Clinical Program

A critical component of your professional education is the clinical practicum that begins once you have completed the appropriate undergraduate prerequisites. The practicum is designed to ensure that all students meet the requirements for certification set by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Massachusetts Department of Education.

The clinical curriculum for the master of science program is a four or five-semester sequence, carefully planned to help you develop a broad range of evaluation and treatment skills. You’ll interact with clients of all ages from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Working in diverse clinical, healthcare, educational, and private settings, you’ll encounter a wide variety of communication and swallowing disorders.

Boston University is fortunate to be in a city with many world-renowned educational and medical institutions that serve as ideal practicum sites for our graduate students. In addition to these facilities, BU Sargent College operates its own clinical centers, where you’ll gain experience with a variety of communication disorders. These include the Academic Speech, Language & Hearing Center and the Aphasia Resource Center.

The following services are offered in the Academic Speech, Language and Hearing Center:

Please note:

  • Students who are admitted into Sargent College routinely participate in clinical education experiences as a part of the respective program curricula. Most clinical education facilities require criminal background checks to determine students’ eligibility for participation. History of a criminal background may disqualify students from participating in these experiences, which are required for successful completion of the degree program.
  • There may be some clinical placements that are unavailable to students who are non-US citizens.
  • Students are responsible for all expenses related to clinical education including travel-related expenses and placement specific costs. Travel-related costs include access to a car or car-ride service as not all placement sites are accessible via public transportation. Additional placement costs (up to approximately $125 per placement) may include a CPR course, fingerprinting, lab coat or scrubs purchase, etc