A speech pathology online degree is often offered at the higher degree level.

Speech therapists help people who have disorders with their vocal systems by rehabilitating and treating their conditions. Various institutions offer both bachelors' degree and master's speech pathology online degree programs , but they are mostly at the higher degree level. More often than not speech-language pathology online programs are generally offered at the master's level. This is so because the undergraduate programs need a lot of physical emphasis so that students can have a firm foundation on what the field entails unlike the master's program where students already have a clue of what speech language pathology is all about.

Master's in speech-language pathology online degree programs explore areas like the physiology and development of parts of the body involved in speech, acoustic principles, disorders that inhibit or prevent speech and swallowing and the psychological aspects of communication. The pre-requisite for enrollment to a masters program preferably in the biological sciences or communication science is a 3.0 or better grade point average.

All courses in an online master's in speech-language pathology online degree programs can be completed entirely online. Some programs allow students to schedule internships in their own localities. Online sessions consist of assigned readings, chat sessions and audio and video lectures. All materials are accessible to students at their own convenience but chat sessions occur at scheduled times. A master's degree in speech pathology is completed in two solid years.

A personal computer that has a web browser, fast internet access and headsets are the minimal technical requirements to participate in an online program. Some programs recommend the use of webcams to facilitate videoconferencing.

The speech-language pathology online degree at masters level is divided into set of core courses and electives. Core courses tend to address fundamentals of the discipline. These include phonetics course, counseling methods course, neurology of speech course and speech and swallowing disorders course.

Phonetics course gives a general view of the acoustics and articulation of spoken American English. Counseling methods course provides students with interviewing and counseling techniques used in speech therapy. Neurology of speech course examines the structure, organization and function of the central and peripheral nervous system that support speech, language and hearing. Lastly, Speech and swallowing disorders course enlightens students in current clinical research and theory on the causes of speech and swallowing disorders and possible treatment approaches for them.

An online master's degree in speech-language pathology therefore prepares graduates to be speech language pathologists also known as speech therapists or speech pathologists