No matter which course sequence you choose, all applicants follow the same admissions process and must meet the same admission requirements. Review the requirements and timelines below to prepare for your next step toward joining Faulkner’s MS-SLP program. 

• CSDCAS Application 

• Official academic transcripts from all previously attended institutions; submitted through CSDCAS 

• Academic transcript indicating an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution; submitted through CSDCAS 

• Evidence of successful completion of academic coursework in the following areas: 

• • Statistics 

• • Biological science 

• • Physical science (physics or chemistry) 

• • Social/behavioral science 

*These are required by ASHA for certification. You can find additional information on which courses qualify here ASHA Prerequisite Course Content Areas 

• Completion of a CSD/SLP undergraduate degree or completion of leveling program/coursework from an accredited institution that includes instruction in: 

• • Normal language development 

• • Phonetics 

• • Anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing 

• • Speech science 

• • Phonological and articulation disorders 

• • Language disorders 

• • Audiology 

*All SLP pre-requisite courses must be taken within 10 years of the admission cycle year unless the applicant has been working in the field of SLP. All courses must be from an accredited institution. 

• Have a minimum GPA of 3.0. in last 60 hours of undergraduate/post-baccalaureate course work as calculated by CSDCAS. 
• Have a minimum CSD/SLP GPA of 3.0 as calculated by CSDCAS. 
• **At the discretion of the Admissions Committee, applicants who do not meet a standard GPA requirement may be considered on a case-by-case basis through a holistic review that includes related post-baccalaureate or advanced degree coursework in the area of or related to communication sciences and disorders. 
• Three letters of recommendation (at least 1 must be from academic faculty) submitted through CSDCAS.  

*Program may waive the requirement for academic faculty recommendations for applicants on a case-by-case basis

• Interview as determined by admissions committee. 

• Complete Program Preparedness Questions in CSDCAS application 

• Prior to program start, must complete 25 guided Observation Hours signed by an ASHA Certified SLP, who is qualified to supervise. 

*Rolling admissions for both modalities until all seats are filled 

For additional information about admissions, contact CHSAdmissions@faulkner.edu 

Fall Start | Residential or Online | Full-Time (5 Semesters) 

Choose the traditional residential experience in Montgomery or complete your academic coursework online while gaining hands-on clinical experience. 

Want to learn more about the courses in this sequence? View course descriptions for additional information about course content and credit hours. 

Spring Start | Online | Full-Time (5 Semesters)

Begin your graduate education in the spring and progress through an online, cohort-based full-time course sequence. 

Want to learn more about the courses in this sequence? View course descriptions for additional information about course content and credit hours. 

Summer Start | Online | Extended Track (8 Semesters)

Designed for students seeking a more gradual pace, the Summer Start pathway distributes coursework across an extended online course sequence. 

Want to learn more about the courses in this sequence? View course descriptions for additional information about course content and credit hours. 

Faulkner’s  Financial Aid Office  is happy to assist you with financing your education. 

Faulkner University’s Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) program offers multiple pathways designed to provide flexibility in when and how students complete their graduate education. All pathways lead to the same MS-SLP degree and include the academic coursework, clinical education, research experiences, and professional preparation required for entry into the profession. 

Students enter the program as part of a cohort based on their selected start term and progress through their designated course and clinical sequence together. 

Fall Start 

• Residential or Online 

• Full-time 

• Completed in 5 semesters 

• Clinical experiences are designed and adapted to align with each student’s selected learning modality and geographical location, while providing hands-on preparation for professional practice. 

Spring Start 

• Online 

• Full-time 

• Completed in 5 semesters 

• Clinical experiences are designed to be completed in the student’s geographical location, while providing hands-on preparation for professional practice. 

• Required one-week, on-campus immersion experience 

Summer Start 

• Online 

• Extended Track 

• Completed in 8 semesters 

• Reduced course load distributed across an extended sequence 

• Clinical practicum experiences begin in Semester 3 and are designed to be completed in the student’s geographical location, while providing hands-on preparation for professional practice. 

• Required one-week, on-campus immersion experience 

Additional Program Requirements 

The following requirements apply to all students, regardless of their selected course sequence: 

• Completion of a Comprehensive Examination 

• Completion of SLP 6381 and SLP 6382 Research Experiences 

• Optional thesis experience for students interested in conducting research 

• Minimum of 375 supervised clinical clock hours in addition to 25 guided observation hours 

• Completion of all required coursework with a grade of B (80%) or higher 

• Minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 

• Successful completion of the SLO 5 Portfolio 

• Completion of applicable academic and clinical requirements for professional certification 

Research Experiences and Thesis Option

All students complete SLP 6381 and SLP 6382 Research Experiences as part of the MS-SLP curriculum. Students may complete the standard Evidence Based Practice research experience requirements or, if enrolled in one of our full-time programs, students can elect to pursue the thesis option. 

The thesis option is designed for students who are interested in gaining experience conducting original research. Students who apply and are selected, develop and complete an independent research study under the guidance of a faculty thesis committee.  

Comprehensive Examination 

Students are required to complete and pass the program’s Comprehensive Examination in accordance with the requirements established for their program completion. The examination is designed to assess students’ integration and application of knowledge across the curriculum and to support preparation for the Praxis in Speech-Language Pathology. 

Required Online Student Immersion

Students enrolled in the online modality are required to attend a one-week, on-campus immersion experience. The immersion experience provides opportunities for hands-on clinical training, skills assessment, simulation, and direct engagement with program faculty and peers. The timing of the immersion is determined by the student’s course sequence and progression through the program. 

Clinical education is an essential part of the MS-SLP experience. Students’ progress through supervised experiences designed to build clinical knowledge and professional readiness. 

Residential Clinical Experience (Full-Time)

Semesters 1, 2, and 3 

During the first three semesters of the program, students will complete a clinical practicum on campus in Faulkner’s brand new, state-of-the-art Center for Therapy and Research. Here, students receive one-on-one clinical supervision, training, and mentoring from our experienced clinical educators. Students have the opportunity to evaluate and treat a wide variety of patients and gain hands-on experience with a diverse range of diagnoses, ensuring meaningful exposure across the lifespan and across settings. 

Semesters 4 and 5 

During the final two semesters in the program, students will complete 2 internships- one in an adult setting and one in a pediatric setting. Students are given the opportunity to request internship sites that match their personal career goals. For example, a student who wishes to work on a craniofacial team can request an internship in a children’s hospital, or a student who wishes to work with adults in post-acute rehabilitation can request an internship in a rehabilitation hospital. Since students do not take any academic courses on campus during these semesters, they are free to pursue internships anywhere in the country. These personalized internships are a key feature of our SLP program because they allow students to build professional networks and gain the specialized experience needed to shape their career path. 

Online Clinical Experience (Full-Time) 

Semester 1 

Students will gain clinical experience through the completion of approximately 25 Simucase hours under the direct supervision of Faulkner faculty. Students will be assigned a variety of clinic populations across the lifespan, including culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Every week, students will have a supervisory conference with their clinical supervisor to debrief, review, and discuss the assigned Simucases. Students will also gain experience in clinic writing by completing assessment reports, plans of care, and SOAP notes. 

Semesters 2 and 3 

Students during semesters 2 and 3 will be placed in external sites such as schools, medical centers, nursing homes, private clinics, etc. Each student will be responsible for helping the Online Clinic Team identify potential sites in their geographic area; however, final placement decisions will be made by the DCE following a comprehensive review of all relevant factors. External sites should be selected with consideration of availability of culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Students are required to be on site approximately 8-12 hours a week, with the goal of approximately 5 direct client hours a week. Every week, students will have a supervisory conference with their clinical supervisor to debrief, review, and discuss their progress. 

Semesters 4 and 5 

Students will complete two full-time internships, one with adults and one with pediatrics, with a requirement of at least 32 to 40 hours on-site per week based on supervisor schedule. Each student will be responsible for identifying potential sites in their geographic area. Students must submit 5 potential adult sites and 5 potential pediatric sites to the Online Clinic Team. This is to ensure that the Online DCE has ample time to reach out and initiate contracts with each site prior to the following Fall when full-time internships begin. Students are directly supervised by their on-site supervisor during both semesters, with additional check-ins with the Online DCE. 

Online Clinical Experience (Extended Track) 

Semester 3 
Students will gain clinical experience through the completion of approximately 25 Simucase hours under the direct supervision of Faulkner faculty. Students will be assigned a variety of clinic populations across the lifespan, including culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Every week, students will have a supervisory conference with their clinical supervisor to debrief, review, and discuss the assigned Simucases. Students will also gain experience in clinic writing by completing assessment reports, plans of care, and SOAP notes. 

Semesters 4 and 5 
Students during semesters 4 and 5 will be placed in external sites such as schools, medical centers, nursing homes, private clinics, etc. Each student will be responsible for helping the Online Clinic Team identify potential sites in their geographic area; however, final placement decisions will be made by the DCE following a comprehensive review of all relevant factors. External sites should be selected with consideration of availability of culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Students are required to be on site approximately 8-12 hours a week, with the goal of approximately 5 direct client hours a week. Every week, students will have a supervisory conference with their clinical supervisor to debrief, review, and discuss their progress. 

Semesters 6, 7, and 8 

Students will complete two full-time internships, one with adults and one with pediatrics, with a requirement of at least 16 to 24 hours on-site per week based on supervisor schedule. Each student will be responsible for identifying potential sites in their geographic area. Students must submit 5 potential adult sites and 5 potential pediatric sites to the Online Clinic Team. This is to ensure that the Online DCE has ample time to reach out and initiate contracts with each site prior to the following Fall when full-time internships begin. Students are directly supervised by their on-site supervisor during both semesters, with additional check-ins with the Online DCE.