The MS in speech-language pathology program is designed to be completed in six semesters, including summers. All courses and clinical practicum experiences will be provided to allow students to progress to an on-time graduation. However, a modified individual program of study may be developed by the program director and the student to accommodate personal circumstances (e.g., medical emergency, physical and mental well-being issues, military deployment, missionary work, academic difficulty, family crisis, financial difficulty, and so forth). The modified program of study may involve withdrawal from one or more courses, part-time study, or other accommodations, as appropriate. This will extend the program of study beyond the expected number of semesters.

Students participate in a variety of experiences that help prepare them for careers in speech-language pathology. The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders maintains relationships with numerous clinical agencies in the Birmingham area and various regions of the United States.

Our students complete a series of carefully sequenced clinical rotations with more than 250 partner sites nationwide, including:

  • Public and private schools
  • Center-based early intervention programs
  • State early intervention systems
  • Private practices
  • Acute care and outpatient hospitals
  • Inpatient rehabilitation centers
  • Skilled nursing facilities
These placements are complemented by specialized opportunities to gain advanced training in areas including:
  • Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
  • Modified Barium Swallow Studies (MBSS)
  • Spinal cord injury rehabilitation
  • Autism spectrum disorder assessment and intervention
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
  • Aural (re)habilitation

Graduate students work closely with our Director of Clinical Education to design placement plans that meet certification requirements while aligning with personal career goals. With options available in regions across the country, our externship system provides the flexibility to explore practice settings and populations that match your professional aspirations.