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Russell Sage College has received New York State Education Department approval to launch a Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, bringing Speech-Language Pathology education back to the Capital Region after the closure of The College of Saint Rose. Students can apply now for fall 2025 admission.
The college also plans to launch a graduate program in the field in 2029-2030, pending NYS Education Department and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) approval. It would allow undergraduate students who have completed the program to have a strong local option to continue their graduate studies – a necessary step to licensure – at Russell Sage.
“The addition of a Speech-Language Pathology program meets a critical workforce need and rounds out our incredible suite of majors in the health professions, which is the most comprehensive in the region,” said Russell Sage College President Matthew Shaftel. “The faculty who developed this program are respected throughout the field for their work. We’re fortunate to have them bring their wealth of experience to our students.”
Three longtime Saint Rose communication sciences and disorders professors – Julie Hart, Jack Pickering, and David DeBonis – have brought their expertise to the college and began making an impact in July with the opening of the Speech and Language Center at Russell Sage, located on the Albany campus. The center includes The Aphasia Center, which supports those with difficulty communicating after strokes, brain injuries, or other neurological conditions, and the Gender-Affirming Voice Program, which helps those in transition modify their voices to match their identities.
The Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program will provide students a foundation in basic communication and swallowing processes, speech-language pathology, and audiology. Clinical practice and community service opportunities will round out students’ educational experiences and prepare them for success in a master’s degree program that can lead to licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist.
Demand for SLPs is rising. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth of 21% through 2031.