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 student awarded prestigious ASAHP Scholarship

Michelle Catao is one of eight students nationally to receive the Scholarship of Excellence Award

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

 

Coursework for the Five-year Accelerated SLP Program

Year One Pre-Professional Phase

Pre-Professional Phase (91-92 Credits)

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.

Years 1 through 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.

In most cases, courses listed in bold must be taken in the exact semester indicated; all other courses are interchangeable.

Fall Semester

Course # Course Name Credits
SLP 101 Intro to Comm Sciences & Disorders 3
BIOL 101/L Intro to Life Processes 4/0
PSYC 101 Intro to Psychology 3
BRDG 101 Writing & Analysis 3
BRDG 103 IPE Health Research Skills 1
BRDG 105 (P, H or T) Intro to Ethical Reasoning 3
  Total 17

Spring Semester

Course # Course Name Credits
SLP 205W Speech & Language Development 3
BRDG 102 Writing & Literature 3
PSYC 225W Dev Psych: Childhood & Adolescence 3
COMM 407 Intercultural Communications 3
EQ XXX Essential Questions 3
  Total 15

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.

Year Two Pre-Professional Phase

Pre-Professional Phase (91-92 Credits)

In most cases, courses listed in bold must be taken in the exact semester indicated; all other courses are interchangeable.

Fall Semester

Course # Course Name Credits
BIOL 207/8 Anatomy & Physiology I/Lab 3/1
SLP 320 Phonetics 3
PHYS or CHEM Coded Course 100-200 Level 3/4
MATH 225 Intro to Biostatistics 3
Elective/Minor   3
  Total 16-17

Spring Semester

Course # Course Name Credits
BRDG XXX Critical Thinking & Problem Solving 3
THEO XXX THEO Coded Course 3
PHIL XXX PHIL Coded Course 3
Elective/Minor   3
  Total 12

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.

Year Three Pre-Professional Phase

Pre-Professional Phase (91-92 Credits)

In most cases, courses listed in bold must be taken in the exact semester indicated; all other courses are interchangeable.

Year 3 Clinical observations begin on campus at the Duquesne Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.

Fall Semester

Course # Course Name Credits
SLP 250 Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Hearing 3
SLP 313 Intro to Audiology 3
HCE 255/PHIL 252/THEO 253 Healthcare Ethics 3
MATH 335 Biostatistics II 3
Elective/Minor   3
  Total 15

Spring Semester

Course # Course Name Credits
SLP 310 Speech Science 3
SLP 350 Clinical Procedures & Observation in SLP 3
HLTS 403 Neuroscience 4
GSPE 501 Exploring Inclusive Practices 3
GSPE 603 Multi-tiered Systems of Support 3
  Total 16

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.

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

Year Four Professional Phase

Professional Phase (73 Credits)*

Graduate courses are only offered in the semester shown.

On-Campus Clinical Experience

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.

Fall Semester

Course # Course Name Credits
SLP 501 Counseling 2
SLP 502 Special Topics Seminar 0
SLP 505 Speech Production Disorders 3
SLP 510 Assessment 3
SLP 526 Developmental Language Disorders & Autism I 3
SLP 530 Acquired Language Disorders 3
SLP 540W Clinic I 3
  Total 16

Spring Semester

Great Lakes Mountain West Mid-Atlantic
SLP 517 Stuttering 3
SLP 535 Neurocognitive Disorders 3
SLP 536 Developmental Language Disorders & Autism II 3
SLP 541W Clinic II 2
SLP 550 Dysphagia 3
SLP 571 Clinical Seminar in Prof Issues & Ethics 2
  Total 16

Summer Semester

Course # Course Name Credits
SLP 515 Research in SLP 3
SLP 542 Clinic III 2
SLP 555 Augmentative & Alternative Communication/Lab 3
SLP 573 Medical SLP Seminar 2
SLP 700* Thesis I - optional 1
  Total 10

* 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.

Year Five Professional Phase

Professional Phase (73 Credits)*

Graduate courses are only offered in the semester shown

Externship Placements

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.

Fall Semester

Course # Course Name Credits
SLP 525 Motor Speech Disorders 3
SLP 543* Clinic IV 4/5
SLP 554 Voice Disorders 3
SLP 710* Thesis II - optional 1
  Total 11

Spring Semester

Course # Course Name Credits
SLP 520 Aural Rehabilitation 3
SLP 544* Clinic V 4/5
SLP 556 Craniofacial Disorders and Pediatric Feeding Disorders 3
SLP 710* Thesis II - optional 1
  Total 11

Summer Semester

Course # Course Name Credits
SLP 545* Clinic VI 3
SLP 558 Intercultural and Global Issues in SLP 2
SLP 559 Business Practices in SLP 2
SLP 575* Capstone Evidence Based Practice 1-2
SLP 720* Thesis III - optional 1
  Total 9

* 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.

Thesis Option

* 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. For more information about this option contact Dr.%20Heather%20Rusiewicz.

 

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.

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

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

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