GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Graduate Degree Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers degree programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Communication Sciences. The master’s programs are accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech Pathology.

The M.S. program has specializations in speech-language pathology, and audiology. The Ph.D. program in speech-language pathology has two specializations in child language disorders and adult neurological disorders.

Special Admission Requirements
All applicants for the master's and Ph.D. programs must include in their application a letter of intent stating their career goals and objectives. Three letters of recommendation must be submitted, two of which must be from persons with the doctoral degree. It is preferable that the recommendations come from persons familiar with the student’s academic work. The most recent Graduate Record Examination scores must also be submitted. Master's degree applicants must have a GPA of 3.2, and Ph.D. degree applicants must have a GPA of 3.5.

M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology

NOTE: The Masters in Audiology program is no longer available.

Students wishing to specialize in speech-language pathology or audiology who have not previously earned a bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology/audiology are admitted provisionally as graduate students until they have completed the following undergraduate prerequisites: CSD2 - 241, 261, 262, 361, 362, 361, 367, 467, 468, and 469. Students with bachelor's degrees in speech-language pathology or audiology must have completed these same prerequisites, as well as courses in statistics and aural rehabilitation upon entry to the program, or take these courses during graduate study.

Degree Requirements
In addition to the credit hours of course work required in each specialization, all master's students must complete 6 credit hours of research core courses including COSD 591, and 592 (for students electing to write a thesis) or COSD 594 (for students electing not to write a thesis). Students electing the non-thesis option must successfully complete a 5-hour written comprehensive examination.

M.S. in Communication Science (Speech-Language Pathology)

NOTE: The Masters in Audiology program is no longer available.

Students in speech-language pathology may select one of the following specialization tracks: Educational, Hospital, Technology or Research. All students complete a minimum of 57 credit hours, including the 6 credit hours of core requirements. Students in speech-language pathology take a minimum of 50 credits of common courses including COSD 561, 563, 567, 571, 573, 577, 578, 580, 581, 584, 608, 609, 611, and 7-8 hours in their specialization. Students specializing in the educational track take the following courses: COSD 559, 560, 564, 568 or 589. Students specializing in the hospital track take the following courses: COSD 569, 570 and 611. Students specializing in the technology track take the following courses: COSD 559 or 560, 564 and 589. Students specializing in the research track take the following courses: COSD 559 or 560, 592, PSYCH 225, 240 and a course in statistics.

M.S. in Communication Science (Audiology)

NOTE: The Masters in Audiology program is no longer available.

All students complete a minimum of 48 credit hours, including the 6 credit hours of core requirements. Students in audiology take the 42 remaining hours in the audiology specialization including COSD 561, 562, 576, 580, 581, 583, 584, 585, 586, 680, 681, and 770.
     Each student is required to complete 375 clock hours of clinical practicum as specified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. A maximum of 100 hours may be accepted from a supervised undergraduate practicum. Some of the required practicum hours may be obtained through laboratory sections attached to clinical speech, language, and hearing courses. The remaining hours must be obtained through assignments arranged by the Chief Coordinator of Clinical Education. There is no language requirement.

Doctor of Philosophy
Students must enroll in a minimum of 48 hours beyond the master's degree (or its equivalent) to be distributed as follows: 12 credit hours of core requirements (COSD 701, 702, 703 and 759); 15-18 credit hours of doctoral seminars from the selected area of specialization; 12 credit hours of dissertation; and 6-9 credit hours of cognate courses. The following doctoral seminars are taken by all students: COSD 708 and 757. Students specializing in child language disorders take the following courses: COSD 762 and 772. Students specializing in adult neurological disorders take the following courses: COSD 764, 768 and 771.
     There is a language requirement which may be satisfied by demonstrating proficiency in a foreign language, in computer science, or in sign language communication. Students are required to take cognate courses in other departments, subject to the approval of the Graduate Affairs Committee of the Department.