Work to identify and correct common speech disorders such as stuttering or lisps. Use a mixture of psychosocial and medical research to improve patient outcomes. Apply psychology and medicine in order to help people communicate more clearly. If you enjoy helping others become more effective communicators, improving their lives in the process, check out this career!
Make a Difference
A Typical Day
- Monitor patients' progress and adjust treatments accordingly.
- Create treatment plans for problems such as stuttering, delayed language, swallowing disorders, or inappropriate pitch or harsh voice problems.
- Write reports and maintain proper documentation of information, such as the initial evaluation, treatment, progress, and discharge of clients.
- Evaluate hearing or speech and language test results.
- Complete leading responsibilities, such as coordinating paperwork, scheduling case management activities, or writing lesson plans.
- Create individual or group activities or programs in schools to deal with behavior, speech, language, or swallowing problems.
- Instruct clients in techniques for more effective communication, such as sign language, lip-reading, or voice improvement.
Recommended Credentials
Master’s Degree
Education & Training
Regional employers often hire graduates of these programs.
Northwest Lower Michigan
Complete your General Studies at Northwestern Michigan College before you transfer to a 4-year school.
Research the undergraduate courses required for entry into a Speech-Language Pathology Master's degree program before and during your undergraduate program. A master's degree in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences is the entry-level requirement for certification as a professional.
Elsewhere in Michigan
Apply to a graduate program at an accredited university. Pursue a Master's in Speech-Language Pathology.
- Master of Arts in Communicative Sciences and Disorders, MA
— Michigan State University - Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, MS
— Grand Valley State University - Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology, MA
— Eastern Michigan University - Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology
— Western Michigan University
Explore This Career
Try it before you buy it!
Study people. Learn about the science behind the sounds words make. Pay attention to how people learn to communicate, from babies to the elderly. Help a foreign exchange student improve their English-speaking accent or practice speech cognition games with friends and young family members. Pay attention to where language arts meet health science.
Find more experiments with sound here.
The Local Advantage Learning Pathway
Pathway 1
Ask about AP science classes at your high school or Sci-Ma-Tech in TCAPS high schools.
Northwest Education Services (formerly TBAISD) Career Tech Center - Health Sciences for basics in Medical Ethics, Law, Anatomy and Physiology
Consider enrolling in the Northwest Education Services Career Tech Early College program: Health Sciences
Pathway 2
Look into bachelor’s programs like those listed below after you complete your general studies at Northwestern Michigan College.
Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
— Western Michigan University
Communication Sciences and Disorders, Majors or Minors
— Central Michigan University
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Science and Disorders, BA
— Wayne State University
Pathway 3
Complete a Master of Arts program, which is required for this career.
Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, MA
— Western Michigan University
Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology, MA
— Wayne State University
Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology, MA
— Central Michigan University
TIP
Contact one of these companies and ask for an informational interview, to see if you can job shadow, or to find out if they hire interns.
Sample Job Titles...
- Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist
- Communication Specialist
- Educational Speech-Language Clinician
- Speech and Language Clinician
Hear It From The Pros
10-Year Job Growth Projections
Employed Regionally
Wage Range & Median 10-County Region
Annual Hires Regionally
Other Regional Career Resources
Learn more about Speech-Language Pathologists at O*NET Online.