Communication Sciences and Disorders, M.S. (Residential)

Department Chair: Michaela Ritter, Ed.D., CCC/SLP
Graduate Program Director: Susan Sherman, M.S., CCC/SLP

The Master of Science program (M.S.) in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Baylor University prepares the student in academic coursework and clinical practicum requirements to apply for certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The Baylor CSD program 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

The requirements governing the selection of courses and clinical practicum experiences must be individualized based upon the date when a student begins the program and the courses that he or she takes. Therefore, all students must consult with the Graduate Program Director for guidance in fulfilling the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s standards.

Students with an undergraduate major in communication sciences and disorders must complete forty-five semester hours and a comprehensive examination for the degree of Master of Science. A Thesis Track is available which requires written approval from a faculty member who is willing to act as the thesis committee chair and the Graduate Program Director. Students on the Thesis Track are required to defend their thesis and are not exempt from taking the comprehensive examination.

Students choosing the thesis track must take all academic courses required for the non-thesis track and enroll in clinical practicum each semester. Thus, both tracks lead to eligibility for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology. The Thesis Track students must enroll in the Thesis course (CSD 5V99 Thesis) for at least 3 semesters beginning from as early as the second semester to the semester of completion of the research project.

Graduate students must participate in Certification Day at the end of their program where all academic and professional documentation will be completed.

All graduate students must work with the Graduate Program Director to develop an approved Graduate Course-work Program Plan.

Leveling Courses

Students who have been accepted to Baylor’s CSD graduate program but do not have an undergraduate CSD degree are considered a graduate student with leveling status and will be accepted in the fall semester only. Graduate students with leveling status are required to complete 25 hours (two semesters) of leveling courses to meet requirements for state licensure and professional certification to be completed prior to beginning graduate coursework. These courses are required to be taken in the Baylor CSD program. Students must work with the Graduate Program Director to develop an approved Graduate Course-work Program Plan.

ASHA Courses

In addition, ASHA requires all students to have completed college-level science courses consisting of the biological sciences, physical sciences (either chemistry or physics), statistics, and social/behavioral sciences (Standard IV-A) from an accredited college or university (https://www.asha.org/Certification/2020-SLP-Certification-Standards/). A passing grade of D or better is required to count towards a passing credit for these courses. With approval from the Graduate Program Director, a student missing a basic science may begin the graduate program but must have all the basic sciences completed by the beginning of the second semester in the program.

Admissions

Admission decisions are based on faculty review of undergraduate transcripts, cumulative undergrad (or graduate if degree conferred) GPA from degree-bearing university, personal statements, resume, and three letters of recommendation. Students who earned their primary undergraduate degree with a major in CSD are admitted in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Leveling students who do not have an undergraduate degree with a major in CSD are admitted in the fall semester. The department admits approximately 75 graduate students each year.

Policies and operating procedures for the graduate program are detailed in the Residential CSD Graduate Handbook and provided to each student electronically at the start of the semester.