The W’s SLP program ranked No. 1 in state by SpeechPathology.org
Mississippi University for Women’s Department of Speech-Language Pathology has been recognized for its outstanding contributions to the State of Mississippi, being named the top program in the state by SpeechPathology.org.
“It is an honor to be recognized as the best SLP degree program in Mississippi,” said Dr. Catherine Cotton, interim chair of the SLP department at The W. “This honor not only reflects the hard-work of the faculty, staff and students of The W, but also a continuation of the legacy established by previous faculty, staff and students who worked hard to establish and maintain high standards in the classroom and during their clinical experiences.”
SpeechPathology.org ranks programs nationwide, with a methodology that emphasizes clinical excellence, educational outcomes and program accessibility. There are six key ranking factors: clinical accreditation, certification exam pass rate, financial value, student success metrics, learning format diversity and clinical supervision quality.
Housed within the Vandergriff College of Nursing and Health Sciences, SLP offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. The Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology provides students with a basic understanding of normal and abnormal communication. It is a pre-professional program, which lays the groundwork for graduate studies.
The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology prepares students for a career in SLP. A master’s degree is required for independent professional practice. Students in The W’s SLP graduate program saw a 96% pass rate on the PRAXIS certification examination during the last recorded cohort, which was the 2023-24 school year.
“I am thrilled the program is being recognized for its phenomenal faculty, curriculum and students,” said Dr. Brandy Larmon, dean of nursing. “We are blessed with the best, and I am glad others will know that as well.”
According to Cotton, The W’s approach is a student-focused one, and that, in conjunction with an attentive, dedicated faculty is why the program is so highly regarded.
“I believe there is no ‘one key’ to maintaining the level of excellence established by the program,” she said. “We focus on the students’ needs, which includes increasing their academic knowledge and application of their knowledge, by providing high quality instruction, hands-on opportunities for trainings and certifications and opportunities to engage with the community. We also listen to the clients, community and off-site supervisors to determine how we are meeting their needs and how we can improve. Finally, our faculty show up every day to prepare our students to confidently work in a variety of settings by providing instruction, supervision and support to every student.”
The W’s program boasts a 10:1 student to faculty ratio, according to SpeechPathology.org, a smaller ratio than any of the other ranked programs. It also holds a 72% retention rate.
To learn more about The W’s SLP program, please visit muw.edu/slp/.