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. Courses and field work are designed to achieve the integration of academic and clinical experiences. Unique among MS programs, upon completion, all students in the MS 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 MS program can lead to the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the ASHA and licensure as a speech-language pathologist.1 They are also eligible to complete the ASHA CF, apply for New York State licensure, and the New York Teacher for 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
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 and is expected to increase in the future.
Special Opportunities
Summer Abroad in Lund, Sweden
The Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders offers a summer study-abroad program in Lund, Sweden, for post-baccalaureate and master’s-level students in speech-language pathology. The summer study abroad program is an approximately 3-week experience during which students take coursework with NYU faculty at Lund University. Sweden is known for its state-of-the-art approaches to speech science and speech-disorder remediation. Housed in the Department of Logopedics and Phoniatrics of Lund University, the program combines lectures with direct enrichment activities and draws on the expertise of Lund University speech-language pathologists, linguists, and physicians.
January Abroad in Accra, Ghana
The Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders has added a January study abroad experience at the NYU Accra global campus in Accra, Ghana. During this 10–14 day trip to West Africa, students will complete the Multicultural Issues in Communicative Sciences and Disorders course while engaging with professionals in the local community. Site visits may include public and private hospitals, public and private schools, care centers, and other cultural centers (e.g., markets, historic sites). Students will interact with professionals and community members and learn about SLP service provision, healthcare, and education in Ghana.
Academic Prerequisites
Students who enter the MS program must have completed a bachelor’s degree, with a major in communicative sciences and disorders or another subject area. Students are required to master introductory knowledge and to complete specific foundation courses prior to beginning graduate-level courses.
Additional core courses are also required to fulfill requirements for ASHA certification and New York State licensure. These courses do not carry graduate units towards the required 48 MS degree units.
There are two ways to meet the foundational requirements for courses specific to the MS degree:
- The foundational courses may be taken at another university before the student begins the program at NYU Steinhardt. All courses must be completed within 10 years prior to the first day of the fall term.
- The foundational courses may be taken online through Speech @ NYU (the distance education modality of the MS program) once the student begins the MS program. Students may not take courses at another university for transfer units into the program at NYU Steinhardt after they begin the graduate CSD program.
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. In addition, students must demonstrate that they have mastered the information in the required prerequisite courses through one of the following mechanisms:
- By earning a grade of C or higher in foundation courses taken at another university, if not as part of a completed major or post-baccalaureate program within the last 10 years
- By completing an undergraduate major in CSD/SLP or the equivalent, or a post-baccalaureate program in CSD within the last 10 years
- Through completing the course(s) at NYU Steinhardt. Students must earn a C or better in each foundation course taken at NYU Steinhardt or they will be required to take the course again
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 (the distance education modality of the MS program) alongside selected graduate-level coursework.
Students must complete all foundational course work prior to entering the practicum sequence. Students may take foundational courses concurrently with approved graduate-level courses. These will be indicated on the student’s plan of study.
Unless otherwise indicated, all of the above prerequisite courses are necessary for ASHA certification and state licensure. In addition, students must have transcript units for each of the following areas: biological sciences, physics/chemistry, behavioral sciences, social sciences, and statistics for a total of at least 12 units for ASHA certification and for the MS degree. Students must also complete 2 prerequisite units in a language other than English. These prerequisite courses do not carry graduate units for the MS degree.
Accreditation
The master of science (MS) 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 or 301-296-5700.
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
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| CSCD-GE 2000 | M. S. Student Seminar | 0 |
| TCHL-GE 2999 | Drug, Alcohol Ed/Child Abuse ID/School Violence/DASA: | 0 |
| CSCD-GE 2125 | Spch SCI:Instrumentation | 2 |
| CSCD-GE 2109 | Critical Eval of Research in Communicative Sciences and Disorders | 2 |
| CSCD-GE 2016 | Motor Speech Disorders | 3 |
| CSCD-GE 2021 | Adult Lang Disorders | 3 |
| CSCD-GE 2025 | Culturally Responsive Practices II: The Educational Context | 2 |
| CSCD-GE 2028 | Developmental Stuttering and Other Fluency Disorders | 3 |
| CSCD-GE 2035 | | 3 |
| CSCD-GE 2037 | Voice Disorders | 3 |
| CSCD-GE 2039 | Language Disorders in Preschool Children | 3 |
| CSCD-GE 2060 | Dysphagia in Children & Adults | 3 |
| CSCD-GE 2075 | Principles/Intervention With Sp-Lang Disorder | 2 |
| CSCD-GE 2108 | Speech Sound Disorders in Children | 3 |
| CSCD-GE 2141 | Culturally Responsive Practices I: Healthcare Settings & the Global Context | 2 |
| 8 |
| Clinical Practicum I: Pre-Clinic | |
| Clinical Practicum II: Diagnostic Assessment | |
| Clinical Practicum III: Treatment | |
| Field Placement Practicum IV: Pediatrics | |
| Field Placement Practicum V: Adults | |
| Field Placement Practicum VI | |
| 3-6 |
| |
| |
| |
| Total Credits | 48 |
Program Details
Students must complete 48 graduate credits beyond a recognized bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology or the equivalent preparation (see Academic Prerequisites). Individual needs for ASHA certification or New York State licensure may require additional credits. Students require a minimum of five full semesters to complete MS requirements. All coursework must be approved by the graduate adviser.
Academic Standards
All master’s candidates must maintain an average grade point average of 3.0 or higher throughout the program. Students must successfully complete the terminal experience for the degree (see below) and maintain good academic standing as defined by departmental standards throughout their time in the program.
Practicum Courses and Requirements (8 credits)
The clinical practicums provide the clinical experiences necessary to integrate theory and practice. In addition to acquiring the clinical hours needed for ASHA certification and New York State licensure, students are exposed to various aspects of the field such as in-service and interdisciplinary conferences, report writing, therapeutic intervention, diagnostic evaluations, and contact with experienced clinicians. Students’ clinical experiences include a variety of clinical settings, client populations, backgrounds, and age groups. Graduate students complete a minimum of five semesters of clinical practicum.
For Students in the Residential Modality
The first three semesters of clinical education are completed in the on-campus clinic. The first two semesters focus on the clinical diagnostic processes, and the third semester focuses on treatment. Following the successful completion of the on-campus practicum in the NYU CSD Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, students are placed off campus for two semesters in Practicum IV and V. Typically, the first clinical field placement is in a pediatric setting, and the second is in an adult care setting.
For Students in the Distance-Education Modality
The first two semesters of clinical education focus on clinical diagnostic processes and are accompanied by clinical immersion experiences. Following the successful completion of the first two clinical semesters, students are placed off campus for three semesters. Typically, the first clinical field placement is in a pediatric or mixed setting, the second is in a pediatric setting, and the third is in an adult care setting.
Clinical Hours
All students are required to complete a minimum of 375 supervised direct clinical contact hours and 25 observation hours for a total minimum of 400 clinical hours. If students have not completed the necessary clock hours following the five clinical education placements indicated above, a sixth placement is required. Students must complete observation hours prior to entering the practicum sequence and engaging in direct client contact.
Field Placements
Field placements require full-time, daytime attendance over a 12–16 week semester. Students are required to earn a grade of B or better to successfully complete the practicum experience. Please be advised that field placements, and state/city agencies that issue licenses for practice in this field of study, each may require applicants/students to undergo general and criminal background checks, the results of which the facility or agency must find acceptable. NYU Steinhardt will not be responsible if students are unable to complete program requirements or cannot obtain a license to practice in their field because of the results of such background checks. Some fieldwork placement facilities in this field of study may not be available to students in some states due to local legal prohibitions.
Terminal Experience
Students may choose from two options to meet the comprehensive examination requirement for the Master of Science degree. The first option is to earn a passing score of 162 or greater on the PRAXIS Examination in Speech-Language Pathology (0331) offered by ETS and recognized by ASHA. The second way to meet the terminal experience is for master’s students to conduct a research project in place of the comprehensive examination.
Bilingual Extension Program
The Bilingual Extension Program (BEP) provides students with the academic and clinical requirements to apply for bilingual certification in New York State. Participating students are prepared with the foundational academic and clinical knowledge to practice culturally and linguistically responsive practices when assessing and treating emerging multilingual individuals, ages 3–21 years. Upon completion of all Master of Science in SLP and Bilingual Extension coursework, students are eligible for both the Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD) certificate and its Bilingual Extension (BE).
Academic and Clinical Requirements
When admitted into the Bilingual Extension Track, you complete courses and clinical requirements in tandem with the coursework leading to your Master’s in Communicative Sciences and Disorders. The Bilingual Extension Track does not require enrollment in additional credits beyond those required for the MS degree. The BE Track covers required areas of knowledge in multilingualism, equity, and social justice as required by NYS Education Department. Students are also required to earn at least 50 direct clinical contact hours in diagnostic and/or treatment with a pediatric bilingual population (ages 3-21 years) under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist with their TSSLD-BE. Students complete these 50 hours as part of the 400 direct clinical hours required for the MS degree.
Gaining Certification
In addition to these academic and clinical requirements, students are required to register with TEACH NYC to complete the Bilingual Education Assessment (BEA) in their target language (other than English) either during or upon immediate completion of the academic and clinical requirements of the BEP. A passing score on the BEA is a prerequisite to receive the Bilingual Extension (BE) certificate from the New York State Education Department.
Sample Plan of Study
Plan of Study Grid
| 1st Semester/Term |
|---|
| 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 Lang Disorders |
3 |
| CSCD-GE 2141 |
Culturally Responsive Practices I: Healthcare Settings & the Global Context |
2 |
| CSCD-GE 2028 |
Developmental Stuttering and Other Fluency Disorders |
3 |
| CSCD-GE 2000 |
M. S. Student Seminar () |
0 |
| | Credits | 16 |
| 2nd Semester/Term |
|---|
| CSCD-GE 2115 |
Clinical Practicum II: Diagnostic Assessment |
2 |
| CSCD-GE 2075 |
Principles/Intervention With Sp-Lang Disorder |
2 |
| CSCD-GE 2109 |
Critical Eval of Research in Communicative Sciences and Disorders |
2 |
| CSCD-GE 2125 |
Spch SCI:Instrumentation |
2 |
| CSCD-GE 2025 |
Culturally Responsive Practices II: The Educational Context |
2 |
| CSCD-GE 2037 |
Voice Disorders |
3 |
| CSCD-GE 2060 |
Dysphagia in Children & Adults |
3 |
| TCHL-GE 2999 |
Drug, Alcohol Ed/Child Abuse ID/School Violence/DASA: |
0 |
| CSCD-GE 2000 |
M. S. Student Seminar () |
0 |
| | Credits | 16 |
| 3rd Semester/Term |
|---|
| CSCD-GE 2116 |
Clinical Practicum III: Treatment |
2 |
| CSCD-GE 2016 |
Motor Speech Disorders |
3 |
| CSCD-GE 2035 |
|
3 |
| CSCD-GE 2000 |
M. S. Student Seminar () |
0 |
| | Credits | 8 |
| 4th Semester/Term |
|---|
| CSCD-GE 2117 |
Field Placement Practicum IV: Pediatrics |
1 |
|
2 |
|
2 |
| CSCD-GE 2000 |
M. S. Student Seminar () |
0 |
| | Credits | 5 |
| 5th Semester/Term |
|---|
| CSCD-GE 2118 |
Field Placement Practicum V: Adults |
1 |
|
2 |
| CSCD-GE 2000 |
M. S. Student Seminar () |
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:
- Explain human communication and swallowing processes, including their biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, linguistic, social and cultural bases.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Integrate research principles in evidence-based clinical practice.
- Explain human communication and swallowing processes, including their biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, linguistic, social and cultural bases.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Integrate research principles in evidence-based clinical practice.
Policies
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.