Accelerated B.S. and M.S. Program: Speech Language Pathology

You can earn both your B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology in just five years. This is an alternative to the traditional track that requires tenacity and careful planning, and is the best fit for driven students with clear goals.

Students who enter into the B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders program as freshmen have the chance to declare their intent to enter the accelerated 3+2 program, in which the students will complete the undergraduate program in three years and enter into the two-year M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology program. Students must still complete the Biola graduate admissions application and meet the program’s professional competencies standard for an automatic acceptance to the graduate program.

In order to remain in the accelerated 3+2 program, students must maintain a 3.6 overall GPA. Failure to maintain these standards will result in the student’s removal from the accelerated 3+2 program.

Here's how it works:

• Declare your intention to complete the accelerated 3+2 program your first semester in the B.S. Communication Disorders program. Please note: Students must declare their intent to complete the accelerated 3 + 2 program in their freshman fall semester at Biola.
• Complete the accelerated B.S. in Communication Disorders program in three years, maintaining a 3.6 overall GPA and maintain a standard of professional competency with all department faculty.
• If students fail to maintain the GPA standard at any time during the program, they will be placed on probation for a semester. At the end of that semester, the student's continued participation in the 3+2 will be re-evaluated. A final decision will be made at that time.
• During the spring semester of the second year, students will meet with an advisor to determine their eligibility for acceptance into the M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology program.
• If eligible, students will complete the application for the M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology program the fall semester of their third year.
  • Complete an online application for the M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology program
  • Meet with a faculty advisor to determine if professional competencies are met
  • Submit official transcripts from all colleges attended
  • Meet the Basic Skills Requirement
    
• Complete the M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology program in two years.
  

Accelerated Master's Program Credit Requirements

For the accelerated 3+2 program, the credit requirements are the following:

• B.S. in Communication Disorders: 120 credits
• M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology: 63 credits

For more information regarding program requirements and course sequence, please refer to the catalog. 

Standard Completion Track

Students who prefer not to enroll in the accelerated 3+2 program, but who desire to complete both the B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology, are welcome to complete coursework at a standard pace – applying to the master’s program following a 4-year bachelor’s degree. Students should expect to complete both degrees in 6 years, depending on the student’s course load.

Please note: If for any reason a student enrolls in the accelerated 3+2 program but is unable to maintain the GPA or professional competencies requirement, students may still complete the B.S. in Communication Disorders in three years if desired and apply to Biola and other graduate programs in Speech-Language Pathology.