Ithaca College Speech Pathology Program: A Comprehensive Overview

Ithaca College stands as a beacon of academic excellence, integrating theory with hands-on experience to mold students into successful professionals. With a legacy rooted in the Ithaca Conservatory of Music since 1892, the college has evolved, embracing diverse programs like speech therapy. Ithaca College's Speech Pathology program reflects this commitment, offering a comprehensive education designed to meet the rapidly expanding demands of the field.

A Legacy of Excellence

With over a century of experience in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) education, Ithaca College has established itself as a leader in the field. The program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CAA), ensuring that it meets the highest standards of quality and prepares graduates for successful careers.

Program Overview

Ithaca College's Speech Pathology program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address a wide range of communication disorders across diverse populations. The curriculum encompasses core content areas such as phonological disorders, swallowing, aphasia, fluency, and augmentative and alternative communication.

The program is designed to be flexible and accessible, with both on-campus and online options available. The on-campus program requires full-time study for five semesters, while the online program is designed for working professionals and offers a part-time option.

Curriculum Structure

The curriculum is designed to provide a strong foundation in the principles and practices of speech-language pathology. In the freshman and sophomore years, students take classes covering typical speech, language, and hearing development, as well as an introduction to a range of communication disorders. This foundational coursework prepares students for intensive, guided, clinical observation experiences.

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Core Courses

The program includes a variety of core courses designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of communication disorders and their treatment. Some of these courses include:

Early Intervention for Children with Communication Disorders
Speech-Language Pathology in Educational Settings
Fluency Development and Disorders
Language Disorders in Children Ages 3 to 21

Hands-on Learning

Ithaca College places a strong emphasis on hands-on learning. Students begin working directly with clients in their first semester on campus, gaining valuable experience in assessment, intervention, and case management. The college's facilities include six therapy rooms with adjoining observation rooms, a digitally equipped diagnostic room, an assistive technology and alternative communication lab, a preparatory workroom, and an audiology sound suite with adjoining control room.

During their junior year, students spend a substantial amount of time in the Sir Alexander Ewing-Ithaca College Speech and Hearing Clinic, observing therapy and learning how to plan and carry out therapy sessions. As seniors, students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through the college's close association with local Head Start programs, in the speech and hearing clinic, or through selected alternative settings.

Clinical Placements

Clinical placements are integral to the Speech-Language Pathology program at Ithaca College, providing students with real-world experience in diverse settings. These placements can occur during weekdays, evenings, or weekends, requiring students to maintain a flexible schedule. Clinical placement services are included with the Master’s program.

Strategic Plan 2026-2030

The Department of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology has outlined a strategic plan for 2026-2030, focusing on several key areas:

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Curriculum Review: Updating electives in the undergraduate curriculum and neurogenic/medical SLP courses in the graduate curriculum.
Clinical Education Analysis: Reviewing residential clinical education, including offerings, community demand, staffing patterns, and interprofessional experiences.
Research Opportunities: Increasing opportunities for students to engage in research and creative projects under faculty mentorship.
Alumni Networking: Engaging alumni and community stakeholders to create support networks and experiences for students.
Department Branding: Enhancing branding materials to emphasize student, faculty, and alumni accomplishments.
Departmental Community Development: Fostering a sense of belonging, shared responsibility, and collaboration within the department.

Online MS-SLP Program

Ithaca College offers a fully online, part-time Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) program designed for bachelor's degree holders with a passion for the field. The online program offers two flexible pathway options:

General Pathway: Designed for students with an academic foundation in speech, language, and hearing sciences or communication sciences and disorders.
Leveling Pathway: For students with a bachelor's degree in another field who have not completed the prerequisite speech-language-hearing (leveling) courses.

Both pathways provide the same graduate-level training and lead to the same degree. The online program features fully online coursework, immersive virtual simulations, and in-person clinical experiences near the student's community, with no campus visits or travel requirements.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the MS-SLP program must have completed one college-level course in each of the following prerequisite science areas:

Physics or Chemistry
Biology
Statistics
Social or Behavioral Science

Students can apply to the program before the coursework is completed. In addition to the science prerequisites, students may need to complete leveling courses in speech-language-hearing if they do not have a background in the field. Leveling courses completed with a grade of B or higher do not need to be retaken.

Application Process

Ithaca College participates in the Communication Science and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS). Applicants must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities where they have received college credit.

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Career Prospects

Ithaca College graduates enjoy excellent career prospects. The demand for speech-language pathologists is one of the fastest growing in the United States, with job prospects projected to grow by 21% over the next 10 years. Speech-language pathologists work in a variety of settings, including:

Schools
Hospitals
Rehabilitation centers
Private practices
Early intervention programs

Certification and Licensure

After completing the required graduate coursework and clinical practica, graduates are eligible to begin a clinical fellowship (CF). Upon successful completion of the CF, they are eligible for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology (CCC-SLP), licensure as a speech-language pathologist in New York State, and initial New York State teaching certification. Every state requires a graduate degree and a passing score on the Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology for SLP licensure.

Additional Course Offerings

Ithaca College offers a variety of additional courses related to speech-language pathology and audiology, including:

Introduction to Augmentative Communication: Introduces augmentative communication techniques and strategies for individuals who are severely speech and language impaired.
Aphasia, Apraxia of Speech, and Related Disorders: Prepares students to identify, differentiate, and contrast the phenomenology, symptomatology, and diagnostic and therapeutic processes of adult aphasia, apraxia of speech, and related disorders.
American Sign Language (ASL) Courses: Introduces students to the linguistic features and core vocabulary needed to develop basic communicative competence in ASL.
Phonetics: Introduces the study of speech sounds used in the production of American English.
Research Skills: Develops information literacy and evidence-based practice research skills within the context of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology.
Speech, Language, and Hearing Disorders: Introduces a variety of disorders in both children and adults, including articulation and language disorders, stuttering, learning disability, cleft palate, cerebral palsy, voice disorders, and hearing losses.
Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanisms: Covers the anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanisms, including respiration, phonation, resonation, articulation, and basic neurological concepts underlying the communication process.
Language and Literacy Development in Children: Introduces the student to the study of language and literacy development in children.
Audiology: Study of anatomy and physiology of the hearing mechanism, acoustics, auditory pathologies, classification of hearing disorders, and the profession of audiology.
Neuroscience of Communication: Addresses the basic structure and function of the brain with a special focus on the neuroscience of communication.
Speech Science: Introduces the undergraduate student in speech-language pathology to topics in speech science.
Cultural Pluralism in Communication Disorders: Discussion includes cultural factors that may influence the acquisition of speech and language; incidence and variation of specific speech and language disorders among diverse populations; assessment and treatment procedures that accommodate cultural differences; goal selection strategies; selection of unlisted materials; educational implications; and specific intervention cases.

A Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Ithaca College values every community member’s dignity and seeks to create a social environment where everyone can flourish and be their authentic self. The college adopts an equity framework that proactively seeks to make Ithaca College accessible, affordable, and inclusive for all people, especially those impacted by systemic disadvantage, marginalization, and exclusion.

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