Associate of Arts (A.A.) - Speech Language Pathology Assistant
The Associate of Arts (A.A.) with a Concentration in Speech Language Pathology Assistant allows individuals to achieve an A.A. degree within 2 years with concentrated courses of the speech language pathology assistant (SLPA) program to count toward their A.A. degree. This concentration is a collaboration between UM-Missoula College’s Department of Applied Arts and Sciences and UM’s School of Speech, Language, Hearing, and Occupational Sciences, which is housed in the College of Health.
General Associate Degree Requirements
Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page.
Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.
Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of an associate degree program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.
Online Program Option
This program may be completed in an online format. Students interested in pursuing an online degree or certificate program are strongly encouraged to contact the offering department to discuss specific program and course modalities and create a plan of study with an academic advisor. The course requirements listed below may not be consistently offered via online delivery.
Associate of Arts - General A.A.; Speech Language Pathology Assistant Concentration
The Associate of Arts degree has the following general requirements. Students must:
- Complete all of the university's general education requirements with the exception of the language requirement and the advanced writing requirement.
- All courses taken to satisfy general education requirements must be taken for a traditional letter grade and must be passed with a grade of C- or better.
- Complete a minimum of 60 credits.
- Earn a minimum cumulative institutional GPA of 2.0.
- Complete at least 30 of the total 60 degree credits at Missoula College or UM-Missoula.
Missoula College students are limited to enrolling in lower-division (100- and 200-level) courses only.
To receive the Associate of Arts with a concentration in Speech Language Pathology Assistant, a student must complete the concentration requirements listed below.
Following completion of the lower-division requirements (100- and 200-level), students must transfer to the University of Montana Mountain Campus to complete the upper-division required courses. Please see the program advisor for a sequence of courses for the program of study.
Course Requirements
- Some courses required for the Associate of Arts with a Concentration in Speech Language Pathology Assistant satisfy multiple Perspectives or GER Categories; visit with your advisor for more information.
- Students may only register for CSD 320, 330, and 365 after transferring to the University of Montana Mountain Campus.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| CSD 110 | Foundations of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology | 3 |
| CSD 205 | Clinical Application and Observations in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology | 2 |
| CSD 210 | Speech & Language Development | 3 |
| CSD 265 | Developmental Speech and Language Disorders and Treatment | 3 |
| CSD 320 | Clinical Phonetics | 3 |
| CSD 330 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Swallowing Mechanism | 3 |
| CSD 365 | Acquired Communication and Swallowing Disorders | 3 |
Two Year Plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Hours | |
| ANTY 101H or NASX 105H |
Anthropology & the Human Experience or Introduction to Native American Studies |
3 |
| BIOB 101N | Discover Biology * | 3 |
| COMX 111A | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| PSYX 100S | Intro to Psychology * | 3 |
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I | 3-4 |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CSCI 215E | Social & Ethical Issues in CS | 3 |
| COMX 140L | Introduction to Visual Rhetoric | 3 |
| M 115 | Probability and Linear Mathematics | 3-4 |
| PHSX 105N | Fundamentals of Physical Science * | 3 |
| PSYX 230 | Developmental Psychology * | 3 |
| Complete Intradepartmental Transfer to Mountain Campus | ||
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Autumn | ||
| CSD 110 | Foundations of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology | 3 |
| CSD 210 | Speech & Language Development | 3 |
| CSD 222 | Introduction to Sound and Hearing * | 3 |
| CSD 320 | Clinical Phonetics | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| CSD 205 | Clinical Application and Observations in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology | 2 |
| CSD 305 | Clinical Applications of Language Science * | 3 |
| CSD 345 | Developmental Communication Disorders 1 | 3 |
| CSD 365 | Acquired Communication and Swallowing Disorders | 3 |
| STAT 216 | Introduction to Statistics * | 4 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 57-59 | |
- *
Applies to the Communicative Sciences and Disorders B.A.
- 1
Previously CSD 265
Last Updated Fall 2025
Two Year Plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Hours | |
| ANTY 101H or NASX 105H |
Anthropology & the Human Experience or Introduction to Native American Studies |
3 |
| BIOB 101N | Discover Biology * | 3 |
| COMX 111A | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| PSYX 100S | Intro to Psychology * | 3 |
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I | 3-4 |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CSCI 215E | Social & Ethical Issues in CS | 3 |
| COMX 140L | Introduction to Visual Rhetoric | 3 |
| M 115 | Probability and Linear Mathematics | 3-4 |
| PHSX 105N | Fundamentals of Physical Science * | 3 |
| PSYX 230 | Developmental Psychology * | 3 |
| Complete Intradepartmental Transfer to Mountain Campus | ||
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Summer | ||
| CSD 205 | Clinical Application and Observations in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology | 2 |
| CSD 365 | Acquired Communication and Swallowing Disorders | 3 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Autumn | ||
| CSD 110 | Foundations of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology | 3 |
| CSD 210 | Speech & Language Development | 3 |
| CSD 222 | Introduction to Sound and Hearing *1 | 3 |
| CSD 320 | Clinical Phonetics | 3 |
| CSD 330 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Swallowing Mechanism | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CSD 305 | Clinical Applications of Language Science * | 3 |
| CSD 345 | Developmental Communication Disorders 2 | 3 |
| PSYX 120 | Introduction to Psychological Research Methods *3 | 3 |
| STAT 216 | Introduction to Statistics * | 4 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 63-65 | |
- *
Applies to the Communicative Sciences and Disorders B.A.
- 1
Offered online in the Fall only
- 2
Previously CSD 265
- 3
PSYX 120 not required but offered for students who need to be full time.
Last Updated Fall 2025