Program Overview
There is a substantial demand for bilingual service providers in the United States. Of the over 170,00 members of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the national certification body for speech-language pathologists, only about 6% are registered as bilingual service providers. The number of qualified providers available is dwarfed by the population of bilingual clients who need these services. ASHA requires that all speech-language pathologists demonstrate specific clinical skills when working with bilingual clients.
The Post-Master’s Certificate in Bilingual Speech-Language Pathology for Practitioners (BSLP) provides licensed speech language pathologists with the knowledge and skills needed to serve clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The program is intended for both bilingual and monolingual speech-language pathologists who work with bilingual clients.
BSLP features 100% online instruction. Designed for working professionals, students can earn a University of Maryland degree while continuing to work full-time with minimal disruption to personal and professional life. A conferred master's degree in speech-language pathology is required for full admission. Students can begin applying in the final semester of their master's program.
The program is offered through the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Students with specific academic questions should contact:
- Program Director José A. Ortiz, email: jortiz5@umd.edu
- Program Coordinator Karen Miranda, email: kmm29@umd.edu