Overview

Speech-language pathologists are experts in communication and swallowing. They work with individuals across the lifespan and are employed in a variety of clinical settings.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the demand for Speech-Language Pathologists is expected to increase by 21% by 2031 due to the aging baby-boom population and increased awareness of speech, language, and swallowing disorders

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program housed in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology is a new program developed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to provide evidence-based practice in the field of speech-language pathology. A Thomas Jefferson University education positions students to become leaders in their respective fields through extensive educational and hands-on experiences. From our Health Mentors program to simulation lab training at the Dr. Robert & Dorothy Rector Clinical Skills & Simulation Center, this program offers speech-language pathology students many opportunities for interdisciplinary learning with their peers across the University. As a large urban healthcare system, our program is well-positioned to provide students with a wide array of clinical experiences (link to clinical experiences page). Courses are taught by innovative, experienced faculty who are also committed to research, service, and training projects.

The mission of the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology at Thomas Jefferson University is to provide the academic and clinical preparation to ensure that graduates have the competencies with which to excel as independent clinicians and as members of interprofessional clinical teams while also exemplifying the highest ethical standards. The program aspires to accomplish this through the integration of diverse academic and clinical learning and research experiences in the field of communication sciences and disorders within the context of the rehabilitation sciences. Supervised clinical experiences will prepare graduates to treat individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with a variety of communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan.

The vision of the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology is to be recognized, both regionally and nationally, for its outstanding medical speech-language pathology program with a strong clinical component, interprofessional and comprehensive curriculum, and service to the community. The program will prepare students to improve the lives of individuals with communication and swallowing disorders recognizing, in accordance with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, that effective communication and swallowing skills are human rights accessible and achievable for all.