client experiencing voice difficulties

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) establishes Preferred Practice Patterns for appropriate observation and diagnosis. Practitioners should be sensitive to cultural and linguistic differences to avoid inaccurate or inappropriate diagnoses. Graduate programs in speech-language pathology train students to identify communication differences based on cultural or linguistic backgrounds versus communication disorders.

 

4. Aural and Speech Rehabilitation

A client screening and consultation may result in a diagnosis of an aural or speech disorder. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists coordinate evidence-based treatment plans for aural, or hearing, disorders. Aural therapy may involve some or all of the following options:

• Client training on the use of hearing aids and cochlear implants
• Auditory-verbal therapy on sound discrimination and sound meanings
• Establishing sensory environments that lower barriers to hearing
• Counseling for clients and families frustrated with their disorders

Speech therapy involves building or rebuilding skills necessary for verbal communication. Speech-language pathologists support the coordination of the mouth, teeth, and tongue through deliberate motions. The connection between the various systems needed for speech is strengthened through word puzzles, reading aloud, and facial movement exercises.

 

5. Interpersonal Skills

Clients may struggle with recent diagnoses or their progress on treatment plans. Speech-language pathologists frequently engage in client education and counseling. They also communicate with parents, guardians, teachers, and other medical professionals when treating clients. Speech-language pathology programs teach future pathologists how to best use their interpersonal skills in clinical settings through supervised experiences..

Compassion and empathy are important because speech-language pathologists need to understand diagnosis and treatment from each client’s perspective. Effective communication with people of different ages and backgrounds is necessary throughout a pathologist’s career. Speech-language pathologists also need strong critical-thinking skills to design and adjust treatment plans.

 

The Benefits of Online Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Schools

Speech-language pathologists complete graduate level academic and clinical training requirements to be eligible for state licensure. All states require licensure to work as a speech-language pathologist. You don’t need campus-based university program experience to achieve these goals. An online speech-language pathology program from a reputable university may work best for your personal life and professional goals.

A completely online Master of Science (M.S.) in Speech-Language Pathology can be completed around your work and family schedule. M.S. programs may not require in-person visits to campuses, allowing students to complete their  coursework at home and clinical experiences in their home region. Dedicated staff members help M.S. candidates find required clinical practicum experiences in their communities.

There are a growing number of options for online graduate degrees to consider in your educational journey. An innovative graduate program teaches you the latest research and best practices in the field from day one through graduation. St. Bonaventure University’s Online M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology provides the platform for future career success.

 

Advancing Your Speech-Language Pathologist Career at St. Bonaventure University

The Online M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology brings advanced education in the discipline to you. M.S. candidates can complete their degrees and prepare for state licensure in less than three years of virtual coursework and clinical hours near their home community. Experienced practitioners build skills in the next generation of speech-language pathologists through a 56-credit curriculum, including courses across the SLP scope of practice such as:

• Autism Spectrum and Social Communication Disorders
• Diagnostics in Speech-Language Pathology
• Motor Speech Disorders
• Vocal Function and Voice Disorders

We assign a Student Success Coach to each M.S. candidate for personalized guidance from admission through graduation. Our faculty and staff also work with students to identify clinical placements close to their homes. Clinical placements provide valuable hands-on experience and show the needs of clients in your community.

St. Bonaventure University is accredited by the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Our reputation for academic excellence has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, including a Top 25 ranking among universities in the region. Graduates benefit from this reputation and carry university values such as compassion and integrity through their careers.

Find out more about how earning your Online M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from St. Bonaventure University can set you up for career success.