Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology at West Chester University is designed to strengthen the knowledge and skill of the practicing speech-language clinician, to provide the foundation for further graduate study, and to afford an opportunity to complete requirements toward professional certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. WCU’s program is available on campus in either a thesis or non-thesis track. Working in a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, and privately-owned companies, these graduates—and the many who pursue clinical and research doctorates—continue the program’s rich history of success in the field. That history, which stretches to 1923 when the West Chester Normal School (now WCU) founded the one of the country’s first speech clinics, is today the foundation of the program’s commitment to a scientific basis for clinical service delivery. In the past 10 years, 100% of WCU Speech-Language Pathology graduates who have sought employment have found professional positions.
Program Highlights
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Accredited in Speech-Language Pathology by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
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Gain professional and practical experience assessing and treating communication disorders at the on-campus Speech and Hearing Clinic
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Hands-on experience in the clinical portion of the program
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Academic and clinical practicum experience needed to earn the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology
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Preparation for the Pennsylvania Educational Specialist Certificate
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Bilingual Emphasis Course Sequence prepares qualified students to manage the needs of English language learners with communication difference or disorders
What can I do with this degree?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of SLPs is projected to grow by 18% through 2026. As baby boomers continue to age, increases in health-related speech and language impairments will make SLPS more in-demand. In 2016, 40% of SLPs worked in schools, with most others finding employment in healthcare facilities. Annual mean salaries range from $70,000 to $100,000 depending on industry and location, with a national median salary of $75,000 in 2016. Immediately following graduation, new Speech-Language Pathology professionals work as clinical fellows in the field to satisfy requirements for earning the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). After earning the CCC-SLP new professionals are eligible for state licensure and professional credentials. Graduates from our SLP programs are also in an excellent position to pursue either a clinical (SLP.D) or research (Ph.D.) doctorate. In the last 10 years, 100% of WCU SLP graduates who have sought employment in the field have been rewarded with positions, including with the following employers:
- American Speech Language Hearing Association
- Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Center
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
- Christiana Hospital
- Crozer-Chester Hospital
- Intermediate units throughout the tri-state area
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Marywood University
- Montesano (WA) health and Rehabilitation Center
- Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
- School districts throughout the tri-state area
- Skilled nursing facilities
- University of Denver
Or choose your own path like Amanda Charney MS ’03, who works in the public school system in southern New Jersey and is the founder of Small Steps in Speech. Small Steps in Speech is a charitable non-profit organization that provides grants on behalf of children with speech and language disorders for therapies, treatments, communicative devices, and other services aimed at improving communication skills.