In keeping with Salus University’s emphasis on a sound background in biomedical sciences, interprofessional experiences and early clinical education, graduates of the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program will receive the necessary education mentorship and training to become integral members of today’s healthcare and education teams, and future leaders in their profession.
A Master of Science degree from the SLP program provides its alumni an advantage as they continue on their career path. And, the early exposure to the clinical aspects of the program gives students the confidence needed to contribute to their profession.
“It provided me with hands-on experience at a much earlier rate than other SLP programs in the area. During the first semester we were seeing clients and really starting to understand what comprises speech, language and swallowing disorders across the life span,” said Sara Gosnell, MS ‘19. “The hands-on experience was extremely important. Being a visual learner in the environment and having a chance to understand as you’re doing something is such a valuable asset.”
Speech-language pathologists at the on-campus clinical facility, the Speech-Language Institute (SLI), work to assess, diagnose and provide intervention for communication and swallowing deficits in both children and adults from diverse communities.
SLPs treat a variety of disorders such as:
In addition, students in the SLP program have the opportunity to interact with other students and faculty from across the University’s programs including optometry, audiology, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, orthotics and prosthetics and blindness and low vision education and rehabilitation, which affords graduates a unique and valuable perspective not found in all SLP programs.
“From day one, the focus was for us to have applicable skills when we got out into the real world and that definitely was the case,” said Sam Farrand, MS ‘17. “I walked in the first day of my job and knew exactly what to do with every person who walked through my door. That was great.”
Speech-language pathologists practice in a variety of clinical settings including hospitals, public and private schools, rehabilitation facilities, early intervention and private practices. They also focus on the academic aspect by teaching classes or supervising clinical experiences on-and off-campus to burgeoning SLPs at the undergraduate and graduate levels or conducting research, which has recently become a growing facet of the industry, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Graduates of Salus’ accredited SLP program have achieved competitive employment right here in the Philadelphia region and across the U.S., with some continuing their education through advanced certificates or doctoral degrees, as the need for SLPs going to grow in healthcare and education.
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), job opportunities in speech-language pathology are expected to grow by 25 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than average for all occupations. As a result of that growth, 40,500 SLP jobs will be available in that 10-year period. Of the 211,000 professional whom ASHA represents, 181,628 are certified SLPs and 785 hold dual certification as both audiologists and SLPs.
