Speech Language Pathology 4+1 Program

The 4 + 1 BA-MS program in Speech Language Pathology is an accelerated track that provides students with a foundation in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences as well as professional preparation to meet certification standards and licensure requirements for entering clinical practice.

The program includes six semesters of undergraduate pre-professional requirements taken during the first three years and six semesters of professional graduate requirements taken during the fourth and fifth years of study. The program integrates undergraduate and graduate studies into a five-year bachelor’s to master’s program. To earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology, students will need to complete 24 hours in the major during the six semesters of pre-professional preparation and 59.5 credit hours in the major during the six semesters of professional preparation. Students will complete 45 hours of Sophia Program courses and elective credit hours of non-departmental course requirements for a total of 128 hours to earn a bachelor’s degree in Speech Language Pathology at the end of the fourth year (before earning the master’s at the end of the fifth).

The program also offers a direct entry 4+1 program for select entering first-year students.

For those interested in studying abroad, it's a bit more difficult for the 4+1 students to fit in, but they are able to go abroad in the summer or during the fall of their sophomore year. 

 

Direct Entry Option for Entering First-Year Students

Saint Mary's offers a direct entry program for select incoming first-year students to the College. In order to be considered for direct entry into the SLP 4+1 program, students must apply to the College by January 15 and list Speech Language Pathology as one of their three preferred majors. Students who enter Saint Mary's as direct admit SLP 4+1 students must meet the following criteria to fully matriculate into the master's program at the end of their junior year:

  • Overall cumulative SMC GPA of a 3.0+
  • Overall SLP major GPA of a 3.25 (including a 3.25 in SLP foundation courses, including Intro to Communicative Disorders, Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanisms, Phonetics, Language Development and Speech and Hearing Sciences)
  • Pass a criminal background check

For students interested in pursuing the direct entry SLP 4+1 options, please declare your intention to the department upon admission. The program requires careful planning and advising beginning in the first semester of the first year of study. To declare this intention, click here.

 

Admission for traditional undergraduate students to the BA-MS Program

Saint Mary’s undergraduate students meeting the prerequisites set forth below may apply to the BA-MS program during the second semester of their junior year. Applications are due on January 15 of the junior year. Applicants who submit after the deadline will be considered on a space available basis only. In order to apply to the BA-MS program, Saint Mary’s students must have:

  • At least junior standing at the application due date.
  • A minimum overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 at the application due date.
  • Completed the following prerequisite courses or be enrolled in at the application due date: SLP 220, 230, 240, 310, 330, 340, 412, and 420.
  • Earned at least a GPA of 3.25 in the foundation SLP courses (SLP 220, 230, 240, 310 and 330) at Saint Mary’s College.
  • Completed the following required supporting courses at the application due date:
    • Natural Science (NSN/NSL) students must take one Biology course and one course in EITHER Physics or Chemistry
      • Biology: BIO 109/L (Marine Biology), BIO 110L (Understanding Women’s Cancers), BIO 112 (Evolution for Everyone), BIO 120 (Human Genetics)
      • Chemistry: CHEM 101/L (Mystery, Mayhem and Murder), CHEM 102 (Chemistry for the Citizen)
      • Physics: PHYS 102 (Introductory Topics in Physics: Energy), PHYS 111L (College Physics I: Mechanics and Waves)
    • Lifespan Developmental
      • PSYC 201L/ 401 (Child Development/ Psychology of Adult Development and Aging) OR
      • PSYC 305 (Lifespan Developmental Psychology)
  • Met the essential functions required to practice as a speech language pathologist
  • Successfully completed a criminal background check, fingerprint check, and drug screen before entering the Speech Pathology BA-MS program.

Submit your form to indicate your interest in the 4+1 program

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