Launching in Fall 2026, UC’s fully online Clinical Doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP-D) is a part-time program designed for practicing speech-language pathologists (SLPs) looking to advance their careers without interrupting their current professional commitments.
This program prepares students for leadership roles and advanced clinical practice, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to conduct and apply clinical research, enhancing both their practice and the field of speech-language pathology.
This program is designed to enhance students’ professional and clinical expertise, equipping them with the skills to mentor and lead in their chosen field. Students will develop critical thinking, clinical problem-solving, and research application skills while gaining expertise in clinical education, teaching, supervision, and mentorship.
Throughout the program, students will collaborate with practicing clinicians and engage with UC’s renowned faculty. Each student will choose between two specialized tracks—healthcare or education—to focus their learning and leadership development for their respective setting.
A Clinical Doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP-D) might be the right fit for you if you are:
You hold a ASHA accredited master’s degree in speech-language pathology and actively practice in the field (at least 3 years of clinical experience at the start of the SLP-D program).
You want to take on leadership roles in clinical practice, healthcare, academia, or research.
You aim to deepen your expertise in specific areas such as medical speech-language pathology, social communication, voice disorders, or advanced clinical techniques.
You are passionate about teaching, mentoring future SLPs, or conducting clinical research to advance the profession.
You prioritize integrating research and clinical expertise to improve client outcomes and advance the field.
Federal regulations require the University of Cincinnati to publicly disclose whether completion of certain programs that lead or may lead to professional licensure or certification would meet a given state’s educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for employment in an occupation (regardless of whether the program is on-ground, online, or hybrid). To learn whether a University program meets a given state’s educational requirements, please visit the University of Cincinnati State Authorization webpage.
The SLP-D is a part-time, online program designed to support the career advancement of practicing speech-language pathologists. It prepares students for leadership opportunities and advanced clinical practice experiences.
The SLP-D focuses on enhancing clinical practice, clinical research, and leadership skills for practicing clinicians, while a PhD emphasizes preparation for careers in college-level teaching and research.
If you are interested in diving headfirst into research with the goal of working in academia and conducting rigorous research, we’d love to talk to you about our full-time PhD program, as that might be a better fit for you.
If your professional goals include career advancement in your current clinical setting, moving into clinical management, and/or teaching or supervising clinically, the SLP-D may be a great fit for you!
If you want to talk about your specific goals and get help deciding which program is right for you, please reach out! We would love to discuss how we can best support you or if another SLP-D program is an even better fit for your goals.
The Clinical Doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP-D) program at the University of Cincinnati is not subject to accreditation by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), as ASHA does not accredit clinical doctorate programs. The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
However, this program is designed for licensed, certified speech-language pathologists who already hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from ASHA. This program follows ASHA’s guidelines for the Clinical Doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology and builds on the foundational knowledge and credentials provided by an ASHA-accredited master’s degree program.
Additional resources to support you from start to finish.
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