Online & Accessible
Connect with peers across the nation in an online format that is full-time and more accessible than traditional campus programs.
First Step to Licensure and Certification
Begin pursuing state licensure and certification through the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) at the completion of the program.
Enrich Your Community
Learn from and contribute to your community during hands-on clinical experiences and two internships.
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- Admission Requirements
- Curriculum
- Practicum Placement
- Career Outcomes
- FAQs
Your Path to Impact Starts Here
Marymount University's accessible online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program empowers you to evaluate and treat individuals of all ages with communication and swallowing disorders. Rooted in a global perspective, our evidence-based curriculum combines practical knowledge, simulation and services learning experiences, ensuring you graduate with the experience you need to pursue licensure, certification and start a meaningful career as a Speech-Language Pathologist.
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- Gain more flexibility with 100% online coursework
- 46 total credits
- Five semesters, full-time to graduate (no more than 10 credits per semester)
- 400 total hours: 375 practicum hours near your community and 25 observation hours (observation hours can be completed prior to admission)
- Learn hands-on skills with two in-person residencies in Arlington, VA
- Capstone experience with two internships
- Don't wait to start, with more intakes per year than other local universities (fall or spring)
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- Gain more flexibility with 100% online coursework
- 46 total credits
- Five semesters, full-time to graduate (no more than 10 credits per semester)
- 400 total hours: 375 practicum hours near your community and 25 observation hours (observation hours can be completed prior to admission)
- Learn hands-on skills with two in-person residencies in Arlington, VA
- Capstone experience with two internships
- Don't wait to start, with more intakes per year than other local universities (fall or spring)
Online SLP Program Curriculum Snapshot
Access your comprehensive digital program guide for a complete list of courses and course descriptions.
Historical perspectives and core principles shape the field of speech-language pathology as it is presented today. This course provides an in-depth exploration of historical perspectives and socio-political influences that have shaped the field. The foundational knowledge including anatomy & physiology, neurology, impact of hearing and lifespan development will be examined as well as the core principles that guide the field of speech-language pathology today. (3 credits)
Identification, prevention, evaluation and intervention for communication and swallowing disorders that occur in school-age and adolescent years across multiple communication modalities (such as Alternative and Augmentative Communication). Topics include feeding and swallowing, articulation, phonological and motor speech disorders, social aspects of communication, cognition, and expressive and receptive language, use of communication modalities and literacy.
Emphasis is placed on culturally relevant assessment and intervention practices that address the needs of multilingual, racially, and culturally diverse populations. Students will learn to apply inclusive, equitable, and culturally responsive and trauma-informed strategies to support the communication and swallowing needs of all children and adolescents. Anti-racist pedagogy is integrated to promote awareness of biases and inequalities within the field, fostering a commitment to equitable and just speech-language pathology practices. (4 credits)
This clinical course provides hands-on, simulated case studies focused on culturally relevant assessment and intervention strategies for school-age children and adolescents with speech, language, and swallowing disorders. Through interactive simulations, students will explore a variety of clinical scenarios, gaining practical experience in conducting assessments, developing treatment plans, and implementing evidence-based interventions that are inclusive and equitable.
Emphasis will be placed on school-based and clinical methods and principles that are anti-racist and culturally responsive. Students will also apply strategies learned to collaborate effectively with other professionals, such as educators and healthcare providers, to provide comprehensive care. (1 credit)
This clinical course offers a unique opportunity for students to engage in service-learning experiences with school-age children and adolescents, integrating theoretical knowledge with practical application in pediatric speech-language pathology. Through supervised, hands-on experiences in community settings, students can apply culturally relevant assessment and intervention strategies learned in the classroom (in concurrent academic course) to real-life situations.
The course will focus on developing communication, speech and language skills in children and adolescents, emphasizing culturally responsive and trauma-informed care. Students will also learn about the role of the speech-language pathologist in educational and clinical settings and how these settings impact the individual. (2 credits)
Questions?
If you’d like to connect with an advisor, access your guide with more details.
“This program has been designed to maximize student learning, engagement and, as closely as we can, approximate work settings."
Megan Mahowald, Ph.D. CCC-SLP
Program Director
Faculty Spotlight
With over a decade of leadership in speech-language pathology and healthcare education, Megan Mahowald, Ph.D. CCC-SLP is dedicated to advancing inclusive, antiracist care.
From guiding the vision and management of a large, multi-disciplinary college to establishing community-centered clinics, her work bridges academic excellence with real-world impact. Megan has received numerous awards for her innovative and inclusive work, including the Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s Diversity Champion Award (2024), Outstanding Educator Award (2020) and Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor (2015).
Her leadership has transformed programs and fostered community partnerships, positioning the next generation of clinicians to make a lasting impact.
Click here to view more faculty profiles.
Break Barriers with Marymount's Online SLP Program
Find your path—and help others do the same—in a profession that transforms lives. Learn from the nation’s capital and graduate ready to achieve your goals. Expand your practice with global perspectives from multilingual students and faculty at the first and only Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) in Virginia. Our curriculum is engaging and hands-on to best prepare you for your future.
Here’s why Marymount stands out:
Capitalize on Cultural Humility
Gain a deeper understanding of client needs and backgrounds with an SLP program that fosters culturally humble and relevant practices.
Put Theory into Practice
Our curriculum blends courses concurrently with service learning and clinical simulation experiences.
Gain Hands-On Experience
Attend two on-campus residencies where you will refine skills, collaborate on cases and connect in person with peers and faculty.
Learn from the Best and Brightest
Connect with professors based in the nation's capital, which is the most educated city in the U.S.
Mission
To provide exceptional speech-language pathology education with a global perspective, fostering human connection, cultural humility and a strong sense of community. We nurture intellectual curiosity and prepare students to serve others. We hope to develop empathetic, skilled professionals who are dedicated to the fundamental right to communicate.
Vision
To be a national leader in speech-language pathology education. We cultivate practitioners who foster connection, build community and uphold the human right to communicate. Our graduates will advance the field through compassionate care, lifelong learning and a commitment to uplifting global perspectives and cultural humility.
Clinical Placement Services
Get support from our placement team and faculty, building meaningful connections in and out of the classroom.
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Placement Process
Save time and minimize stress with Marymount's efficient placement process. Our clinical placement team leverages our connections to help you find the right fit based on your interests, location and program requirements.
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Travel Requirements
Placements are determined by your interests and program requirements. We hope to place you in close proximity to your residence, but placements are dependent on your region, accessibility and site availability.
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Preparation
You will work closely with our clinical placement team, maintaining regular communication to stay on track. Our team will help you to ensure you complete all requirements and meet the deadlines on your clinicals checklist.
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Experiences & Environments
At Marymount, we ensure you gain diverse and enriching clinical experiences through three distinct settings:
- Early Childhood: Work with young children in settings like early intervention, special education services or pediatric clinics, addressing developmental and communication disorders.
- School Age: Engage with children in schools or pediatric clinics, handling developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, autism, and speech/language disorders.
- Adult Settings: Develop skills in hospitals, home healthcare or skilled nursing facilities, working with adults affected by traumatic brain injury, stroke and dementia.
*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
$95,410
Median Pay for Speech-Language Pathologists*
Start a rewarding career with a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology
- Make a meaningful difference
- Work in diverse environments
- Join a rapidly expanding profession
- Advance your career with specializations
- Collaborate with various disciplines
- Engage in research to advance the field
Frequently Asked Questions
Program completion is typically five semesters if all prerequisites are completed prior to beginning the program. The program continues through the summer, so it takes approximately a year and a half to complete.
The course load during fall and spring semesters is ten graduate credits. With required in-person clinical experiences (service learning), each semester is approximately eight to ten hours. The final semester will include two internships of seven to eight weeks and will include 30 or more hours on site. Synchronous meetings will be planned for evenings, lunch hours or early morning to support the ability to work and complete clinical experiences. The ability to manage all aspects of the program while working depends on each individual student.
There are two types of courses: content courses and professional practice courses. The content courses include assessment and intervention information. Professional practice courses include knowledge about the field of SLP and general practices.
We use a combination of synchronous and asynchronous distance education learning activities in combination with hands on experiences through service learning and simulation.
Synchronous meetings occur weekly for each course and include:
- Project-based learning
- Hands-on clinical experiences
- Clinical Simulations
Placements are determined by your interests and program requirements. We hope to place you in close proximity to your residence, but placements are dependent on your region, accessibility and site availability.
The Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (Distance Education) at Marymount University is a Candidate for Accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. Candidacy is a “preaccreditation” status with the CAA, awarded to developing or emerging programs for a maximum period of 5 years.
The Candidacy process is the regular way that new graduate programs become accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA).
Students who graduate from CAA candidacy programs all hold the same rights and privileges as those who graduate from CAA fully accredited programs.
“The U.S. Secretary of Education considers all credits and degrees earned and issued by a program holding candidacy status with the CAA to being from an accredited program since the CAA is a recognized accrediting agency” [Criterion for Recognition §602.23 [34 CFR 602.23(f)(2)] [CAA Accreditation Handbook p. 82].
State licensure is required to become a Speech-Language Pathologist. Detailed state requirements can be found on the ASHA website.
If you are seeing national certification through the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, you must complete a Master's in Speech-Language Pathology from a program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA). Upon graduation, pass the Praxis exam, apply for certification and complete a Clinical Fellowship.
After earning your master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology, you will need to become licensed to practice. If you choose to be a certified speech therapist, this typically takes nine months to one year. This includes passing the Praxis Examination and completing a Clinical Fellowship.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, speech therapy salaries range from $60,480 to $110,000. Pay can vary based on location, experience and work setting.
