Speech-Language Pathology

The Speech-Language Pathology program at Duquesne gives students an excellent academic and broad-based clinical education experience at an accelerated pace.

Students in the five-year program progress seamlessly from our pre-professional phase into the professional phase (graduate program).  The Department no longer accepts applicants with bachelor’s degrees for graduate study.

Here's what you'll find:

  • The nation's first five-year, accelerated program that guarantees students a bachelor's and master's degree upon completion (providing students meet academic criteria).
  • Integrated academics, clinical practice and research.
  • State-of-the-art equipment and facilities providing real-world experience assessing and treating speech, language, and hearing problems.
  • A large and diverse network of externships with dedicated clinical instructors who teach in real-life settings.
  • Faculty members committed to teaching and research, bringing students the best academic and clinical education.
  • A rich student life with opportunities for fun, athletics, cultural events, networking, volunteerism, international travel and more.

Program Information

Duquesne University Speech-Language Pathology program is the nation's first five-year, accelerated program that guarantees students a bachelor's and master's degree upon successful completion

Program Type

Major

Degree

Bachelor's, Master's

Academic Department

Speech-Language Pathology

Duration

5 years (3 years pre-professional phase and 2 years professional phase)

Required Credit Hours

Required Credits 165 (94 pre-professional phase and 71 professional phase)

SLP Program Ranked Among Nation’s Best in 2025 U.S. News & World Report Rankings

Recognition reflects the program’s academic excellence, expert faculty, and strong student outcomes

Why Choose Duquesne SLP?

 
4th year students in SLP hallway.

Employability

Our graduates respond to employment surveys reporting that they accepted their first position within 1-6 months of graduation.

State-of-the-art University Clinic

Six semesters of clinical experience for every student

Top notch externship placements

A plethora of affiliated sites

Experience other cultures

Flexibility to Supplement SLP Curriculum & Engage in Study Aboard

Learning Outcomes

  • Provide intervention to minimize the effects of changes in the speech, language, and swallowing mechanisms
  • Develop foundations of speech-language pathology practice
  • Acquire professional practice competencies
  • Conduct and interpret evaluations of speech, language, and swallowing disorders and differences
  • Integrate and apply general knowledge and skills applicable to professional practice
  • Identify and prevent speech, language, and swallowing disorders and differences

Curriculum by Academic Year

Pre-Professional Phase (Years 1-3)

The Pre-Professional Phase (six semesters) includes University undergraduate core requirements plus coursework selected to provide a liberal arts education, a basis in the sciences, and critical thinking skills to prepare students for the Professional Phase.

Professional Phase (Years 4-5)

Year 4 students are in the 1st Year Professional Phase of the program.  Throughout this phase, students will see 2-3 clients per week on-campus at the Duquesne Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.

Beginning with the Fall semester of the 5th year, students are assigned externship placements off campus.  Fall and Spring placements are within the Pittsburgh region. Summer semester of the 5th year, students have the opportunity to select placements anywhere in the country.

 

Pre-Professional Phase Course Requirements
  • SLP 101 - Intro to Comm Sciences & Disorders - 3 cr.
  • BIOL 101/L - Intro to LIfe Processes - 4 cr.
  • PSYC 101 - Intro to Psychology - 3 cr.
  • BRDG 101 - Writing & Analysis - 3 cr.
  • BRDG 103 - PE Health Research Skills - 1 cr.
  • BRDG 105 - ntro to Ethical Reasoning - 3 cr.
  • SLP 205W - Speech & Language Development - 3 cr.
  • BRDG 102 - Writing & Literature - 3 cr.
  • PSYC 225W - Dev. Psych: Childhood & Adolescence - 3 cr.
  • COMM 407 - Intercultural Communications - 3 cr.
  • EQ XXX - Essential Equations - 3 cr.
  • BIOL 207/8 - Anatomy & Physiology I/Lab - 4 cr.
  • SLP 320 - Phonetics - 3 cr.
  • PHYS or CHEM Coded Course - 3/4 cr.
  • MATH 225 - Intro to Biostatistics - 3 cr.
  • Elective / Minor - 3 cr.
  • BRDG XXX - Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - 3 cr.
  • THEO XXX - THEO Coded Course - 3 cr.
  • PHIL XXX - PHIL Coded Course - 3 cr.
  • Elective / Minor - 3 cr.
  • SLP 250 - Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Hearing - 3 cr.
  • SLP 313 - Intro to Audiology - 3 cr.
  • HCE 255/PHIL 252/ THEO 253 - Healthcare Ethics - 3 cr.
  • MATH 335 - Biostatistics II - 3 cr.
  • Elective / Minor - 3 cr.
  • SLP 310 - Speech Science - 3 cr.
  • SLP 350 - Clinical Procedures & Observation in SLP - 3 cr.
  • HLTS 403 - Neuroscience - 4 cr.
  • GSPE 501 - Exploring Inclusive Practices - 3 cr.
  • GSPE 602 - Multi-tiered Systems of Support - 3 cr.
Professional Phase Course Requirements
  • SLP 501 - Counseling - 2 cr.
  • SLP 502 - Special Topics Seminar - 0 cr.
  • SLP 505 - Speech Production Disorders - 3 cr.
  • SLP 510 - Assessment - 3 cr.
  • SLP 526 - Developmental Language Disorders & Autism I - 3 cr.
  • SLP 530 - Acquired Language Disorders - 3 cr.
  • SLP 540W - Clinic I - 3 cr.
  • SLP 517 - Stuttering - 3 cr.
  • SLP 535 - Neurocognitive Disorders - 3 cr.
  • SLP 536 - Developmental Language Disorders & Autism II - 3 cr.
  • SLP 541W - Clinic II - 2 cr.
  • SLP 500 - Dysphagia - 3 cr.
  • SLP 571 - Clinical Seminar in Prof Issues & Ethics - 2 cr.
  • SLP 515 - Research in SLP - 3 cr.
  • SLP 542 - Clinic III - 2 cr.
  • SLP 555 - Augmentative & Alternative Communication/Lab - 3 cr.
  • SLP 573 - Medical SLP Seminar - 2 cr.
  • SLP 700 - Thesis I - optional - 1 cr.
  • SLP 525 - Motor Speech Disorders - 3 cr.
  • SLP 543 - Clinic IV - 4/5 cr.
  • SLP 554 - Voice Disorders - 3 cr.
  • SLP 710 - Thesis II - optional - 1 cr.
  • SLP 520 - Aural Rehabilitation - 3 cr.
  • SLP 544 - Clinic V - 4/5 cr.
  • SLP 556 - Craniofacial Disorders and Pediatric Feeding Disorders - 3 cr.
  • SLP 710 - Thesis II - optional - 1 cr.
  • SLP 545 - Clinic VI - 3 cr.
  • SLP 558 - Intercultural and Global Issues in SLP - 2 cr.
  • SLP 559 - Business Practices in SLP - 2 cr.
  • SLP 575 - Capstone Evidence Based Practice - 1/2 cr.
  • SLP 720 - Thesis III - optional - 1 cr.

Students progress through the program without the need to reapply to the graduate phase or take GREs. Students earn a B.S. in Health Sciences after the Spring semester of the 4th year of the program and a M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology at the end of the 5th year of the program.

  1. A 3.0 cumulative QPA at Duquesne University and a “C” or better in all courses
  2. Documentation of current Basic Life Support
  3. Documentation of completion of health requirements and other pre-clinical requirements (including: state and federal background checks, and Basic Life Support)
  4. Departmental approval

Important Note: 
The material contained herein is subject to change from time to time and this publication cannot be considered an agreement or contract between individual students and the School. The Rangos School of Health Sciences reserves the right to alter or amend the terms, conditions, and requirements herein, and to eliminate programs or courses as necessary. Once enrolled, students should consult on a regular basis with their Student Success Coach and/or Faculty Advisor for specific information regarding academic policies pertaining to their respective program

Completing an optional Master’s Thesis will increase the overall credit load by 1 credit (74 total). Thesis students enroll in three 1-credit Thesis courses (SLP 700, 710, and 720) and enroll in 1 less credit for two courses, SLP 575 and either SLP 543 or 544.

Students also have the option of completing a thesis as part of the Professional Phase.

Fostering Relationships

I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the Duquesne Speech-Language Pathology program by mentoring students. One of the biggest perks about working in the Pittsburgh area is the chance to help train students from my alma mater and assist in preparing them for the start of their careers as SLPs in the very near future!

Sarah Leech Berklovich '17
UPMC McKeesport

Built To Impact The Lives Of Others

Distinctly DUQ SLP

1st and top-ranked five-year accelerated Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Program that guarantees students a bachelor's degree and master's degree upon completion.

0-5 Direct Entry Program

Guarantee your spot in the Professional Phase. Students progress through the program without the need to reapply to the graduate phase or take GREs. Students earn a B.S. in Health Sciences after the Spring semester of the 4th year of the program and a M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology at the end of the 5th year of the program.

Student Outcomes

Fifteen years of 100% pass rates on the Praxis exam within six months of graduation.

Exceptional clinical preparation

Three semesters of learning with the clinical and academic faculty in the on-campus Duquesne University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic and three semesters of externship experiences within the Pittsburgh region and potential to study elsewhere the final semester of the program.

Faculty & Staff

Brooke Baumann, M.S., CCC-SLP

Brooke Baumann, M.S., CCC-SLP

Director of Clinical Education, Clinical Assistant Professor

Melissa Biggerstaff

Melissa Biggerstaff

Clinic Office Coordinator

Shannon Coulehan

Shannon Coulehan

Assistant to the Department Chair

Abigail Delehanty, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Abigail Delehanty, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Assistant Department Chair, Assistant Professor

David S. Ford, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

David S. Ford, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Assistant Professor

Lori Marra, M.A., CCC-SLP

Lori Marra, M.A., CCC-SLP

Clinical Assistant Professor

Katie Micco, M.S., CCC-SLP

Katie Micco, M.S., CCC-SLP

Clinical Assistant Professor

Annette Neff, M.S., CCC-SLP

Annette Neff, M.S., CCC-SLP

Clinical Assistant Professor

Heather Rusiewicz, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Heather Rusiewicz, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Department Chair, Associate Professor, and Associate Dean for Research

Desiree Russell

Desiree Russell

Part-time Clinic Office Assistant

Susan Snyder, Au.D., CCC-A

Susan Snyder, Au.D., CCC-A

Clinical Assistant Professor

Caterina Staltari, M.A., CCC-SLP

Caterina Staltari, M.A., CCC-SLP

Clinical Education Coordinator, Assistant Clinical Professor

Seth Tichenor, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Seth Tichenor, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Assistant Professor

Speech-Language Pathology Events

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Contact Us

Speech-Language Pathology Department

Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic

SLP Program and Admissions Questions

Accreditation

Council on Academic Accreditation
The master's degree (M.S.) education program in speech-language pathology at Duquesne University (residential) 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, Maryland, 20850, (800) 498-2071 or (301) 296-5700. This program is accredited through July 31, 2031.

Any concerns specific to the program's accreditation status should first be addressed to the program and Duquesne University and then to the CAA. File a complaint against program.