Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology
The Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology (SLPD) degree program is designed for post-master’s speech-language pathologists holding the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence wanting to specialize in an area of interest with a clinical doctoral degree. At this time, the SLPD program does not require accreditation from ASHA.
Please note the SLPD program will not be admitting any students to the program during 2026-2027.
Please note the SLPD program will not be admitting any students to the program during 2026-2027.
Master's Degree and GPA
Admission to the program requires a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an ASHA-accredited university program with a cumulative grade-point average of a minimum 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Note that applicants with higher GPAs may receive admissions preference.
ASHA Certification
In addition, applicants must present evidence of current ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence.
English Language Requirement
All students are expected to have strong command of the English language. Both domestic and international students may be subject to evaluation of English proficiency. All students may be subject to the TOEFL requirement if his/her native language is not English. The requirement is posted in the Academic Catalog and on the International Programs website.
Background Check
The Joint Commission requires all incoming students to pay for a background check, and this may affect eligibility to enter the program. Applicants will be asked to provide information and make the payment once officially accepted into the program. For more information, please see the School of Health Professions background check instructions. A drug screening is required of all students participating in clinical settings.
Technical Standards and Accommodations
Please read the program technical standards carefully. Signed verification will be required of students after they have been accepted. Reasonable accommodations will be made for any accepted student who has a documented disability and can meet program expectations. Applicants with documented disabilities can request reasonable accommodations if needed during the admissions process.
International Students
An applicant is considered an international student if he or she requires a visa, or currently resides in the U.S. with non-immigrant status, or currently resides in the U.S. while applying for permanent residency. Additional requirements and documentation, such as proof of English language proficiency, are required for international students to become eligible for KU programs. Please visit the KU Office of International Student Services before applying. More information: information for international students in the School of Health Professions.
For more information or to contact the program, please visit the IPCD website.
Please note the SLPD program will not be admitting any students to the program during 2026-2027.
The SLPD (Clinical Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology) degree program may be completed in eighteen months (including summer and with a common entry point in the fall semester). Exceptions to this timeline may occur for the student who chooses to complete the program on a part-time basis. A full-time student usually enrolls in 10 - 14 credit hours each fall and spring semester and 6 to 8 credit hours in the summer session. A minimum of 33 credit hours is required to complete the SLPD program requirements.
Degree requirements:
- Degree requirements are normally completed within one full-time to three part-time years of admission to the program with the maximum time allowed as eight years.
- Cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least a 3.0 for all KU graduate coursework.
- Successful completion of a minimum of 33 credit hours.
- Successful completion of the Capstone Project. This is an individually designed, mentored project that demonstrates a synthesis of the knowledge and skills developed in the program.
- Enrollment in a minimum of one (1) credit hour the semester the student will graduate.
- Successful completion of the following courses:
Program Applied Research Concentration = 15 credits
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SLPD 801 | Seminar on Evidence-Based Practice in Speech-Language Pathology and Other HealthSciences I | 3 |
| SLPD 802 | Seminar in Evidence-Based Practices in Communicative Disorders | 3 |
| SLPD 903 | Capstone Project | 1-6 |
| BIOS 704 | Principles of Statistics in Public Health | 3 |
Primary Concentration of Study = 10 - 12 credits
Courses may be taken from within the IPCD program or other graduate programs on the KUMC and KU campuses, however, selected courses should reflect advanced knowledge not present in the MA curriculum.
For example,
- Neuro-developmental disorders
- Adult language disorders
- Child language disorders
- Clinical Supervision
- Clinical Leadership
- Literacy
Secondary Concentration of Study = 8 - 10 credits
Courses are selected jointly by student and advisor to represent a correlative area of study.
TOTAL HOURS = 33
- Specific elective courses are selected to complement the student's program in consultation with the student's academic advisor.
- Degree requirements and course descriptions are subject to change. See student handbook for additional program information. In most cases, use the catalog of the year student entered the program. Other years’ catalogs».
- For more information or to contact the program, please visit the IPCD website.
Please note the SLPD program will not be admitting any students to the program during 2026-2027.
Example Plan of Study #1: Primary Concentration: Adult Neurodegenerative Disease (motor speech and dysphagia); Secondary Concentration: Mental Health/Psychology of Aging
| Year 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| BIOS 704 | 3 | SLPD 802 | 3 | ||
| SLPD 801 | 3 | SPLH 833 | 2 | ||
| 6 | 5 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| SLPD 805 (Therapeutic Interventions)* | 2 | SLPD 804* | 1 | PSYC 986^ | 3 |
| SW 863^ | 3 | REHS 865 (Patient Simulation)* | 2 | ||
| SLPD 805 (Neurodegenerative Disorders)* | 1 | ||||
| PSYC 838^ | 3 | ||||
| 5 | 7 | 3 | |||
| Year 3 | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| SLPD 903 | 3 | SLPD 903+ | 3 | ||
| 3 | 3 | ||||
| Total Hours 32 | |||||
* = Primary Concentration: Adult Neurodegenerative Disease (motor speech and dysphagia)
^ = Secondary Concentration: Mental Health/Psychology of Aging
+ = Applied Research Concentration
Example Plan of Study #2: Primary Concentration: Clinical Supervision & Leadership; Secondary Concentration: Prelinguistic & Early Communication
| Year 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| BIOS 704 | 3 | SPED 731 (^^) | 3 | SLPD 805 | 1 |
| SLPD 801 | 3 | SLPD 802 | 3 | Clinical Course Development ** | |
| ELPS 853 (**) | 3 | SPLH 876 (Early Learning Project **) | 1 | SPLH 876 (Communication & Behavior) ^^ | 1 |
| SLPD 805 (**) | 1 | SPLH 975 (**) | 1-3 | SPLH 876 (Infant Feeding & Swallowing) ^^ | 1 |
| SPLH 876 (Early Learning Project ^^) | 2 | ||||
| SPLH 876 (Narrative Development ^^) | 1 | ||||
| 10 | 11-13 | 3 | |||
| Year 2 | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| ELPS 780** | 3 | SLPD 903++ | 3 | ||
| SLPD 903++ | 3 | ||||
| 6 | 3 | ||||
| Total Hours 33-35 | |||||
** = Primary Concentration: Clinical Supervision & Leadership
^^ = Secondary Concentration: Prelinguistic & Early Communication
++ = Applied Research Concentration
Program Learning Outcomes
- Appraise rigor of health profession assessment and treatment literature using objective tools, for both quantitative and qualitative research.
- Develop clinical questions following the PICO format.
- Integrate quantitative and qualitative research to answer a clinical question in written and verbal formats.
- Identify barriers to clinical implementation of research in clinical settings.
- Design clinical solution(s) to implementation barriers.
- Apply statistical knowledge to interpret research literature and/or to conduct novel research.
Technical Standards
The clinical doctorate degree in speech-language pathology signifies that the holder is prepared to assume leadership in clinical practice after developing advanced practice competencies. Therefore, all individuals admitted to the University of Kansas must meet the following abilities and expectations with or without accommodation(s). KU is an AA/EO/Title XI institution.
NOTE: Reasonable accommodations will be considered and may be made to qualified students who disclose a disability, so long as such accommodation does not significantly alter the essential requirements of the curriculum and the training program, or significantly affect the safety of patient care. Students who disclose a disability are considered for the program if otherwise qualified. Qualified students with a disability who wish to request accommodations should provide appropriate documentation of disability and submit a request for accommodation to one of the following offices:
Academic Accommodations Services
3901 Rainbow Boulevard, MS 4029
Kansas City, KS 66160
913-945-7035; 711 TTY
Student Access Center
1450 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 22
Lawrence, KS 66045
access@ku.edu
785-864-4064; 711 TTY
All students admitted to the KU Intercampus Program in Communicative Disorders must be able to meet the following requirements and expectations with or without accommodation(s).
Problem Solving:
The culminating activity in the preparation of the clinical doctorate in speech-language pathology is advanced clinical reasoning. The SLPD student is expected to develop advanced expertise and demonstrate leadership, teaching, advanced practice, and evidence-based practice skills. Therefore, a candidate should be able to understand research, make correct observations, and engage in reasoning, analysis, and synthesis.
Communication:
- Written Communication – The student must be able to assimilate information from a variety of written sources (e.g., medical/school records, professional journals and texts, etc.). Students are required to use information from written sources and to produce appropriate written documentation for a variety of readers. Students demonstrate the ability to prioritize written information based on the needs of the reader.
- Verbal Communication – Students must be able to communicate factual information effectively to a variety of audiences. Student communication must be appropriate to the setting (e.g., patients/clients, caregivers, professional colleagues, etc.). Students demonstrate the ability to prioritize verbal information based on the needs of the audience.
Sensorimotor:
Students must have sufficient gross motor, fine motor, and equilibrium functions, and functional use of sensory systems to enable them to perform all tasks essential to their career paths.
Behavior and Social Attributes:
Students are expected to exhibit professional behaviors and attitudes during their participation in classroom, clinical, and research experiences. The student must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and colleagues, including individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds. This includes, but is not limited to, an ability to establish rapport and communicate with others, to use appropriate language, possess flexibility toward changes, and to accept responsibility for one’s own conduct.