Mississippi Schools with Graduate Degrees in Speech Pathology

<p>Jackson State University offers a Master of Science in Communicative Disorders program that educates students about preventative, diagnostic, and treatment measures and protocols for children and adults with language and speech disabilities. This program earned an accreditation from the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, ensuring its students gain a respected and reputable education in the subject. During this two-year program, students gain real-world experience through clinicals held at various locations like the Central Mississippi Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic. Graduates are fully prepared for licensure in the state. </p> <h2 id="section---TheMississippiUniversityForWomen">The Mississippi University for Women</h2> <p>Located in Columbus, Mississippi, the Mississippi University for Women offers a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program. This CAA-accredited program can be completed in five full-time semesters. The program provides the academic and clinical training necessary to ensure its graduates show competence in motor, communication, intellectual-cognitive, behavioral-social, and sensory-observational skills, which are all necessary in order to fulfill the requirements for state licensure and national certification. The Mississippi University for Women accomplishes this preparation through requiring its students to complete a practicum in the first four semesters, for a total of 15 credit hours. </p> <h2 id="section---TheUniversityOfMississippi">The University of Mississippi</h2> <p>The University of Mississippi's (Ole Miss) Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program is accredited by the CAA and is designed to prepare its students for earning certification as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) within the state and licensure recognized in most states. Along with the five professional functions, Ole Miss' two-year, full-time, academic and clinical program focuses on various disorder areas and how to practice evidence-based clinical approaches to treatment across the spectrum of disorders. This program requires completion of 61 credit hours, 400 hours of clinical work, and 3.0 GPA, ensuring its students are well-versed in both scholarly knowledge and its application in the real world. </p> <h2 id="section---TheUniversityOfSouthernMississippi">The University of Southern Mississippi</h2> <p>The University of Southern Mississippi's Master of Science in Speech and Hearing Services (Speech Language-Pathology) is a two-year program that is accredited by the CAA and has a writing and research focus that trains students in how to apply that research. The lectures and seminars presented in the curriculum cover topics included in the various speech disorders, and students have the option of completing a thesis instead of six hours of additional coursework. This school places an emphasis on ensuring its students have a well-rounded practical work experience, so all students must complete a practicum on campus, at a school, and in a hospital. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> School Name </th><th> Programs Offered </th><th> Average Graduate Tuition Per Academic Year (2018-2019)*</th></tr> <tr><td> Jackson State University </td><td> Master of Science in Communicative Disorders </td><td> $7,876</td></tr> <tr><td> Mississippi University for Women </td><td> Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology </td><td> $6,840</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) </td><td> Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology </td><td>in-state $8,550<br />out-of-state $24,504</td></tr> <tr><td> University of Southern Mississippi </td><td> Master of Science in Speech and Hearing Services (Speech-Language Pathology) </td><td> in-state $8,514<br />out-of-state $10,514</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *National Center for Education Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---CommonAdmissionRequirements">Common Admission Requirements</h3> <p>Students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in speech pathology must meet certain admission requirements. Common requirements for these programs in the state of Mississippi include the following: </p> <ul><li>GPA: While most graduate schools require at least a 3.0 minimum GPA for admission, applicants should be aware that graduate admission is competitive and it is often recommended that applicants to speech-language pathology programs possess an undergraduate GPA of 3.7 or above. </li><li>Test Requirements: Applicants should be prepared to submit GRE (Graduate Records Exam) scores that are no older than five years, and international students will need to provide proof of English language proficiency in the form of TOEFL scores or other approved fluency exams. </li><li>Prerequisites: Applicants with undergraduate degrees, or a combination of undergraduate and graduate degrees, outside of the communication or health sciences should be prepared to complete prerequisite coursework before or after admission to include anatomy and physiology, phonetics, and audiology, with specific requirements varying by school. </li></ul><p>Mississippi offers several accredited graduate programs that offer master's degrees in speech and language pathology. These programs are designed to provide the academic and clinical training necessary for students to assess, diagnose, research, and treat speech and language disorders, while also preparing graduates to successfully pass their certification exams and obtain state, and in some cases national, licensure.</p>