Speech-Language Pathology

NIU's speech-language pathology program provides undergraduate students with a foundation preparing them for further graduate study in audiology, speech-language pathology or a related profession. The graduate specialization focuses on a variety of special interests related to communication disorders.

The Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic offers students a practicum and research site that enhances their education while providing speech-language pathology and audiology services to the community.


The Master of Arts (M.A.) education program in communicative disorders with a specialization in speech-language pathology (residential) at Northern Illinois University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

Take This Step to Become a Speech-language Pathologist

Seven seats in the Master of Communicative Disorders, specialization in speech-language pathology program are reserved for incoming University Honors freshman who declare communicative disorders as a major. This program is limited to the first seven qualifying students who accept admission to NIU. To take advantage of this program, you must graduate with a COMD undergraduate degree and complete full University Honors requirements in four years.

Qualified students will receive a letter from the COMD program informing them that their seat in the master’s program in COMD has been reserved. To maintain their seat, students must email the COMD undergraduate program director confirming their seat within two weeks of receiving the letter from the COMD program.

To learn more about the program, speak with an Honors advisor or the School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders at ahcd@niu.edu.

View the 2024 SLP strategic plan (PDF)

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