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Shaping Skilled Clinicians
Through expert-led courses and guided clinical rotations, you’ll gain the knowledge, compassion and hands-on skills needed to meet national certification standards –and change lives. Rooted in Christian values and academic excellence, ACU equips you to rise confidently into a career that restores voices, rebuilds connections and brings healing through communication.
On Campus Option
Interested in completing your coursework in Abilene or Dallas? With our on campus Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology, you can get the same quality degree program with face-to-face instruction.
About the Program
The primary mission of this program is to equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills for effective care of persons with communication, cognitive and swallowing disorders from a Christ-centered perspective. Through our online format, you can advance your education via a 2-year full-time or 3-year part-time degree plan, making it an excellent option for all learning abilities and timelines.
Details on Your Degree
ALL THE DETAILS ON YOUR DEGREE
ACU’s College of Health and Behavioral Sciences is passionate about developing and equipping the next generation of speech-language pathologists, no matter what population they choose to serve. As part of this vision, this degree will help you obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the needs of your patients and pass the academic and clinical requirements for certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Leveling
ACU’s online SLP Leveling Pathway is designed for students with a non-communication sciences and disorders background who want to pursue a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. This fully online program provides the foundational coursework needed to apply for ACU’s MS in Speech-Language Pathology program.
Required Hours
52 hours
2 Years or 3 Years
Cost: $1,105 per credit hour with no resource fee
COURSEWORK
Motor Speech Disorders
Dysphagia (Swallowing Disorders)
Speech Sound Disorders
Diagnostic/Therapeutic Theory in SLP
Aphasia
Upcoming Start Dates
January 12, 2026
Common Job Titles
Hospital-Based Speech-Language Pathologist
Voice and Swallowing Specialist
Telepractice Speech-Language Pathologist
Frequently Asked Questions
Meet the Program Director
Lory Chrane, Online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
Lory Chrane, M.A., CCC-SLP (‘91), is the program director for ACU’s online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program. Lory is a licensed speech-language pathologist with decades of clinical experience in both Texas and Virginia. Her background includes work in public and private schools, medical facilities, outpatient clinics, early childhood intervention and residential settings for individuals with developmental differences. Lory especially enjoys her involvement with Wildcats on Academic Mission (WAM), through which she leads students in clinical mission work internationally.
Since joining the ACU faculty in 2016, Lory has been deeply committed to mentoring and educating future speech-language pathologists. She is passionate about expanding access to high-quality, faith-based education through innovative online learning. She and her husband, Randy, have three grown children, four grandchildren and live on Chrane Ranch outside of Abilene, Texas.
TWO DEGREE PLAN OPTIONS
Focused on preparing future speech-language pathologists for schools and healthcare environments, the Online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology offers two distinct tracks:
Two-Year Track
This full-time degree plan will allow you to complete your master’s degree in two years (24 months, 52 credit hours). During the program, you will complete the coursework and participate in designated clinical rotations to further grow your theoretical knowledge and practical skills to meet the requirements established by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Three Year Track
If you want to complete your degree around your work schedule, this part-time degree plan allows you to complete your master’s degree in three years (36 months, 52 credit hours). During the program, you will also complete the coursework and participate in designated clinical rotations to further grow your theoretical knowledge and practical skills to meet the requirements established by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. This is an excellent opportunity for those currently working as SLP assistants.
Spotlight
ACU named one of America’s Top Online Colleges by Newsweek
For the fifth year in a row, Abilene Christian University has been recognized as one of America’s Top Online Colleges for 2026 by Newsweek and Statista Inc., a leading provider of statistics and industry rankings.
5 Growing Healthcare Fields You Need to Know About
Our world needs qualified, competent, service-oriented individuals in this industry now more than ever. In light of this, the question then just becomes: what kind of healthcare career should I pursue? To help you identify this, here are five of the most rapidly growing areas of healthcare.
Student Spotlight: Susan Schlueter
Some stories begin in classrooms, others on the job. For Susie Schlueter, her’s began in a quiet hospital room, where words were slipping away from someone she loved most. Blending science with soul, Susie Schlueter is proof that it’s never too late to pursue a calling born from love, lit by faith and powered by the desire to make a difference.
As a graduate of ACU’s master’s program, you will be prepared to meet the certification requirements established by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to practice as a speech-language pathologist in the United States. SLPs also must be licensed to practice in the states in which they reside and work. Our program prepares you for licensure in all 50 states. ACU enjoys a high success rate for graduates taking the national examination for certification and typically a 100% employment rate for graduates completing the program over the last three years.
To be considered for admission, students must:
- Complete the online program application in the CSDCAS portal accompanied by a non-refundable processing fee.
- Submit official transcripts showing earned bachelor’s from a regionally accredited college or university or the equivalent.
- Prerequisite: A bachelor’s degree in Communication and Speech Disorders
OR completion of a leveling program prior to beginning the graduate program. - Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above and a grade of C or better in CSD coursework.
- Submit three letters of recommendation, two of which must represent people who can speak to the student’s academic and/or professional behavior abilities, including but not limited to a faculty member, program director, work supervisor, etc.
- Submit a current résumé that includes information regarding: college education and activities to date, employment to date and community involvement.
- Complete a personal interview with a CSD faculty member after all application documents have been reviewed.
The Master of Science (MS) education program in speech-language pathology {residential, distance education, satellite location} at Abilene Christian 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.
ACU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of ACU.