MS in Communication Disorders
Emerson College
Key Information
Campus location
Boston, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 1,402 / per credit *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
05 Sep 2024
* additional fees may apply. Scholarships are available
Introduction
97%of students are employed post-graduation | 99%of our students passed their Praxis on their first attempt |
Ranked among the top graduate programs of its kind nationwide by U.S. News & World Report, our renowned Master of Sciences (MS) program in Communication Disorders, will provide you with the academic and hands-on clinical experience to make an impact on the lives of people living with speech, language, swallowing, and hearing disorders.
The course of study is designed to fulfill the requirements of the American Speech-Language and Hearing (ASHA) Certification. During the program, you will have the chance to apply developmental, cognitive, psychosocial, behavioral, and medical models to the assessment and treatment of a broad range of communication delays and disorders.
Emerson’s Communication Disorders MS is designed for students looking to leave a positive impact on the world. You will be exposed to a variety of clients with speech and language disorders and diverse populations that will prepare you for a wide range of career opportunities.
Program highlights include:
- No GRE requirements
- Classes are offered day & night to fit your clinical schedule
- Exceptional clinical opportunities through more than 120 external placements and our on-campus facility, the Robbins Center
- Hands-on experience working with different age groups ranging from infants to elder populations
- Participation in faculty research in our state-of-the-art CSD Research Suite
- Living in the dynamic city of Boston, home to world-renowned medical centers, research institutions, and biotech companies
- A close-knit community of faculty and students collaborating in a small college environment
- Top scholars, clinicians, and educators in your field who will challenge and support you as you approach graduation and beyond
Faculty
The Communications Disorders MA is guided by our exceptionally committed faculty who are here to help you succeed.
The Robbins Center
The Robbins Center is the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders on-campus primary clinical training facility. Here you will learn to provide evaluation and treatment to a wide variety of clients including children, adults, and their caregivers.
Clinical Placements
During clinical practice, you will have opportunities to participate in multiple clinical settings while evaluating and treating a wide variety of culturally and linguistically diverse individuals. Clinical placement settings include:
- Robbins Center
- Early intervention programs
- Public and private schools
- Private practices
- Acute care and rehabilitation hospitals
Your first clinical placement will be on-campus in the Robbins Center where you will participate in one of the specialty programs devoted to children and adults with communication disorders, such as Aphasia, developmental speech, language or learning disorders, and stuttering.
Before the end of your second year, you will take a written comprehensive examination in communication disorders (administered twice per year) or complete a thesis.
Throughout your time in the program, you’ll be compiling a portfolio reflecting the integration of your academic and clinical work.
Typical Semester Format
- 3 academic courses (3 credits each)
- 1 clinical methods course (1 credit each)
- 1 clinical practicum (1 credit each)
Research Opportunities
The program takes advantage of Emerson’s technologically enhanced classrooms and laboratories, the on-campus Robbins Speech-Language and Hearing Center, as well as a wide variety of off-campus community clinical sites.
The Robbins Center is an active outpatient community clinic. Facilities include:
- Individual and group treatment rooms for children and adults, each outfitted for digital recording for remote recording/viewing
- Student clinician preparation room
- Augmentative and alternative communication laboratory
- Voice analysis lab
- Audiological testing booth
On-campus clinical experiences are enhanced by access to iPads, clinical applications, and a wide array of the most current testing and treatment materials.
The CSD Research Suite offers you the opportunity to partner with the department’s faculty to gain research experience in our cutting-edge laboratory facilities.
Praxis Pass Rate
The Praxis examination is a national examination administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service) and is taken by our program graduates in order to qualify for ASHA certification, as well as licensure in many states.
99% of our students passed the examination on their first attempt*
*over the past three years
Current Emerson Undergraduate Applicants
We are proud to offer an early admission deadline and application fee waiver to current graduating seniors. Undergraduate students of any major are encouraged to apply.
Dates to Know
- The early admission deadline is November 1
- Applicants will be notified in December if they received early admission.
- Applicants who do not receive early admission will still be considered for regular admission with no further action required.
Admission Requirements
- Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 3.3 to apply.
- Undergraduate student application requirements are the same as the regular admissions requirements stated above except for the letters of recommendation, which are outlined below.
- Letters of recommendation requirements:
- Current Emerson CSD Students: 2 letters of recommendation. Your recommenders must be from the Emerson CSD program.
- All other Emerson Undergraduate Students: 3 letters of recommendation. 2 of your recommenders must be from Emerson faculty.
- Recommendations may be emailed to [email protected] or sent to Office of Graduate Admission, Walker 530, 120 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
Admissions
Curriculum
Curriculum Requirements
Our 54-credit curriculum, with the option to add up to 18 credits of foundational coursework, is designed with each student’s unique prior experience in mind. Whether you have an undergraduate background in Communication Sciences and Disorders or have no prior experience in the field, we will work with you to tailor your curriculum based on your academic needs.
The curriculum is a combination of:
- 18 credits of foundational coursework
- 54 credits of applied coursework
- 42 credits of academic coursework
- 4 credits of clinical methods
- 5 credits of clinical practicum
- 3 credits of intersession courses
Foundational Courses
We require completion of the following undergraduate courses (within 5 years) before starting the 54 credits of applied coursework.
- Courses can be completed as part of your bachelor’s degree or at any institution (online or in-person).
- Courses must be approved with a grade of B or better.
- You are not required to complete these courses by the time you apply, but they must be completed by the time the applied coursework for the program begins in the fall.
- Emerson offers all foundational coursework for admitted students in the summer in an online, accelerated format:
- Students who enroll in at least 2 foundational courses through Emerson will be able to apply their Federal Financial Aid package to their foundational coursework.
Code | Course | Description | Credits |
CD 625 | Structures and Functions for Speech, Hearing, and Swallowing | Covers anatomy and physiology of the speech, language, swallowing, and hearing mechanisms | 3 |
CD 626 | Language Development | Covers language development from birth to adulthood | 3 |
CD 627 | Survey of Communication Disorders Across the Lifespan | Introduces students to the broad range of speech, language, hearing disorders across the lifespan | 3 |
CD 629 | Speech Sounds: Phonetics and Acoustics | Combines phonetics and speech science | 3 |
CD 630 | Foundations of Audiology | An introductory course in audiological assessment and disorders of hearing | 3 |
Applied Coursework
Speech-Language Pathology Program (On-Ground)
Plan of Study Effective 2022–2023
May Graduates
First Year Fall | First Year Spring | First Year Summer |
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Second Year Fall | Second Year Spring | |
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August Graduates
First Year Fall | First Year Spring | First Year Summer |
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Second Year Fall | Second Year Spring | Second Year Summer |
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The course sequence is slightly different this year (2021–2022) as we are transitioning to this new sequence.
*CD 600 is only required if you begin the program without 25 hours of clinical observation. It is a non-tuition course.
Scholarships and Funding
Financial Aid
Emerson College is proud to offer students and families financial aid options and resources. For a full list of our financial aid offerings, visit our Financial Aid page.
Scholarships
Upon applying to an Emerson Graduate Program, the Graduate Admission team automatically reviews every accepted student’s scholarship eligibility. For more information about scholarships, please visit our Scholarships & Grants page.
1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Speech-Language Pathologists, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm
2Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Speech-Language Pathologists, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm
3Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Speech-Language Pathologists, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Career Outlook
Students interested in a career in Speech-Language Pathology can anticipate competitive salaries and a healthy job market.
- In May 2019 the median salary for Speech-Language Pathologists was $79,1201
- Employment for Speech-Language Pathologists is projected to grow 25% from 2019–20292
- Speech-Language Pathologists can find work in a variety of fields including educational services, hospitals, nursing, and residential care facilities, physical, occupational, audiology, and speech therapy offices, and self-employment3
Student Testimonials
Program Tuition Fee
English Language Requirements
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