Florida Speech Pathology Degrees

Florida Speech-Language Pathology Degree Programs

There are 11 ASHA accredited speech language pathology programs in Florida: 8 SLP Masters and 3 Doctorate.

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Florida is currently home to 8 Master of Speech Pathology programs spread all over the state. Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida International University in Miami, University of Central Florida in Orlando, University of South Florida in Tampa, and University of Florida in Gainesville are popular locations in the state where you can find accredited universities offering in-person (or online!) Master's programs. You could also consider Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, or Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale.

Online SLP degree options in Florida

There are universities in Florida that offer online Speech Pathology programs:

Florida State University offers an online Master of Speech Pathology program that takes 3 years (9 semesters) to complete. Students enrolled in this program must reside in the state of Florida due to the location of their practicum placements. Students will take 12 credits of core courses, 21 credits of elective courses, 5 credits of clinical coursework, and 23 credits of clinical practicum courses.

Nova Southeastern University offers both full-time and part-time online Master of Speech Pathology programs. The full-time track takes 3 years while the part-time track takes 6 years to complete. For both programs, 54 credit hours are required for graduation. Students who wish to enroll online must live over 50 miles away from campus. The program offers 3 start dates: winter, summer, or fall, and each has their own application deadline.

Other nearby states that have online SLP programs include: East Carolina University (NC) and Tennessee State University (TN).

Are there online SLP programs in Florida?

Yes, there are online SLP programs at the graduate level at campuses in Florida. See the below list.

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Top 5 Most Popular SLP Programs

University of South Florida Masters in Speech Language Pathology Program

Located in Tampa, the University of South Florida offers 3 tracks to students wishing to obtain their Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology degree. The Residential Track, a more traditional 6-semester program; the Suncoast Track for those practicing in schools with a Bachelor's but wish to obtain their Master's, and the Speech-Language Pathology Prerequisite Track for those who did not complete their prerequisite courses in their undergraduate degree.
A minimum of 62 credit hours is required, including 29 core credit hours, 24 practicum credit hours, and 9 thesis/non thesis credit hours.

Coursework

USF has 10 core classes that they require of all students prior to graduation: Advanced clinical phonology, Language-learning in the school-age years, Diagnostic principles and practices, Advanced vocal disorders, Advanced fluency disorders, Aphasia and related disorders, Augmentative & alternative communication, Ethical practice issues in CSD, Research procedures in CSD, and a Seminar in dysphagia. Students are also able to select a minimum of 3 elective courses, unless they are completing a thesis. Popular elective courses are Pediatric language disorders, Seminar in aging, cognition, and communication, and Communication + cognition in traumatic brain injury.

Path to licensure for the program

In order to graduate from USF's program, you must attain a "B-" or better in each course, attain clinical competence and a GPA of 3.00 in all coursework and clinical practica, and pass a comprehensive exam. You must also meet a minimum of 400 clinical clock hours, 25 of which must be observation and 250 must be in speech-language pathology.

Admissions

For admission, prospective students must complete a set of prerequisite courses, have 3.20 GPA or higher, have taken the GRE within 5 years of applying and attain a high enough score, have 3 letters of recommendation, and write a letter of interest and resume. In addition to the University admission application, a CSDCAS application must also be completed.

University of Central Florida Masters in Speech Language Pathology Program

The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Central Florida offers 3 paths for their Master of Arts degree. Each track provides students with the necessary education and experiences to obtain their state licensure and certification through ASHA. The Traditional track is a two-year, full-time, in-person program for students who have completed all their prerequisite courses. The Accelerated track is for highly qualified students to achieve their M.A. degree in one less semester than the Traditional track. The final track is the Masters Consortium for those working in public schools with a Bachelor's degree wishing to pursue their Master's.

Coursework

UCF's required courses are Articulation/phonological disorders, Voice disorders, Motor speech disorders, Aural rehabilitation rehab, Aphasia, Culturally and linguistically diverse populations, Assessment of language disorders in children, Intervention of language disorders in children, Augmentative and alternative communication, Feeding and swallowing disorders, and research in communicative disorders. Students are also able to select from multiple elective courses to deepen their knowledge in specific areas of speech pathology.

Path to licensure for the program

To graduate, students must complete 38 credit hours of required courses, 25 credit hours of clinical practice, and 9 hours in thesis or electives. At this time, UCF's program meets the criteria for licensure as a speech-langauge pathologist in the state of Florida, but they cannot guarantee licensure in other states.

Admissions

In addition to the UCF graduate application, the following must be provided to the College of Graduate Studies: official GRE scores, 3 letters of recommendation through CSDCAS, a letter of intent, a current resume, CSDCAS supplemental questions, and a brief video.

University of Florida Masters in Speech Language Pathology Program

The University of Florida offers a Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders that aims to prepare professionals for employment in a range of settings such as education or healthcare. The program is full-time, and students can expect to complete it in 2 years. The spring semester of the second year is typically spent in a full-time externship to help students truly experience what it is like to work as an SLP.

Coursework

5 full semesters of coursework and clinical experience are typical for UFL's program. Students can expect to take a full-time course load in the fall and spring of their first year, during the summer, and in the fall of their second year. Sample courses for this program include: Pediatric language disorders, Motor speech disorders, Adult language disorders, Phonological disorders, Dysphagia management, Graduate research, Neuro-cognitive language disorders, Public health concepts, Voice Disorders, and Stuttering.

Path to licensure for the program

Students enrolled in UFL's program can expect to meet all requirements set by the state of Florida for licensure, with the exception of 9 months of employment experience that must be completed after graduation.

Admissions

The University of Florida's Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders is highly competitive, and they offer admission to less than 25% of all applicants. Most applicants who are offered admission have a GPA of 3.7-4.0. GRE scores are no longer required for admission to the M.A. program but can still be submitted. The application process has 2 steps: CSDCAS application and the Graduate School application.

Florida State University Masters in Speech Language Pathology Program

Florida State University offers both distance learning and main campus options for completing their Master's in Communication Sciences and Disorders program. Academic and clinical experience expectations are the same for both programs, making this school an excellent choice for prospective students who may not wish to or be able to relocate but with to further their education. Students in FSU's program will complete all their core classes in their first teo semesters while gaining clinical experience at the University's clinic. They will then take elective courses while completing school and community practicum placements. The final semester is a full-time internship.

Coursework

12 hours of core courses are required: Speech and swallowing disorders, Developmental communication disorders, Neuro-based communication disorders, and School age issues. Students then choose 21 hours of elective courses, such as Articulation & phonological disorders, Voice disorders, Advanced aural rehab, Seminar in neuropathology, Seminar in dysphagia, Autism & severe communication disorders, Medical issues in SLP, and Counseling in SLP. Additionally, 5 credits in clinical coursework and 23 credits in clinical practicum courses are required for graduation.

Path to licensure for the program

Florida State University's Master's program is accredited for both their distance learning and main campus options, and as such both programs will prepare students for licensure within the state of Florida.

Admissions

For admission, Florida State University requires a bachelor's degree, a GPA of at least 3.0, and prerequisite coursework in CSD. Florida State is one of few universities that does NOT accept application through CSDCAS, and all applications must be submitted through their Graduate Application Portal. The application deadline is January 15.

Florida International University Masters in Speech Language Pathology Program

This full-time, 6-semester, Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology will prepare students to identify, assess, and manage speech, language, cognition, and swallowing disorders and development treatment plans for their patients. Four of the six semesters are spent in clinical rotations that help prepare students for the profession.

Coursework

61 total credits are required for graduation. Students will have to complete core coursework and will then be able to select from multiple elective courses to specialize their education to their area of interest. Some of the courses offered at FIU include: Phonological Disorders, Dysphagia, Differential diagnosis of communication disorders, Aphasia and related disorders, Vocal and velopharyngeal disorders, and Assessment & treatment of bilingual children.

Path to licensure for the program

Graduates of FIU's program are eligible to take the Praxis exam, which is necessary for both state licensure and to apply for ASHA's certificate of clinical competence.

Admissions

Admissions are competitive with up to 50 students are admitted annually. Prospective students will need: a bachelor's degree, prerequisite coursework, a 3.0 GPA or higher, 25 clinical observation hours, and TOEFL (for non-native English speakers). Applications are reviewed starting in January.

List of Speech Pathology Programs in Florida

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SLP Licensure in Florida

Licensure in the state of Florida is done through the Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology. There are multiple licensure application methods in the state of Florida, including licensure by evaluation of credentials, licensure by endorsement of certificate of clinical competence by ASHA, and licensure by endorsement from another state/territory. Applicants who are pursuing initial licensure will need the following: Master’s degree or the completion of a doctoral program with a major emphasis on speech-language pathology, nine months of professional employment experience (clinical fellowship year), proof of passing the Praxis exam within 3 years of application, and completion of 300 clock hours of clinical experience with at least 200 in speech-language pathology. For ASHA certification, 400 clock hours need to be completed.

Career Options in the State

After you’ve completed your graduate program, clinical fellowship, and obtained licensure, you may wonder what comes next. Florida offers many opportunities for newly licensed SLPs in different settings across the state. Common places of employment are public schools, private practice or outpatient clinics, home health, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. You could also consider looking into teletherapy options and working from home!