Speech-Language Pathology: Speech-Language Pathology MHSc

The Master of Health Science (MHSc) program educates graduate students to become highly competent entry-level clinicians in the profession of speech-language pathology. It prepares students to work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, schools, community clinics, and private practice. Speech-language pathologists provide services across the lifespan to individuals with a wide range of speech, language, hearing, and swallowing disorders. The integrated curriculum places equal emphasis on theoretical and practical competencies regarding normal development, as well as the assessment and treatment of disorders in human communication and swallowing.

The MHSc program offers a unique and internationally acclaimed curriculum that extends over 22.5 months and comprises five academic and four clinical units. The themed academic units are directly followed by full-time clinical placements targeting the same areas of practice, enabling a strong research-to-practice focus.

Throughout the two-year program, students will develop a strong focus on evidence-based and interprofessional practice through lectures, learning activities, mentorship, and self-directed projects. As part of SLP1509Y, students will participate in the Interprofessional Education curriculum offered by the Centre for Interprofessional Education at the University of Toronto. At the conclusion of their MHSc program, students will have an opportunity to showcase their learning outcomes and entry-level competencies.

MHSc Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies.

  • Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Speech-Language Pathology's additional admission requirements stated below and outlined in the Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Application Service (ORPAS) Application Guide.

  • Applicants must obtain an appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university, with a standing equivalent to at least a University of Toronto mid-B in the final year.

  • Applicants must complete prerequisite undergraduate university-level courses with grades of at least a B+ in child development (one half course), general linguistics (one half course), phonetics (one half course), elementary statistics (one half course), research methods (one half course), and human physiology (one full course).

  • Applicants must arrange to have two academic referees complete the Confidential Assessment Form and write an academic reference letter.

  • Applicants must complete a minimum of 14 hours of clinical experience supervised by a registered speech-language pathologist.

  • Applicants must arrange for a Clinical Reference Form and accompanying letter from the primary supervisor of the clinical experience.

  • Applicants must complete a Statement of Intent that has two components: 1) their reasons for choosing speech-language pathology as a career; specific personal attributes that would be relevant to the profession; academic and non-academic accomplishments; and reasons for choosing the MHSc program in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toronto; and 2) a summary of volunteer experiences.

  • Proficiency in oral and written English is required for both the academic and applied aspects of the program. Applicants who were educated outside Canada, whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction was not English, must demonstrate proficiency in the English language through the successful completion of one of the English proficiency tests. To satisfy the requirement, the department strongly prefers the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:

    • Internet-based TOEFL: 100/120 with 22/30 on the speaking section and 22/30 on the writing section.

  • If an applicant finds it impossible to take the TOEFL, the department will accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 8.0.

  • Applicants may be requested to attend a personal meeting with members of the Department of Speech-Language Pathology to provide an opportunity to clarify documentation and explore in-depth issues, such as spoken and written language ability and areas of academic performance or interpersonal communication skills.

  • See the departmental website and the ORPAS Application Guide for details on application instructions.

Completion Requirements

  • The professional MHSc program is divided into five academic and four clinical units. Successful completion of all courses and program requirements in the units is required. Each academic unit is composed of related coursework.

  • Students must successfully complete a total of 17.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • Year 1:

    • Year 2:

      • SLP1508Y Advanced Clinical Laboratory in Speech-Language Pathology

      • SLP1525H Structurally Related Disorders

      • SLP1527H Clinical Analysis of Communication and Swallowing Disorders

      • SLP1533Y Aphasia

      • SLP1534H Motor Speech Disorders

      • SLP1535H Advanced Principles of Clinical Practice

      • SLP1536H Swallowing Disorders

      • SLP1538H Neurocognitive Communication Disorders

      • SLP2500Y Advanced Internship.

  • Teaching within and across units emphasizes integrated learning experiences. Academic units are followed by full-time clinical placements, four overall for a total of 30 weeks of clinical experience throughout the two-year program. Students should anticipate receiving at least one placement outside the Greater Toronto Area. Students must accept placements offered to them and are responsible for all related travel and accommodation costs.

  • Prior to graduation, all MHSc students are required to demonstrate their learning outcomes and entry-level competency in key areas of professional practice.

  • Students will complete the program requirements within two consecutive years.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 6 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: FWS-FWS)
Time Limit: 3 years full-time

 

Speech~Language Pathology