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Why Studying at the MGH Institute is Your Best Choice

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at the MGH Institute prepares you to work in both school-based and health care settings. In our comprehensive program you will learn the breadth and depth of speech-language pathology, and have the opportunity to specialize in one of several areas of concentration. Register for one of our Info Sessions or Webinars.

Xue Bao MS-SLP '18

 

“I'm planning to become a bilingual pediatric speech-language pathologist. There is a huge need of bilingual (Mandarin/English) speech-language pathologists among the population. I want to help bilingual-speaking kids to become better communicators and help newcomers get used to their school life quicker.”

Learn more about Xue Bao,
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology '18

 

Top 3%
Rated 7th by U.S. News & World Report among all graduate SLP programs, and #1 in New England
 
 
 
100%
Of graduates passed the PRAXIS national examination on their first try in each of the last six years
 
200+
Schools, hospitals, rehabilitation and other clinical sites available as clinical practicum sites

The IHP Advantage

A Commitment to Literacy
One of the first programs to incorporate literacy education into the speech-language pathology curriculum. During clinical practica in your first two semesters, you will focus on understanding how written and spoken language are related, and you’ll develop key portable skills useful for all disorder types. Learn more.
Rich Research Opportunities 
Work with faculty on projects in autism, voice, reading/literacy, dysphagia, cognitive impairment, motor speech disorders, aphasia, feeding disorders, and phonology. Options include working in clinical research labs, as graduate research assistants, and completing a master’s thesis. Learn more.
A Team-Based IMPACT

You will learn and collaborate with students and practitioners from across the health professions. Interprofessional team-based experiences will strengthen your ability to provide patient-centered care in an increasingly complex health care environment. Learn more.

 

Learn from Speech-Language Pathology Experts

Jordan Green, PhD, CCC-SLP,
Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Director, Speech and Feeding Disorders Lab

What is the most exciting part of being a Speech-Language Pathologist?

“You get to help someone relearn to communicate and access their world. I can't think of a more important and meaningful job.”

 

Meet our CSD faculty.

Read about their scholarship.

image of Dr. Green
Boston skyline with Zakim Bridge

Extensive Core Curriculum and Specialty Electives

The program’s extensive core curriculum and specialty electives span both the educational and medical courses of study. Our rigorous six-semester program helps you develop deep knowledge and skills through our balanced curriculum requiring 69 credits. 

You may enroll in an area of interest that includes specialized electives, a dedicated practicum, and participation in a mentored learning project. The concentrations we offer are:

Adult Neurogenic Communication Disorders * Autism Spectrum Disorders * Early Intervention * Literacy *
Literacy with Preparation for Reading Specialist Licensure * Medical Speech-Language Pathology * Voice Disorders

View All Curriculum Plans

The Master of Science (MS) degree education program in speech-language pathology at MGH Institute of Health Professions is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD. 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

 
We are 1 of only 25 U.S. programs accredited by the International Dyslexia Association for meeting its Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading.
 

Outstanding Clinical Experiences

As a first-year student, you will begin your education with clinical rotations in our state-of-the-art, on-campus Speech, Language and Literacy Center. With our unique “clinical excellence curriculum” you will develop critical thinking, clinical problem solving, and professional skills. Our approach provides a seamless bridge between the classroom and the clinic.

During your second year, you also will receive opportunities for clinical placements over three to four semesters at more than 200 public and private schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and other clinical sites. As the only degree-granting affiliate of Partners HealthCare, the Institute gives you access to Partners’ top hospitals and clinical sites.

See Clinical Affiliations for a partial listing of these practicum locations.

 

Additional on-site learning opportunities include: working with adults in our on-campus Aphasia Center and participating in simulations using high-tech manikins in our Simulation Lab.

MS-SLP students in a clinical setting in a school

IMPACT Practice Center Enhances the Clinical Experience

IMPACT Practice Center Student Collaborative Area

The MGH Institute’s new IMPACT Practice Center brings together students from nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, speech-language pathology/language and literacy, and genetic counseling (starting in 2019) to learn and practice in teams and to deliver essential free care to the community.

Students provide care to a variety of clients, under the direct supervision of Institute faculty. They tackle complex client problems, supported by the latest technology and state-of-the-art facilities. Client populations include those with chronic conditions across the lifespan.

The IMPACT Practice Center houses the Speech, Language and Literacy Center. 

The new center builds upon and enhances the community services currently provided by the Institute and houses these services in one integrated center. Learn more about the new IMPACT Practice Center.

 

Costs & Funding: MS-SLP

Tuition and Fees

Financial Aid

 
We offer scholarships to approximately one-third of each entering class, based on the strength of your application. The scholarships cover varying amounts of the total cost of tuition and fees for the two-year program, ranging from 25% to 100%. Most students receive financial aid of some kind, including loans. The program has several Graduate Assistantship (GA) positions available. These are part-time jobs on campus (about 6-10 hours/week) where students generally have the flexibility to schedule their own work hours in between classes. Information about how to apply for these opportunities is given to students the summer before matriculation.
Visit the financial aid section of our website for more information.
 
 

More Information: MS-SLP

Accreditation
 
Council On Academic Accreditation Logo

The Master of Science education program in Speech-Language Pathology at the MGH Institute of Health Professions is accredited 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.

And by the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education 

Review information on 2018 Re-Accreditation.

Student Outcomes Data

Student employment, Praxis pass, and Program Completion rates outcome data: 2014–2017

Essential Functions

The Essential Functions document is provided as a reference for current and prospective students. It outlines the technical standards that students are required
to meet for the Communication Sciences and Disorders masters degree in speech-language pathology program.

Essential Functions Document

You will need an Adobe Reader to open this PDF file. You may download the software for free from the Adobe website. 

MS-SLP Policies & Procedures Manuals

2017-2018 MS-SLP Policies and Procedures Manual

 

2016-2018 MS-SLP Master's Thesis Manual

You will need an Adobe Reader to open this PDF file. You may download the software for free from the Adobe website. 

Get Adobe Reader icon
Campus and Community Life

View our virtual campus tour and learn more about the IHP's campus and facilities

Learn more about campus life, housing, and transportation around Boston

Search for housing on our off-campus housing site.

Read about our partnership with Harvard-Kent Elementary School in Charlestown.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the application deadline? 
The deadline is January 1, 2019.

What is the typical undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of successful applicants?
Most of our accepted students have an undergraduate GPA  of at least  3.5.

What is your acceptance rate
We typically receive between 400 and 500 applications each year. We accept about one-third of applicants to achieve a class size of about 60 students.

Does your program cover both Educational and Medical Speech-Language Pathology?
YES. Our program is very comprehensive and includes a wide range of courses and clinical experiences in medical as well as developmental/educational speech pathology topics and disorders. Optional specialty concentrations allow our students to more deeply focus on medical or educational topics beyond our balanced curriculum. 

How important is it to have a background in speech-language pathology?
Each year about half of the entering class does not have an undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology. We have found that whether or not our students have a background in speech-language pathology is not necessarily an important factor.

Does the CSD program offer scholarships?
YES. We offer scholarships to approximately one-third of each entering class based on the strength of your  application. Amounts range between 25% to 100%. 

What prerequisite courses are required?
Courses we require are: (1) Introduction to Communication Disorders, (2) Speech and Language Acquisition, (3) Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism, (4) Phonetics and Phonetic Transcription and (5) Audiology (covering hearing disorders and audiometry, not just hearing science).

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) also requires that students have taken: (1) a biological science course (no lab), (2) a statistics course, (3) a social science course, and (4) a physical science course (chemistry or physics) (no lab). 

Can I take the CSD prerequisites courses online?
YES. You may take them through our online prereqs program or at other fully credited institutions that offer them online.

Is it possible for me to visit the Institute and/or sit in on a class?
YES! We welcome visitors at any time. To arrange a visit, contact csd@mghihp.edu. So please get in touch!

Use this form to download our comprehensive FAQs document:

Visit our comprehensive MS-SLP FAQs page

CSD Online Prerequisites Offered at the IHP

The IHP offers all of our prerequisites for the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program online. These prerequisites are: 

(1) Introduction to Communication Disorders, (2) Speech and Language Acquisition,  (3) Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism,
(4) Phonetics and Phonetic Transcription, (5) Audiology (covering hearing disorders and audiometry, not just hearing science).

We also offer online the courses the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) requires students to have taken:
(1) a biological science course (no lab), (2) a statistics course, (3) a social science course, and (4) a physical science course (chemistry or physics) (no lab).

Learn more.

​National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) Chapter

For graduate and undergraduate students interested in the study of human communication and related disabilities.
Graduate students in the IHP Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) program have an active NSSLHA chapter. ​

Learn More about NSSLHA

Featured SLP Alumni

Eight SLP grads are among the alumni profiled in the IHP's Forty for 40 section that celebrates our 40th anniversary.