Made for Impact.
Help children and adults who have disorders of speech, language, hearing, and swallowing. Achieve a rewarding career in speech-language pathology. Create a better life for others.
Speech pathologists work to prevent, assess, diagnose and treat children and adults who may need assistance with speech, language as well as cognitive and social communication. Nationwide, there is a shortage of speech pathologists and over the next 10 years, it’s anticipated that speech pathology as a career path will grow 25%.
Piedmont University’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Communication Sciences and Disorders is a pre-professional degree that prepares graduates to pursue additional education in Communication Sciences and Disorders or Speech and Language Pathology.
A master's degree is required to become a certified, licensed speech-language pathologist. Piedmont University offers two paths to the MS degree in speech-language pathology. One path is a BS/MS Integrated Program. The second path is for students who have completed a BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders and are seeking enrollment in a two-year MS program.
Piedmont University is accepting applications for the first graduate cohort which is planned to begin fall 2023.
Learn more about the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology.
Students pursuing a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders will study the nature and development of our communication abilities – a central aspect of the human condition. Students will learn about communication disorders that involve impairments in hearing, speech, voice, resonance, fluency, swallowing and language processes. Courses also include education in language development, audiology and linguistics. With this broad academic preparation in the identification and treatment of communication disorders, students are well prepared to further their education and to become a licensed Speech – Language Pathologist (SLP).
Throughout the program, students will utilize their emerging skills at a clinic on Piedmont’s Demorest Campus – ranked America’s Safest Campus – where area residents will receive assessment and treatment while allowing students to gain meaningful and practical learning experiences. The clinic will also allow students to begin earning clinical hours that can be applied to their graduate degrees while still at the undergraduate level – another way Piedmont is streamlining these experiences.
The clinic is planned to open in 2023 and offer services in a select scope of practice areas.
Program Plan
Accreditation
The Master of Science (MS) education program in Speech-Language Pathology (residential) at Piedmont University is a Candidate for Accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. Candidacy is a “preaccreditation” status with the CAA, awarded to developing or emerging programs for a maximum period of 5 years.
Faculty
Dr. Monica L. Bellon-Harn has been a certified, licensed speech-language pathologist since 1993 and university professor since 1996. She and her husband Dr. Bill Harn have worked in the same department since that time and look forward to continuing at Piedmont. Across her work as a professor, she has kept one foot in clinical practice and enjoys bringing real-world clinical experiences into the classroom and including students in clinical research. She has published over 65 peer-reviewed research articles, many of which have included undergraduate and graduate students as co-authors. Her research focuses on intervention and service delivery issues related to child speech and language disorders and mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students. Recently, her research has extended to consumer health informatics and digital therapeutics.
She came to Piedmont University in 2021 and her favorite things about Peidmont are the great people, awesome community, and the beautiful location! When she is not in the classroom or clinic you may find her running, writing or having fun with her children and grandchildren.
Dr. William E. Harn has been a professor of Speech-Language Pathology since 1987. He has been a faculty member and department chair at Texas Tech University, Western Carolina University, University of Southern Mississippi, and Lamar University. From 2013 to 2020 he served as Dean of Graduate Studies at Lamar University. He has delivered research presentations to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, International Congress for the Study of Child Language, and the Symposium for Research in Child Language Disorders. He has served two terms as a site visitor for the Council on Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
He enjoys playing classical guitar and running road races from 5Ks up to half-marathons. He is also an avid student of languages and is currently learning French and Swedish.
Ingrid Hinkley has been a licensed, certified speech-language pathologist since 1997. She has served as a clinical supervisor and educator in university clinics and medical externship sites since 2004. She has been a practicing clinician in hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient facilities, physician’s offices, and home health care organizations. Ms. Hinkley has also established two private practices specializing in elective and therapeutic services for adults with speech, language, voice, and swallowing needs. She has a passion for sharing her clinical knowledge and experience with others. Her ambition is to prepare and support new and future speech-language pathologists in succeeding with their career aspirations.
Ms. Hinkley spends her free time going to movies, hosting game nights, visiting family and friends “up north” and making plans to build a cat sanctuary when she retires.
Dr. Susan Parr, Doctor of Audiology, has been practicing audiology since 1991. She is American Board of Audiology Certified and licensed to practice audiology in Georgia, Florida, and Pennsylvania. She was the recipient of the George Osborne Honors for her outstanding contribution to the field of audiology.
She has held leadership positions in two national organizations, Academy of Doctors of Audiology and American Academy of Audiology. She has been president of two state organizations, Pennsylvania Academy of Audiology, and Georgia Academy of Audiology. She has presented at the Academy of Doctors Audiology conventions on Advocacy and Private Practice, American Academy of Audiology convention on The Role of the Preceptor, Pennsylvania Academy of Audiology conventions and workshops on Private Practice Audiology. She has been an Adjunct Professor for the University of Pittsburgh, Bloomsburg University and Towson University, and has organized several Hearing Aid Missions to Mexico, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic.
Dr. Parr has decades of experience working alongside ENTs diagnosing hearing and vestibular problems in patients. She is the owner of a research and evidence based audiology private practice, Parrs Pro Hearing Services, located in Habersham Medical Center. Here, she performs a full scope of audiology services for physicians and members of our community. She is thrilled to be a part of Piedmont University, where she can share her passion for the field of audiology.
In her spare time, Susan loves to boat and Sea-Doo on the lake. Her favorite vacation spot is on the gulf coast of Florida where she can collect shells – preferably with her six grandchildren.
Research Activity
Commitment to Equity & Inclusion
Piedmont University is committed to equity and inclusion. We concur with that commitment and expect to maintain a positive learning environment based upon open communication, mutual respect, and non-discrimination. Our University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veterans status, religion, sexual orientation, color, or national origin. Any suggestions as to how to further such a positive and open environment will be appreciated and given serious consideration.
Reach Your Peak Potential.
Piedmont graduates pursue careers in:
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Audiology
- Linguistics
- Speech-Language Rehabilitation