Communicative Sciences and Disorders (MS)

Department Website

Program Description

The Master of Science program in Communicative Sciences and Disorders prepares graduates to be eligible for professional licensure as a speech-language pathologist. The program provides a broad-based and comprehensive education in both the theoretical and practical aspects of communicative sciences and disorders (CSD). Courses and field work are designed to achieve the integration of academic and clinical experiences. Unique among Master of Science programs, upon completion, all students in the Master of Science will graduate with a solid foundation in culturally responsive practices in the field.

Graduates of the program are prepared to make informed diagnostic judgments, as well as plan and execute a program of therapeutic management for persons with communication and swallowing impairments.
Accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), successful completion of this Master of Science program can lead to the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the ASHA and licensure as a speech-language pathologist.¹ Graduates are also eligible to complete the ASHA CF and apply for New York State licensure and for the New York Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD) certification. Some students may also elect to complete an optional track that leads to eligibility for the bilingual extension (BE) to the New York State TSSLD certificate.¹

¹

State Licensure and CCC eligibility have additional requirements beyond degree completion (i.e., licensure exams, clinical fellowships, etc.). For more information see the program's professional licensure website.  

Study Abroad

The Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders offers a summer study-abroad program in Lund, Sweden, which is a 2-week experience during which students take coursework with NYU faculty at Lund University. Past cohorts in the Master of Science program have traveled to Accra, Ghana for spring break, while studying culturally responsive practices in the profession. Some students may engage in interdisciplinary study away opportunities offered through education and other allied health departments within Steinhardt. Study Abroad opportunities are not guaranteed and may change semester to semester based on course availability and scheduling needs.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program have found employment opportunities as speech-language pathologists in hospitals, clinics, schools, rehabilitation centers, private practices, as administrators of clinical facilities, and as faculty and administrators in the university setting. The current need for well-prepared speech-language pathologists is extensive.

Academic Prerequisites

Students who enter the Master of Science program must have completed a bachelor’s degree, and are required to demonstrate mastery of foundational knowledge. This can be accomplished by one of the following:

1. completing an undergraduate major or post-baccalaureate certificate in CSD within the last 10 years.
2. taking individual foundational courses at another institution prior to beginning the graduate program at NYU and earning a C or better within the last 10 years. Once a student has started the program, they may not take courses at other institutions for transfer credit.
3. taking foundational/prerequisite coursework through the Speech@NYU distance education modality at the start of your Master of Science program at NYU and earning a C or better in each course

NYU Steinhardt’s graduate program will certify to ASHA that the requirements for clinical certification have been met. Thus, the faculty must be convinced that the courses taken elsewhere are equivalent in breadth, depth, and rigor to courses at NYU Steinhardt. 

Students are required to submit the appropriate documentation to the department to ensure that the content of their completed course work is sufficient in terms of breadth and depth. This includes a thorough review of the course syllabus by department faculty. Students may also be asked to provide information pertaining to the course texts, exams, notes, and at times to have a one-on-one discussion with faculty to demonstrate working knowledge of the information in a foundation course in order to determine course equivalency. Courses for which equivalence cannot be established will be added to a student’s plan of study and completed online through Speech@NYU. 

Students must complete all foundational course work prior to entering the practicum sequence. Students may take foundational courses concurrently with certain approved graduate-level courses. These will be indicated on the student’s plan of study.

CSD Foundation Courses

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
CSCD-GE 2002	Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Swallowing Mechanism	2
CSCD-GE 2003	Neurological Bases of Cognition, Behavior and Communication	2
CSCD-GE 2004	Introduction to Audiology and Aural Rehabilitation	2
CSCD-GE 2006	Phonetics	2
CSCD-GE 2007	Science of Language	2
CSCD-GE 2008	Language Development and Disorders in Children	2
CSCD-GE 2009	Speech Development and Disorders in Children	2
Total Credits		14

Unless otherwise indicated, all of the above foundations/prerequisite courses are necessary for ASHA certification and state licensure.

Additional non-CSD courses are also required to fulfill requirements for ASHA certification and New York State licensure, and therefore, to graduate from the Master of Science program. These courses do not carry graduate credits towards the required 48 Master of Science degree credits, and are not offered by the department/program. Students must have transcript credits for each of the following areas: biological sciences, physics/chemistry, behavioral sciences, social sciences, and statistics for a total of at least 12 credits. 

Accreditation

The Master of Science education program in speech-language pathology (residential and distance education) at New York University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association:

2200 Research Boulevard, #310
Rockville, MD 20850
800-498-2071
301-296-5700

Licensure

Graduates of the residential program will meet the academic requirements for licensure in the State of New York.

Graduates of the online program will meet the academic requirements for licensure in the State in which the student is located at the time of initial enrollment, or, alternatively, in a State where a student attests they intend to seek employment. You may consult our Licensure page for more information on state-specific requirements. Pursuant to federal regulations, programs that prepare students for occupations requiring State licensure must meet those requirements for each State in which a student is located, or, alternatively, in a State where a student attests they intend to seek employment. To comply with such requirements, NYU may create an individualized plan of study in order to meet certain State specific requirements, or require that students take certain State-required courses in lieu of electives. NYU will provide information about these requirements to these students at the time of enrollment.

Admissions

Admission to graduate programs in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development requires the following minimum components:

• Résumé/CV
• Statement of Purpose
• Letters of Recommendation
• Transcripts
• Proficiency in English

See NYU Steinhardt's Graduate Admissions website for additional information on school-wide admission. Some programs may require additional components for admissions.

See How to Apply for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.

Program Requirements

Program Details

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid

1st Semester/Term		Credits
CSCD-GE 2111	Clinical Practicum I: Pre-Clinic	2
CSCD-GE 2039	Language Disorders in Preschool Children	3
CSCD-GE 2108	Speech Sound Disorders in Children	3
CSCD-GE 2021	Adult Language Disorders	3
CSCD-GE 2141	Culturally Responsive Practices I: Healthcare & Global Context	2
CSCD-GE 2028	Stuttering and Cluttering	3
CSCD-GE 2000	Master of Science Student Seminar (Section 002)	0
	Credits	16
2nd Semester/Term
CSCD-GE 2115	Clinical Practicum II: Diagnostic Assessment	2
CSCD-GE 2075	Principles of Intervention with Speech-Language Disorders	2
CSCD-GE 2109	Critical Evaluation of Research in CSD	2
CSCD-GE 2125	Speech Science: Instrumentation	2
CSCD-GE 2025	Culturally Responsive Practices II: The Educational Context	2
CSCD-GE 2037	Voice Disorders	3
CSCD-GE 2060	Dysphagia in Adults and Children	3
TCHL-GE 2999	Drug, Alcohol Ed/Child Abuse ID/School Violence/DASA:	0
CSCD-GE 2000	Master of Science Student Seminar (Section 003)	0
	Credits	16
3rd Semester/Term
CSCD-GE 2116	Clinical Practicum III: Treatment	2
CSCD-GE 2016	Motor Speech Disorders	3
CSCD-GE 2035	Language Development and Disorders in School-Aged Children	3
CSCD-GE 2000	Master of Science Student Seminar (Section 004)	0
	Credits	8
4th Semester/Term
CSCD-GE 2117	Field Placement Practicum IV: Pediatrics	1
Elective Course		2
Elective Course		2
CSCD-GE 2000	Master of Science Student Seminar (Section 005)	0
	Credits	5
5th Semester/Term
CSCD-GE 2118	Field Placement Practicum V: Adults	1
Elective Course		2
CSCD-GE 2000	Master of Science Student Seminar (Section 006)	0
	Credits	3
	Total Credits	48

This plan of study demonstrates typical course sequencing for students who have completed all required foundational coursework. Variation is possible based on factors related to course availability, enrollment capacities, and students' academic backgrounds and preferences. Additional courses may be required for students who have not met all prerequisite requirements.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:

1. Explain human communication and swallowing processes, including their biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, linguistic, social and cultural bases.
2. Describe the nature of speech, language, hearing, and communication disorders and differences and swallowing disorders, including etiologies, characteristics, anatomical /physiological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural correlates.
3. Demonstrate readiness to apply principles and methods of assessment, and intervention for people with communication and swallowing disorders, including consideration of anatomical/physiological, developmental, linguistic, social and cultural correlates of these disorders.
4. Explain and follow standards of ethical conduct in their practice, including the promotion of culturally and linguistically responsive and sustaining practices, neurodiversity-affirming practices, and advocacy for clients with communication and swallowing disorders and differences.
5. Integrate research principles in evidence-based clinical practice.
6. Explain human communication and swallowing processes, including their biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, linguistic, social and cultural bases.
7. Describe the nature of speech, language, hearing, and communication disorders and differences and swallowing disorders, including etiologies, characteristics, anatomical /physiological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural correlates.
8. Demonstrate readiness to apply principles and methods of assessment, and intervention for people with communication and swallowing disorders, including consideration of anatomical/physiological, developmental, linguistic, social and cultural correlates of these disorders.
9. Explain and follow standards of ethical conduct in their practice, including the promotion of culturally and linguistically responsive and sustaining practices, neurodiversity-affirming practices, and advocacy for clients with communication and swallowing disorders and differences.
10. Integrate research principles in evidence-based clinical practice.

Policies

CSD Departmental Policies

Please review the academic policies of the MS Program in CSD.

Academic Standing

Good Academic Standing

Students are expected to maintain "good” academic standing (GAS) as per the program's GPA and grade policy, outlined below. The Student Progress and Awards Committee (SPAC) works with program leadership, the academic advising team, and faculty on an ongoing basis to uphold the academic and clinical standards of the CSD program. Good Academic Standing means:

1. The student’s term GPA and cumulative GPA is a 3.0 or above.
2. The student has not earned a non-passing grade in any clinical practicum/field placement course (Practicum I-V).

Warning-Probation-Dismissal Sequence¹

When a student is not in good academic standing, the following academic designations are applied:

Academic Warning

Students who fall below GAS will be placed on academic warning in the term that follows the one in which they fell below GAS

Academic Probation

Students who do not meet GAS at the conclusion of the academic warning term will be placed on academic probation in the term that follows the academic warning. Students who earn a non-passing grade in any clinical practicum/field placement course (Practicum I-V) will skip the academic warning stage and be placed directly on academic probation regardless of their GPA. 

Continued Probation

A student on academic probation who earns a term GPA of at least 3.0 but whose cumulative GPA remains below 3.0 will be placed on ‘continued probation’. In the semester immediately following continued probation, the following outcomes are possible: 

• Return to GAS: The student earns both term and cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and has met all other program criteria for GAS
• Continued Probation: The student (again) earns a term GPA of at least 3.0 but whose cumulative GPA still remains below 3.0.
• Dismissal: The student fails to earn a term GPA of 3.0.

Program Dismissal

Students will be recommended for dismissal if:

• The student earns below a passing grade in 2 practicum courses (I-V),
• The student does not meet GPA standards for GAS or qualify for continued probation after the academic probation (see above), and/or
• The student fails to receive a satisfactory grade after 3 attempts in the same course.

¹

A student’s progression in the Academic Warning, Academic (Continued) Probation, Dismissal Sequence is typically based on consecutive semesters. A student may qualify for academic warning and/or academic probation more than once during their time in the program. It is possible for a student to graduate while actively on warning, probation, or continued probation.  

 

Course Repeats​

Standards for Course Repeats

Foundations Courses

If a student earns any grade below a C, the course must be repeated. 

Practicum I-III Courses

If a student earns any grade below a B, the grade is considered non-passing and the course must be repeated.

Practicum IV-V Courses

If a student earns a grade of “fail”, the course must be repeated. These courses use a pass/fail grading system.

CSCD-GE 2075 Principles of Intervention

If a student earns any grade below a B, the course must be repeated. 

All other graduate courses

If a student earns a grade below a C, the course must be repeated. If a prior C or C+ was earned the semester prior, and the student did not successfully complete their required KASA Review during their next term, the course must be repeated.

​General Information on Course Repeats

Students who do not meet the above grade requirements will need to repeat the course. There is a maximum of 2 repeats per course (for a total of 3 course attempts) allowed*. Students will be placed on academic probation if they fail to earn a satisfactory grade on their first repeat and will be recommended for dismissal from the program if they fail to earn a satisfactory grade on their second (final) repeat. If the course does not qualify for KASA Review (see below), the course will need to be repeated. 

Course Repeats in the Practicum Sequence

Students who earn a non-passing grade in any Practicum course (I-V) will be placed on academic probation.  Students who earn 2 non-passing grades in any Practicum course(s) (I-V) will be recommended for academic dismissal.  Students who are terminated from a field placement in Practicums III-V will not be permitted to withdraw (receive a “W”) in the course. 

KASA Review (Grades of C+ or C in graduate-level courses) and course repeats

KASA refers to "Knowledge and Skills Acquisition," with standards established by the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology to help programs track and document student progress toward clinical and academic competencies. Students are expected to meet all KASA standards before graduation. Students who earn a “low passing” grade of C+ or C in particular courses are given the choice of repeating the course or completing KASA review assignments.  KASA Review assignments that are individually tailored to the content areas in which the student demonstrated difficulty. KASA Review assignments are to be completed during the term that follows the one in which the student earned the grade of C+ or C.  A student must successfully complete the KASA Review assignment to demonstrate that they have fulfilled the requirements of the course (if they initially earned a C or C+).

Courses That Do Not Qualify for KASA Review

Foundation courses, Practicum I-III courses , Practicum IV-V courses, and CSCD-GE 2075: Principles of Intervention. See above for grade standards for these courses.

Academic Integrity Infractions

The Department of CSD aligns with Steinhardt’s policies and procedures related to academic integrity. Please refer to the Steinhardt Academic Integrity page for more information. 

Leaves of Absence/Practicum Delay

In order to ensure academic continuity and satisfactory academic progress the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders has adopted the following guidelines around Leaves of Absence and Practicum Delays: 

Leaves of Absence (LOA)

Students are not eligible to take more than 2 LOAs during the duration of their time in the program whether consecutive or non-consecutive.

Practicum Delays

Students are not permitted to delay entry into or continuation in the practicum sequence for more than 2 terms total during their time in the program.

Students who exceed a combined total of 2 LOAs and/or Practicum Delays will be required to submit an appeal letter and Memorandum of Understanding for an additional LOA and/or Practicum Delay. If the appeal is not approved the student will be discontinued from the program. Students who are discontinued and wish to be considered for re-enrollment to the program will be required to reapply to the program. If readmitted, students’ previous coursework will be evaluated and students may be required to repeat previous coursework as deemed necessary by the department faculty. 

Steinhardt’s Committee on Student Progress (COSP)

The Department of CSD’s Student Progress and Awards Committee (SPAC) reviews student performance in relation to departmental academic policies on an ongoing basis. When students meet departmental criteria for dismissal, they will be referred to the Steinhardt Committee on Student Progress (COSP). Referrals for dismissal are reviewed by the COSP, which meets three times per year at the start of each semester. COSP communicates directly with the referred student on process, timelines, outcomes, and appeal procedures.

NYU Policies

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.

Steinhardt Academic Policies

Additional academic policies can be found the Steinhardt academic policies page.