Earn a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology in Only Five Years

The fast-track program in speech-language pathology provides an opportunity for qualified students to complete a BS and MS in five years instead of the six-year traditional path. Students who are accepted into the fast-track program complete undergraduate courses their first three years and begin graduate coursework in the summer following their junior year. Only entering freshmen may apply for acceptance into the fast-track program. Throughout their fast-track path, students will be mentored by peers and faculty.

Upon completion of undergraduate requirements, students will graduate and receive the Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders

 Application Timeline

Late January - fast-track interviews
Late February – Fast-track applicants will be notified of final decisions.
Priority Deadline - December 1st

Admission Criteria

Students with a 3.8 high school GPA (4.0 scale) and a >/= 29 ACT Superscore are eligible to apply for the fast-track program. Students complete an application and may be invited for an interview.

Progression Standards

To remain in the fast-track master of science in speech-language pathology (MSSLP-SLPA) program, students must:

  1. Achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above on all coursework by the end of spring semester of third year;
  2. Earn a B or higher in all courses with a CSDS prefix.
  3. Earn a C or higher in pre-requisite courses: biological sciences, physics, and/or chemistry, statistics, and social sciences;
  4. Complete all required convocation hours by the end of the spring semester of third year;
  5. Meet with an academic advisor once a semester;
  6. Complete all CSDS major requirements on time in the first three years at Samford University; and
  7. Candidates must pay a nonrefundable fee of $500 to secure admission into the MS-SLP program by January of the junior year

Why Samford?

  • Low student-to-teacher ratio in the classroom
  • Highly experienced faculty with wide range of expertise who mentor students throughout the program.
  • A rigorous curriculum that is updated as needed to reflect ever-evolving research and best practices in the educational and health care industries.
  • Service learning and supervised research projects
  • Study alongside students in other healthcare disciplines as part of Samford’s College of Health Sciences, an innovative learning environment designed to foster interprofessional collaboration and experiential learning.