The Department of Speech offers graduate (Master's level) professional training in
Speech-Language Pathology. The program has as its objective the education and training
of speech-language pathologists who will be prepared to function in a variety of professional settings.

The graduate program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). All teaching and supervisory faculty hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) or the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) from the ASHA and licensure from the Louisiana Board
of Examiners for Speech Pathology and Audiology.

The graduate program, which provides a thesis and non-thesis option, is designed to allow a student to satisfy the academic and clinical practicum requirements necessary for certification by the ASHA in Speech-Language Pathology and professional licensure in the state of Louisiana. A minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate credit is required. Program completion for a student with a Bachelor's degree in Communicative Disorders requires, minimally, six quarters, plus one summer, of full-time enrollment and successful completion of written and oral comprehensive examinations.

The master's concentration in
Speech-Language Pathology provides course work in adult and child language, neurological, phonological, voice, and fluency disorders; diagnostic and treatment procedures; speech science; aural rehabilitation; and research methodology.

Clinical training is a vital component of the training program. Supervised clinical practicum experiences, with persons of all ages and various speech, language, and hearing disorders, are provided in the Louisiana Tech University Speech and Hearing Center and in a variety of clinical settings throughout the state, region, and nation including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, medical diagnostic and treatment facilities, veterans hospitals, special education settings, public school systems and, private practices. All practica are supervised according to ASHA requirements and guidelines by individuals who hold the appropriate certification and licensure.