Essential Information
In New Jersey, speech therapy, also referred to as speech-language pathology, may be the main area of study, or it may be offered as a concentration within a degree program in communication disorders or education. Degree programs are available at the bachelor's and master's degree levels. Additionally, one school offers a dual degree option that combines a bachelor's degree program in education and a master's program in speech therapy, the completion of which prepares graduates for work as teachers and entry-level speech-language practitioners.
Students learn about such topics as motor speech and voice disorders, phonetics, language acquisition and auditory rehabilitation. Courses may also cover sign language and field-specific computer technologies. Additionally, participants may be able to gain experience in the field by participating in observations or clinical training. Master's degree seekers may be required to complete a thesis for graduation.
Read on for information about several public and private non-profit universities in New Jersey offering speech therapy training.
Kean University
Kean University is located in Union and enrolls approximately 16,000 students. It offers a Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Hearing Sciences. This 127-credit-hour program includes classes in topics such as American Sign Language, disorders of voice and computer technology for speech-language pathologists. The program's curriculum, which includes a capstone project, is designed as a pre-professional program that prepares students for graduate-level study in the field.
The university also offers a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology program that includes 57 credit hours of study. The program's curriculum includes research and clinical experiences. Students must also pass a comprehensive exam prior to graduation. Coursework in this program includes disorders of fluency and voice, assessment procedures in speech-language pathology and disorders of phonology.
Monmouth University
Monmouth University is located in West Long Brach. The school anticipates offering a master's degree program in speech-language pathology accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association beginning in the fall of 2013. This program will consist of 60 credit hours of study and will include coursework, research experiences and a practicum. The program is intended to prepare students for clinical practice in speech-language pathology.
Montclair State University
This university is situated in the city of its name, Montclair, and enrolls about 18,000 students. It offers a Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a speech-language pathology concentration. This CAA-accredited program takes 2.5 years to complete. Classes in the program focus on topics like motor speech disorders, diagnosis in speech-language pathology and voice disorders.
Seton Hall University
This university is located in South Orange and enrolls about 10,000 students. It offers an integrated Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education with a Cation in Speech-Language Pathology and Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. Graduates of this dual degree program are prepared for certification as an elementary and special education teacher and as an entry-level speech-language practitioner. Students in this program complete six years of study.
The school also offers a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. This CAA-accredited program requires completion of 65 credit hours of study. In addition to coursework covering topics like diagnostic and clinical principles, dysphagia and fluency disorders, this program's curriculum includes approximately 500 hours of clinical experience.
Stockton University
This college, which is located in Galloway, offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Science program with a pre-communication disorders track. This program requires completion of at least 128 credit hours of study in courses such as language acquisition, functional human anatomy and aural rehabilitation.
The college also offers a Master of Science in Communication Disorders that requires completion of 60 credit hours of study. This program has been granted pre-accreditation status by the CAA. Courses in this program focus on subjects like disorders of phonology, audiology and motor speech disorders. The program's curriculum also includes several practicums. Students in the program must write a thesis prior to graduation.
William Paterson University of New Jersey
The William Paterson University of New Jersey is located in Wayne and enrolls about 11,000 students. It offers a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Communication Disorders accelerated program that permits students to begin taking graduate-level coursework during their final undergraduate year of study. Undergraduate coursework in this program focuses on subjects such as auditory rehabilitation, phonetics and the nature and development of language. Students in the program also complete an observation lab and clinical experience.
The university's CAA-accredited Master of Science in Communication Disorders program requires 51 credits of study. Classes in this program cover topics such as voice disorders, motor speech disorders and speech science. The program's curriculum also includes a practicum and observation lab and requires that students write a thesis prior to graduation.
Career Requirements
Speech-language pathologists must be licensed to work in New Jersey. The Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee is responsible for licensing speech-language pathologists in the state. To earn licensure, an individual must possess at least a master's degree from an accredited school, have completed a clinical internship in the field and pass an exam.
School Comparison: At a Glance
| School Name | School Type & Setting | Speech Therapy Programs Offered | Graduate Tuition & Fees (2018-2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kean University | 4-year, public; large suburb | Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Hearing Sciences, Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology | $17,133 for in-state and $21,998 for out-of-state students* |
| Monmouth University | 4-year, private not-for-profit; large suburb | Master of Science in Education in Speech-Language Pathology | $26,814* |
| Montclair State University | 4-year, public; large suburb | Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology | $12,837 for in-state and $18,525 for out-of-state students* |
| Seton Hall University | 4-year, private not-for-profit; large suburb | Dual Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary and Special Education with a Concentration in Speech-Language Pathology and Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology | $23,422* |
| Stockton University | 4-year, public; midsize suburb | Bachelor of Science in Health Science - Pre-Communication Disorder Track, Master of Science in Communication Disorders | $14,602 for in-state and $20,658 for out-of-state students* |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey | 4-year, public; large suburb | Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Communication Disorders accelerated program, Master of Science in Communication Disorders | $12,904 for in-state and $20,050 for out-of-state students* |
Source: *College Navigator, National Center for Education Statistics.
