Communication Sciences and Disorders

Made for Impact.

Help children and adults who have disorders of speech, language, hearing, and swallowing. Achieve a rewarding career in speech-language pathology. Create a better life for others.

Speech pathologists work to prevent, assess, diagnose and treat children and adults who may need assistance with speech, language as well as cognitive and social communication. Nationwide, there is a shortage of speech pathologists and over the next 10 years, it’s anticipated that speech pathology as a career path will grow 25%.

Piedmont University’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Communication Sciences and Disorders is a pre-professional degree that prepares graduates to pursue additional education in Communication Sciences and Disorders or Speech and Language Pathology.

A master's degree is required to become a certified, licensed speech-language pathologist. Piedmont University offers two paths to the MS degree in speech-language pathology. One path is a BS/MS Integrated Program. The second path is for students who have completed a BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders and are seeking enrollment in a two-year MS program.

Piedmont University is accepting applications for the first graduate cohort which is planned to begin fall 2023.

Learn more about the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology.

Students pursuing a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders will study the nature and development of our communication abilities – a central aspect of the human condition. Students will learn about communication disorders that involve impairments in hearing, speech, voice, resonance, fluency, swallowing and language processes. Courses also include education in language development, audiology and linguistics. With this broad academic preparation in the identification and treatment of communication disorders, students are well prepared to further their education and to become a licensed Speech – Language Pathologist (SLP).

Throughout the program, students will utilize their emerging skills at a clinic on Piedmont’s Demorest Campus – ranked America’s Safest Campus – where area residents will receive assessment and treatment while allowing students to gain meaningful and practical learning experiences. The clinic will also allow students to begin earning clinical hours that can be applied to their graduate degrees while still at the undergraduate level – another way Piedmont is streamlining these experiences.

The clinic is planned to open in 2023 and offer services in a select scope of practice areas.

Program Plan

Accreditation

The Master of Science (MS) education program in Speech-Language Pathology (residential) at Piedmont University is a Candidate for Accreditation 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, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. Candidacy is a “preaccreditation” status with the CAA, awarded to developing or emerging programs for a maximum period of 5 years.

Commitment to Equity & Inclusion

Piedmont University is committed to equity and inclusion. We concur with that commitment and expect to maintain a positive learning environment based upon open communication, mutual respect, and non-discrimination. Our University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veterans status, religion, sexual orientation, color, or national origin. Any suggestions as to how to further such a positive and open environment will be appreciated and given serious consideration.