Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology
The Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology (SLPD) degree program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) is a seven-term (three terms per year) limited-residency program designed to enable practicing speech-language pathologists to earn their clinical doctorate without uprooting their families and while continuing their full-time work with patients in their communities.
The SLPD curriculum is focused on evidence-based clinical research and is designed to aid students in advancing their clinical knowledge, skills, and marketability so they can further their career opportunities in the field and better serve their patients with communication and swallowing disorders.
Important Dates
Educational Model Options
Limited-Residency Program – Primarily online with three onsite visits that range from 3 to 6 days.
Online Program — Completely online.
As this program is designed for working professionals, coursework and instructional materials are available to students 24/7.
Why Choose RMU?
“Being able to obtain a clinical doctorate online in two years allowed me to further my education and truly apply evidence-based practice to my clinical practice; something that was not a part of my graduate school curriculum 20 years ago.”
“Attending RMUoHP was a life-changing experience for me both personally and professionally! Completing this doctorate degree has allowed me to expand my career pursuits while making a positive contribution to the provision of state-of-the-art, quality healthcare services.”
“My experience at RMUoHP has been very beneficial as I have grown in the areas of research and clinical skills. The program is comprehensive with great support from the staff in order to reach my fullest potential as a student and speech clinician.”
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Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology
Program Highlights
Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology Degree
The purpose of the SLPD program is to prepare professionals focused on developing scientifically-trained and clinically-experienced master speech-language pathologists as leaders and change agents by providing broad knowledge of social, political, and economic forces at work in society. Graduates of this program will increase their contribution to healthcare through the knowledge and skills developed through active use and integration of research and concepts of evidenced-based practice, clinical quality improvement, organizational development, leadership and advocacy. The program prepares and supports students in completing a clinical doctoral degree that can provide opportunities for employment in healthcare agencies, schools, and as academic faculty in institutions of higher education.
Graduation Rate – 74%
UNIVERSITY ACCREDITATION
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (8060 165th Avenue NE Ste 100, Redmond, WA 98052-3981), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the US Department of Education.
Note: The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) accredits eligible clinical doctoral programs in audiology and master’s degree programs in speech-language pathology. For clinical doctoral programs in speech-language pathology, there is currently no specialized accrediting body.
Learn more about RMU’s
SLPD program
We invite you to learn more about what makes Rocky Mountain University’s SLPD program different from other speech-language pathology degree programs. The RMU program focuses on the development of knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are typically not emphasized during master’s degree programs in speech-language pathology, including active use and integration of research and concepts of evidence-based practice, clinical supervision and quality improvement, organizational development, advocacy, ethics, and leadership.
The clinical doctorate is not an entry-level degree for speech-language pathology but rather an emerging optional career path for practicing clinicians and is currently offered at only a few institutions. We expect our graduates to be viewed as individuals with substantial expertise beyond that obtained in a master’s program, making our graduates able to function at a significantly higher level compared to those with an SLP master’s degree. Our graduates go on to work as independent clinician researchers and use their knowledge and skills to create change in their communities and in the profession as a whole.
Become a changemaker
in the healthcare industry
Do you aspire to become a doctor of speech-language pathology who can act as an advocate for patients while influencing the profession for good through ethical leadership and groundbreaking research? If so, we invite you to apply to RMU. We’re looking for students who love their work as speech-language pathologists and want to enhance the profession with improved patient care and innovative treatments.
The focus of our doctorate in speech-language pathology program is on developing scientifically trained and clinically experienced speech-language pathologists as leaders and change-agents by providing broad exposure to content relating to the social, political, and economic forces at work in society. If Rocky Mountain University sounds like the place for you, we encourage you to explore our program, talk with a program advisor, and attend a virtual information session to help you decide whether RMU’s speech-language pathology clinical doctorate program is the next step in your career as a doctor of speech pathology.
We are committed to the development
of Speech-Language Pathologists who can:
Demonstrate Clinical Scholarship
Apply analytical methodologies and scientific evidence to clinical speech-language pathology practice.
Influence Policy Change
Advocate for policy strategies that optimize access to care and clinical outcomes and promote ethical and legal management of healthcare through education of providers and patients.
Collaborate with Interprofessional Teams
Work as a constructive team member as necessary to improve clinical care for clients at local, regional, national, and international levels.
Exhibit ethical leadership
Lead diverse teams of practitioners using clinical perspective and sound business practices to transform the evolving speech-pathology industry.
Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology Faculty
Trever J. Ball, PhD, MPH, MS
Alan J. Gravano, PhD
Darcy Hammar, BA
Amber B. Heape, ClinScD, CCC-SLP
Jay Lucker, EdD, CCC-A/SLP, FAAA
Angela Merlo, PhD, PT, DPT
Kimberly Peer, EdD, AT, FNATA
Susie B. Peterson, CScD, CCC-SLP
Trevor Q. Smith, PhD
Sara Stiltner, M.Ed, ATC, AT
Sandra Shigetomi-Toyama, CScD, CCC-SLP
Shelley Victor, EdD, CCC-SLP
“I am so appreciative of the Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology (SLPD) program at Rocky Mountain University and how it has impacted me as a student. This program has allowed me to continue to work full time and spend abundant time with family while focusing on the curriculum.”
“My academic journey at RMUoHP was a positive and fulfilling experience that fostered my knowledge, clinical, and research skills. Each professor provided a comprehensive and collective approach to my studies and afforded me the opportunity to grow autonomously. This doctorate program of clinical science in speech pathology gave me the opportunity to gain the tools to be a more effective clinician, supervisor, and researcher while standing on a strong foundation of professional ethics.”
“Being able to obtain a clinical doctorate online in two years allowed me to further my education and truly apply evidence-based practice to my clinical practice; something that was not a part of my graduate school curriculum 20 years ago.”
SLPD News
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