is anyone a speech pathologist?

I am really considering going back to get a second masters in speech pathology. I am currently taking the rest of the school year off (I had my son in November) and I wanted to take some classes this semester. I have a 19 month old, and a 2 month old at home. Am I crazy?

How hard was the curriculum? Also, is there any place that offers at least some online courses?

My undergrad is in Elementary Ed, and my masters is in Literacy. I am a reading teacher now. I would really be doing this to work on the side. I wanted to originally do it as my masters, but it was so many credits, that I decided against it

Re: is anyone a speech pathologist?

i'm not, but i am a special ed. teacher and work with all speech-impaired kids and i work intimately with the Speech pathologist at my school. it's a LONG program... i was thinking of going back as well, but decided against it because it's such a beefy program and working in special ed. those are the kids i work with anyways.... its a great field though and you can do a lot of EI work and private work in addition to something in a school.

Re: is anyone a speech pathologist?

ME!

The programs are very difficult and involved. Most of them can't be done part-time for at least 1 year of the 2-year program because you'll need to take 5 classes and do an externship (basically normal working hours) also.

I went to Hunter and don't really know much about the other programs.

IMO it's totally worth it. I love my job and there are so many options as to where you can work once you have your degree.

Re: is anyone a speech pathologist?

you can do a lot of EI work and private work in addition to something in a school.


This is true for SPED teachers as well, which is what I do. Have you considered getting another masters is sped birth through second grade? This was 36 credits at Hofstra and I believe 46 at Queens College.

Re: is anyone a speech pathologist?

i am! its definitely a heavy program... and i don't think it can be done part time. the masters program was 2 years, including a summer. one year was classes, and the next year was basically all interships. we had to do 3 different internships in different settings ( school, hospital, EI, rehab center, etc.) these internships weren't paid, so that made things tough.
you would probably need at least a year of prerequisite classes on top of all that, too.
BUT with all that said.. i am SOOO glad i did it, and LOVE my job! i also love the options it gives me- i can work at a school like i do now, i could do EI with preschool aged kids in their homes, i could work in a nursing home with stroke patients, at a hospital doing swallowing studies.... there are a TON of options. its not all just about fixing lisps or "Elmer Fudd" R sounds and its so rewarding to be able to help people be able to communicate better. AND the field is very in demand right now, so the job prospects are great. and even working part time somewhere would pay well... i think speech therapists who own their own private practices can earn over $100 an hour!
i went to school in NJ so i can't really help with any programs in NY... but feel free to ask me any general questions you might have about the feild!