Louisiana Speech Pathology Degrees

Louisiana Speech-Language Pathology Degree Programs

There are 10 ASHA accredited speech language pathology programs in Louisiana: 8 SLP Masters and 2 Doctorate.

Click for more online speech therapy programs that are currently taking applications.

If you are considering applying to a Master's of Speech Pathology program, you will find 8 accredited institutions with Master's degree programs. Whether you want to travel near the coast to New Orleans or stay inland in Shreveport, try a big city in Baton Rouge or go more small-town in Hammond, Louisiana has options for you.

Are there online SLP degrees in Louisiana?

At this time there are no online SLP degree options in Louisiana. If you are in the Southeastern United States, you could instead consider East Carolina University (NC), Western Kentucky University (KY), Tennessee State University (TN) or Florida State University or Nova Southeastern University (FL). You can view campus based speech pathology degrees in Florida, Tennessee, or Kentucky.

Alternatively, there are online SLP programs accepting applications. Consider the following programs.

Top 5 Most Popular SLP Programs in Louisiana

Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge Master's in Speech Language Pathology Program

Louisiana State University offers an on-campus Master of Arts degree, with both thesis and non-thesis options. LSU's program requires 39 hours of graduate coursework and is open both to students who have completed their prerequisites as well as those who have not. Students who have not completed prerequisite coursework prior to admission will need to do so while enrolled in the program. LSU has an on-campus clinic where students will be able to work with a variety of patients under the supervision of trained clinical instructors. They also work with many off-campus sites where students can gain additional training and experience.

Coursework

The program typically consists of 5 semesters, beginning in the fall of year 1 and concluding in the spring of year 2. Academic courses are taken every semester, including the summer. Some courses offered at LSU are Language learning disorders, Acquired neurogenic language disorders, Research design, Early communication intervention, and an elective on Cleft palate.

Path to licensure for the program

LSU holds an annual meeting in the spring to discuss the Praxis exam, state licensure, and national certification, and second year students are highly encouraged to attend. LSU meets all requirements to allow graduates to pursue state licensure and national certification, providing they also pass the Praxis exam and complete their post-graduate clinical fellowship.

Admissions

New students are only accepted to start in the fall semester with an application deadline of February 1. LSU requires an application to their graduate school that includes official transcripts, a purpose statement, and 3 letters of recommendation. GRE scores have been waived for the 2021 and 2022 admission cycles, but are still accepted.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Master's in Speech Language Pathology Program

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a nationally recognized institution where students can be positive they will enter the field of Speech-Language Pathology with the knowledge and experience they need to succeed. They are proud of their collaborative academic and clinical staff who work together to ensure their students are able to put education into practice. With applications increasing every year, UL Lafayette is becoming more competitive and establishing itself as a top program.

Coursework

During the 2-year program, students must complete 43 semester hours, including 10 required courses, 4 electives, and a Capstone seminar. Some required courses are Graduate research, Aphasia, Language and literacy, Fluency disorders, and Communication neuroscience. Students must also complete 325 hours of graduate level clinical experience.

Path to licensure for the program

To graduate, all students must pass a comprehensive evaluation offered once a year in the spring. Following graduation and completion of 400 clinical hours, individuals may apply for provisional licensure in the state of Louisiana to complete their CFY.

Admissions

Applying students are expected to submit their application and all materials to the Graduate School by February 15. This includes the application, all transcripts, GRE scores, 3 letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. Additionally, certain prerequisite courses are expected, or they will need to be completed prior to starting graduate coursework. Drug testing and a criminal background check are also required of all admitted students.

University of Louisiana Monroe Master's in Speech Language Pathology Program

In its strategic plan, the University of Louisiana Monroe has set 6 goals for the Master if Science in Speech-Language Pathology degree: To provide high quality educational and training opportunities, to educate and train students to apply SLP knowledge, to integrate academic coursework with clinical education, to have students collaborate with faculty on research, to teach students to perform evaluations, and to prepare graduates for clinical positions in a variety of settings.

Coursework

16 courses are required for ULM's Master of Science degree. Students can expect to take courses like Voice disorders, Seminar in articulation, Audiology for the SLP, Neurological disorders I and II, and Research projects.

Path to licensure for the program

Students who graduate from ULM's program are eligible to apply for their certificate of clinical competence from ASHA as well as state licensure. Students from this program typically do very well on the national Praxis exam, and typically 100% of graduates will pass.

Admissions

Applications should be submitted through the University of Louisiana Monroe Graduate School to apply to both the graduate school and the speech language pathology program. The deadline for fall semester admission is February 1 and for the spring semester is September 1. The average GPA of students admitted to the program is 3.5 and GRE scores are required.

Louisiana Tech University Master's in Speech Language Pathology Program

Located in Ruston, LA, Louisiana Tech University offers a Master of Arts program to prepare students to work in multiple settings with people of all ages who have speech and language disorders. The minimum number of hours required for the M.A. degree is 36, and the program is typically completed in 2 years of full-time study, including 1 summer.

Coursework

As an accredited program, core coursework is similar to other programs in the state of Louisiana and across the country. Students can plan to take core courses such as Articulation Disorders, Adult acquired neurogenic language disorders, Motor speech disorders, and Seminar in Dysphagia. Students may also take elective courses to specialize their academic knowledge.

Path to licensure for the program

To graduate, all students must pass a comprehensive exam, and are given 2 attempts to do so. Upon graduation, students are able to apply for state licensure and their certificate of clinical competence following the completion of a 9-month clinical fellowship.

Admissions

In addition to the requirements for the graduate school, applicants must also be recommended for admission by the Graduate Admissions Committee of the Department of Communication Disorders.

Southeastern Louisiana University Master's in Speech Language Pathology Program

Southeastern Louisiana University offers a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders with the goal of training students to be knowledgeable, skilled, and ethical speech-language pathologists. Located in Hammond, Louisiana, admission to the program is competitive and, as an accredited institution, it meets both state and national requirements for licensure and certification.

Coursework

Coursework for this program is similar to the coursework of other accredited institutions across the state of Louisiana. Students can expect to enroll in courses such as Language and literacy, Dysphagia, Voice and resonance, Research methods, and Aphasia as part of their required coursework. Additionally, 5 clinical courses are required for graduation of the program.

Path to licensure for the program

To graduate, students must complete 36 hours in CSD coursework, 4 or 5 semesters of clinical practicum, 6 hours of CSD electives or 6 thesis hours, have no more than one "C" in a CSD class, and complete one semester as a full-time student. Upon graduation and completion of a clinical fellowship, students are able to apply for national certification and state licensure.

Admissions

Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree, meet University requirements, and satisfy CSD program requirements to be considered for admission to the program. GRE scores are required as part of the application. The fall admission application deadline is March 1, and the spring admission deadline is October 1. Students without a background in CSD must complete a set of prerequisite courses before they will be considered for acceptance into the program. Students who are accepted must also pass a criminal background check.

List of Speech Pathology Programs in Louisiana

Click to see more online programs that are taking applications now.

SLP Licensure in Louisiana

The Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (LBESLPA) is the licensing organization for the state of Louisiana. Graduates from an accredited program who have completed 400 clinical hours may apply for a provisional license that allows them to practice while completing their clinical fellowship. To apply for a permanent license, you must have a master’s in speech, 400 clinical hours, passed the Praxis or have ASHA certification, and completed 9 months of post-graduate employment experience.

Career Options in the State

Speech-language pathologists in the state of Colorado have many options for employment in a variety of settings. Education, hospitals, private clinics, home health, or skilled nursing are common places of employment. SLPs may also consider careers in higher education, research, or clinical instruction.

Teletherapy is also an option that is increasing in popularity in Louisiana as well as the entire United States. Popular teletherapy companies to consider could be Global Teletherapy, Sunbelt Staffing, or VocoVision.