Graduate Studies

Speech Pathology

"The number one reason I chose to go to WIU was for the people. You will never meet a more supportive group of faculty who are dedicated to providing a comprehensive and extensive education about our entire scope of practice. All of the faculty come from a diverse array of backgrounds and so they have a unique bank of experience to offer, whether you are inclined to be a school-based or medical SLP. My time at WIU pushed me to be the best clinician I could be and now that I am done I feel confident, competent, and excited to practice and keep learning. I definitely feel my time at WIU was meaningful and the experiences I had prepared me for clinical practice."  -- Ben Kittle, M.S., 2021

Program Overview

The Master of Science degree in Speech Pathology (SPA) is nationally accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The program takes two years of full-time study to complete, including the summer between the first and second years. Students complete clinical experiences each semester in a variety of sites including the WIU Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and rehabilitation centers. These experiences allow students to work with clients with a variety of communication disorders. The final semester of the program involves two, 8-10 week off-campus internships.

Why Choose Speech Pathology at WIU?

The graduate program in SPA is a close-knit community of students and faculty. Class sizes are twenty or fewer which allows for lively group discussions and hands-on learning. Students frequently meet with faculty one-on-one to discuss course material, clinic clients, or future career plans.  We have relationships with many local organizations, including school districts, skilled nursing facilities, and workshops, where our faculty supervise our students in clinical experiences. This allows students to be engaged in a real-world clinical setting while allowing the time for close collaboration with an experienced supervisor.

Our Faculty

SPA faculty have extensive clinical experience in both speech-language pathology and audiology across a range of settings including schools, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and private practice. All faculty who supervise students hold ASHA certification and Illinois state licensure.  Faculty are actively engaged in research, present at professional meetings, publish in scholarly journals, and serve as editorial consultants for those journals.

Possible Careers

Graduates will meet the academic requirements for certification as a speech-language pathologist by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Students wishing to work in Illinois public schools will also be provided with opportunities to meet requirements for licensure by the Illinois State Board of Education. Graduates will be prepared to work as SLPs in all settings including schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private practice, and birth-to-three centers.

Extracurricular activities

The WIU Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (WIUSSLHA), a chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association, organizes fundraising events, professional educational opportunities, and social events for clients of the WIU Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.

Quick View

Degrees Available:

  • M.S.

Locations:

  • Macomb

Required GPA:

  • Cumulative: 3.0 or
  • Last 2 years: 3.25

Admission Requirements:

  • GRE preferred
  • Transcripts
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Goals Statement
  • CSDCAS Application

Interesting Facts: Fall 2023

  • Currently enrolled: 29
  • International: 0
  • Minority: 3
  • Students with Assistantships: 13

Department Contact Information:

Memorial Hall 230A
309/298-1955
spa@wiu.edu