FAQ - Speech-Language Pathology Doctorate

The SLPD is a professional Doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology. It is designed for practicing clinicians who wish to upgrade their credentials and get training in conducting clinical research.

The SLPD is beneficial to individuals who wish to take on roles as leaders, clinical educators, clinical administrators, or who wish to conduct their own independent research. For more information, see the results of ASHA’s report on Clinical Doctorates in SLP.

• Depth of Knowledge – The scope of practice in speech-language pathology continues to expand, encompassing an increasingly wide range of clinical areas. Coursework at the master’s level cannot provide comprehensive coverage of every topic within the discipline. The SLPD program offers clinicians the opportunity to deepen their expertise by engaging in course work that focuses on relevant and specialized areas of the field, thereby broadening their knowledge base and enhancing professional competence.
• Clinical Research – Students in the SLPD program engage in coursework that fosters a foundation in empirical research, critical analysis, and statistics. Building on this knowledge, each student will design and conduct a capstone research project under the guidance and mentorship of faculty. Through this process, students not only develop valuable research skills but also generate new knowledge that contributes to the advancement of the speech-language pathology profession. Upon completion of the program, graduates will have meaningful clinical research experience, and a research manuscript prepared for submission to a peer-reviewed journal, positioning them to share their insights with the broader professional community.
• Professional Development – Across the allied health disciplines, clinical and professional doctorates are increasingly becoming the standard entry-level degree for practice (e.g., Audiology, Nursing, Physical Therapy). Although a doctoral degree is not currently required for Speech-Language Pathologists, pursuing one strengthens clinicians’ professional credentials and helps them remain competitive for leadership, management, and administrative opportunities.
• Convenient – The SLPD program at Loma Linda University is designed to support working professionals who wish to advance their careers without the extensive time commitment of a PhD. The program offers online coursework, often with accompanying live evening classes held via video conference, allowing students to participate from a location that is convenient for them. This format fosters meaningful interaction and engagement between instructors and students. The only required on-campus component is a one-day, in-person orientation at the start of the program. While attendance at graduation weekend is not required, we warmly encourage students to join us on campus to celebrate this important milestone together.

A doctorate in speech-language pathology is a professional degree and is shorter than a PhD. Our program provides all the training and skills needed to conduct clinical research but does not have the scope of a PhD. This means it is much more manageable with regard to time commitment (most PhDs take 4+ years as a full-time student to complete).

The SLPD program is structured as 2 courses per quarter over the span of 8 quarters, totaling 48 credit units. Each course typically carries three credit units. In general, students are expected to dedicate two to three hours per week per credit outside of class to complete assignments, engage with readings, and prepare for upcoming sessions. For Capstone research credits, students should plan to spend three to four hours per week per credit on research activities and related project work.

The program is primarily online, with just one required in-person visit to the LLU campus for orientation day. This day is a great opportunity to meet faculty and classmates and begin building connections as students start the program

The first year is primarily made up of content courses. In the second year, the capstone sequence begins. The Capstone Project (sometimes called an Applied Dissertation) is a written manuscript in publishable form documenting a research project designed and carried out by the student. The Faculty Research Mentor and the SLPD student submit this manuscript for potential publication, if deemed worthy of submission. It is comparable to a dissertation, but less ambitious in scope (dissertations typically consist of multiple studies). See Curriculum page.

This varies depending on the strength of the applications we receive as well as the availability of faculty to mentor in a given area of interest. In order to ensure the quality of the program, we will be restricting the number of students we admit (3-5 per cohort).

The deadline for applications is June 15, 2026.

In addition to filling out the application form and a personal statement, you will be asked for letters of recommendation, a resume, and transcripts. The strongest applicants will be selected for an online interview. You will also be given an article to read and then respond to a prompt in the form of an essay that discusses key points in the article. See SAHP Admissions page and CMSD admissions.

Yes. Once an application is submitted, applicants will be contacted for a formal interview. Students who apply early will have a higher chance of preferred mentor availability. All accepted students will start in one cohort in the fall.

Get details on the standard cost of attendance at LLU. View Estimates

No, ASHA does not currently accredit SLPD programs.