Communication Disorders Masters Degree Programs Pennsylvania

Embark on a rewarding career helping individuals with speech-language pathologies.

Communication and swallowing are critical parts of daily life. With a master's degree in communication disorders from California University of Pennsylvania, you will gain scientific insight into in the full range of communication and swallowing disorders that affect individuals from all age groups, and you will learn how to effectively analyze, diagnose and treat these problems.

This specialized professional training program prepares you for a professional career providing evidence-based clinical services as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) in a variety of settings.

Hands-on clinical contact is essential to job success.

All program students complete:

Clinical rotations in Cal U's on-campus Learning and Language Center Preschool Program and Speech and Hearing Clinic.
Clinical rotations in speech diagnostics and audiologic screenings.
Two different clinical externships at top hospitals, long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation clinics, or public and private schools in western Pennsylvania.

View the department's five year strategic plan.

Request Info Apply Now Visit Campus

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

Top Accreditation
The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in speech-language pathology at California University of Pennsylvania 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.

Cohort Model
Build relationships with fellow students and benefit from networking opportunities. You will progress through this program in a five-semester cohort. Cohorts complete an identical core of required courses that are critical to success as an SLP. Each cohort also completes a unique combination of additional courses geared toward the specialized speech-language pathology services needed by diverse patient populations.

Learn more about applying

Student Outcome Data


Year of Graduation	# of Students	# Completing on time	# Passing Praxis	# Employed within 1 year
2018	24	24 (100%)	24 (100%)	24 (100%)
2017	24	24 (100%)	24 (100%)	24 (100%)
2016	24	24 (100%)	24 (100%)	24 (100%)
3-year average		100%	100%	100%

Degree Benefits

The exceptional benefits of Cal U's master's degree program in communication disorders prepare you for career success.

Close 1:1 mentorship with faculty members, particularly in the University clinical setting.
Complete comprehensive courses led by faculty who maintain active clinical practices that ensure real world application.
Acquire hands-on, evidence-based clinical experience with instruments and procedures used in communication and swallowing intervention.
Over 100 top clinical facilities in the region have contractual relationships with our program.
Opportunities to present graduate-level research at local, state, and national conventions.

Graduate Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be prepared to seek certification as a clinical speech-language pathologist - a career with a diverse range of job settings and high job-growth rates. The vast majority of program graduates find jobs in speech therapy soon after graduation. Our alumni have successful careers working in:

Hospitals and rehabilitation centers.
Long-term care facilities.
Public and private schools.
Outpatient clinics and home-care companies.
Early intervention programs.
Research labs.
Corporations and governmental agencies.

Curriculum, Admission Requirements and Related Programs

This 59-credit accredited master's degree program combines comprehensive academic courses and extensive clinical experiences to provide specialized training in all areas of communication disorders.

Curriculum

View Cohort Sequences | View Course Descriptions

Course	Credits
Area I: Core Courses Required	36
CMD 600 Research and Professional Practice in SLP	3
CMD 701 Language Disorders in Adults	3
CMD 702 Language Disorders in Children	3
CMD 703 Fluency Disorders	3
CMD 705 Voice Disorders	3
CMD 707 Phonology and Articulation	3
CMD 708 Neurology	3
CMD 718 Advanced Audiology for the SLP	3
CMD 765 Dysphagia	3
CMD 766 Traumatic Brain Injury	3
CMD 772 Augmentative and Alternative Communication	3
CMD 785 Seminar in Medical Speech-Language Pathology	3

Area II: Clinical Experiences Required	15
CMD 711 Applied Therapeutic Procedures in Preschool Setting	1 to 3
CMD 712 Applied Therapeutic Procedures in Outpatient Setting	1 to 5
CMD 713 Applied Diagnostic Procedures in Speech Pathology	1 to 3
CMD 714 Applied Audiologic Diagnostics and Rehab Procedures	1 to 3
CMD 715 Applied Therapeutic Procedures in Educational Setting	1 to 3
CMD 716 Applied Neurogenic Procedures in Healthcare Facilities	1 to 3

Area III: Rotating Elective Courses	3
CMD 731 Early Intervention in Speech-Language Pathology	3
CMD 732 Counseling in Speech-Language Pathology	3
CMD 763 Communication Problems of Special Groups	3
CMD 764 Instrumentation in Speech Language Pathology	3
CMD 773 Communication and Diversity	3

Area IV: Research Course Required	2 (min.)
RES 829 Research Project	2
RES 849 Master's Thesis	3 to 6
Total	56

Program Requirements

25 clinical observation hours
375 supervised clinical hours
Successful completion of candidacy
Praxis 5331 passing score

Note: All academic coursework and clinical practicum must be completed before beginning the CF experience. If any coursework or practicum is incomplete, which includes all prerequisites (i.e., basic biology, chemistry or physics, etc.) and core coursework, the hours completed toward your CF experience will not count toward your minimum 1,260 hours. (Retrieved from https://www.asha.org/certification/slpcertification/)

Admission Requirements

Regular Admission Requirements

Bachelor's degree with a GPA of 3.25 or higher
Official transcripts from an accredited undergraduate institution
Three letters of recommendation from someone who can attest to your ability in the field (waived for Cal U CMD undergraduates)
GRE Scores (waived for 2021)
2-3 page personal essay regarding your decision to pursue a master's degree in Communication Disorders
Resume
Course Audit

Conditional Admission Requirements

Conditional Admission may be granted with the following modifications of the Regular Admissions Requirements:

Deficiencies in Pre/Co-requisite courses (up to two maximum terms to satisfy foundation course requirements)

Provisional Admission:
Applicants who have provided unofficial documentation of test scores, prerequisite courses, transcripts or lack of letter(s) of recommendation may be admitted provisionally.

This policy also applies to undergraduate students who apply for graduate admission pending bachelor degree completion. Upon receipt of all official documents, a student will be changed from Provisional Admission to either Regular Admission or Conditional Admission. Provisional Admission students may take classes for one term but will not be eligible for Federal Financial Aid.

Pre/Co Requisite Courses

Applicants may remove deficiencies in the following foundation courses at Cal U or another accredited institution prior to regular admission or after conditional admission:

Anatomy and Physiology
Articulation/Phonology
Introduction to Audiology
Introduction to Communication Disorders
Phonetics
Speech and Language Development
Speech Science

Applicants without a degree in communication disorders will need to complete a minimum of 36 undergraduate credits in communication disorders prior to being considered for graduate admission; 21 of these pre/co-requisite credits must cover the areas listed above.

Admission Deposit
Admission to this program is highly competitive. Students admitted to the program are required to submit a non-refundable $250 deposit. The deposit is due to the university within two weeks of the student accepting the University's offer of admission. When the deposit is not received by the due date, the offer of admission will be withdrawn and offered to another applicant. Please click here to pay this deposit.

How to Apply:

Complete the Graduate School Application Deadline - February 15
Submit the nonrefundable $35 Application Fee
Mail official transcript to:

School of Graduate Studies and Research
California University of Pennsylvania
Box 91
250 University Ave.
California, PA 15419

For additional information:
Email: gradschool@calu.edu
Phone: 724-938-4187

What Can I Do with a Communication Disorders Degree?

Meet Elizabeth Straub, M.S. CCCSLP, a speech-language pathologist at McKeesport School District who has served as president of the Southwestern PA Speech and Hearing Association.

Certification and Licensure

Completion of a master's degree in communication disorders is a major step, but not the only one, to become certified in speech-language pathology. In most clinical practice situations, speech-language pathologists are required to possess one or more of the following:

A Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) issued by the ASHA.
A state license.
A state teaching certificate.

Speech and Hearing Club

Join Cal U's chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association. Membership benefits include networking with communication disorders professionals; traveling to local, state and national conferences; and participating in social, educational and community service activities.

Students work with a patient in the learning and language clinic.

Learning and Language Center

The Learning and Language Center Preschool Program is a laboratory school under the direct supervision of faculty in the communication disorders program. Both graduate and undergraduate students complete a clinical practicum in the preschool program and work directly with the children.

Cal U students use hearing testing equipment.

Speech and Hearing Clinic

The on-campus Speech and Hearing Clinic provides high-quality professional services to individuals of all ages with communicative, hearing and swallowing needs. Graduate students under the direct supervision of licensed and certified clinical faculty provide clinical services.