Graduate Program in Speech-Language Pathology
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) at Western Washington University offers a master’s degree program in speech-language pathology that is accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Graduate students complete a two year course of study that includes academic classes as well as clinical practica. A master's degree is the entry level degree for practicing as a speech-language pathologist. The rigorous academic coursework and rich clinical experiences at WWU prepare our graduate students for meeting ASHA clinical certification standards and Washington State licensure and professional certificaion requirements.
All of the graduate courses are held on campus in our state-of-the-art classrooms and teaching labs. Students meet with the graduate advisor early fall quarter to file a plan of study. For a list of specific courses and additional graduate program requirements, please see the links below:
Speech-Language Pathology - Graduate Lockstep Program Courses (pdf)
SLP Graduate Program Requirements, Policies, and Procedures
The graduate clinical experiences are completed in our onsite clinic and in offsite settings such as Head Start programs, Lummi Tribal School, Whatcom Center for Early Learning, Adult Day Health, St. Francis Adult Rehabilitation Center, and numerous extended care facilities and special residential centers. The culminating clinical internships are completed during the student's last two quarters. These part-time and full-time clinical experiences are planned with the assistance of the internship coordinator. Internship sites typically include public schools, specialized clinics, or hospitals in Washington state and Canada. Special requests for internships in other geographic locations can be accommodated through the joint efforts of the graduate student and internship coordinator.
Many of the students conduct research and participate in the scholarly processes of presenting and publishing their work. Students may work as research assistants to faculty members or they may choose to conduct research in partial fulfillment of the graduate requirements.
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WWU is regularly rated as a top public Master's-granting university in the Pacific Northwest.
Applying to the CSD graduate program in speech-language pathology:
If you are interested in applying to our graduate program, please go to the CSD link to SLP graduate program application information. You may request application materials from the Graduate School, (360) 650-3170, or email gradschl@wwu.edu. You can apply for Graduate School using the Online Form or you can download, fill out, and mail application materials found on the Graduate School Forms Page.
If you choose not to use the Online Form, you may submit application and all supporting documents directly to the Graduate School at:
WWU Graduate School
516 High Street, Old Main 530
Bellingham, WA 98225-9037
Contact information:
If you have questions, please contact us!
Dr. Lina Zeine
Graduate Coordinator
Western Washington University
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Room AI 376, Mailstop 9171
Bellingham WA 98225
(360) 650-3178
Lina.Zeine@wwu.edu
Accreditation
The Master's degree program in speech-language pathology is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). For further information and public comment opportunities, including questions or concerns related to graduate program accreditation, contact ASHA using the above link or the following address and phone numbers:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2200 Research Boulevard
Rockville, MD 20850-3289
Action Center Phone
Members: 800-498-2071
Non-Members: 800-638-8255