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Bridge Program

The Bridge program offers the required prerequisite SLP courses online each semester to help prepare students who hold a bachelor's degree to qualify for admission to most Speech-Language Pathology master's programs, including McDaniel's new Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. Applications for McDaniel's MS-SLP program will open in CDSCAS in July 2026 for the first cohort slated to begin summer 2027.

Learn about the new M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology

Who Should Apply to the Bridge Program?

Students who have completed a bachelor's degree in a field other than Speech-Language Pathology or Communication Sciences and Disorders and who need to complete prerequisite courses for consideration for admission to the M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology will have the option to join our Bridge Program and take the necessary prerequisites courses online.

To apply to begin Bridge courses complete the non-degree course application. Students may apply to the MS-SLP graduate program through the traditional entry process (CSDCAS.org) with up to 3 outstanding SLP prerequisite courses but if admitted must meet all admission requirements and complete all prerequisites before enrollment in the M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology.

Students must have a bachelor's degree and have completed the following foundational prerequisite courses in addition to the SLP Bridge content courses to be considered for admission to McDaniel's MS-SLP program.

Foundational Prerequisites

One course each in
- biological sciences (human or animal focused recommended)
- physical sciences (chemistry or physics required)
- social and/or behavioral science (i.e. psychology, sociology, philosophy, culture, or ethics; lifespan psychology is recommended)
- Statistics

Please Note: Classes taken at the high school level are not eligible to meet this requirement, with the exception of advanced placement (AP) courses that appear for credit on your college/university transcript. Coursework in the areas of biological sciences, physical sciences, social/behavioral sciences, and statistics cannot be related to speech-language pathology, audiology, communication sciences, hearing sciences, or logopedia unless they fulfill a university or college general education requirement and are available to students who are not majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders or Speech-Language Pathology.

Bridge Program Eligibility

Individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a non-CSD field may apply as a non-degree seeking student for our Bridge Program to complete required prerequisites to become eligible for admission consideration for most Master's of Science in Speech-Language Pathology programs including McDaniel's new MS-SLP program which begins in summer 2027.

Learn More about McDaniel's graduate SLP admission requirements

SLP Content Prerequisites

The Bridge Program offers online courses to satisfy the SLP content prerequisites for entry into the M.S. in SLP program. The following courses are offered on a rotating basis each summer, fall and spring.

Introduction to Communication Disorders
Phonetics
Speech and Language Development
Speech, Communication Sciences
Anatomy, Physiology and Neurology of the Communication Mechanisms
Audiology
Aural Rehabilitation*

The coures listed above may have a different title at other schools. McDaniel will accept prerequisites from courses that clearly provide coverage of the content areas above. Course syllabi may be required to approve prerequisites equivalency.

*Students may complete the Aural Rehabilitation course as part of our Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program if admitted to the program..

McDaniel's bridge courses are delivered online. Students may take any of the prerequisites from any accredited college or university to qualify for admission to McDaniel's MS-SLP program. Students who complete three or more bridge courses at McDaniel and who meet all other admissions requirements will be guaranteed an admission interview for the M.S. in SLP.

Contact the Program Director

D'Jaris Coles-White

Bridge Courses Offered Summer, Fall and Spring

SLP Bridge courses are offered online on a rotating basis - summer, fall and spring semesters in 8-week courses. This allows a student to take two courses a semester while focusing on one content area at a time and keeping a pace to complete six of the required content courses within a year.

To apply to begin Bridge courses complete the non-degree course application. For more information about this option, please contact gpsadvising@mcdaniel.edu.

Students may apply to the MS-SLP graduate program through the traditional entry process (CSDCAS.org) with up to 3 outstanding SLP prerequisite courses but if admitted must meet all admission requirements and complete all prerequisites before enrollment in the M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology. Students who take more three or more Bridge courses at McDaniel and meet all other minimum requirements for admission are guaranteed an admission interview for our MS-SLP program.

The Bridge courses at McDaniel provide the Speech-Language Pathology foundation content courses required to gain entry into most graduate SLP programs. However, all programs may also have additional admission requirement to include meeting the minimum 25 hours of observation under the supervision of a CCC-SLP.