Program Curriculum

The master of science in communication sciences and disorders requires the successful completion of a minimum of 22 courses for 15 credits (60 semester hours).

Additional courses are required and offered for students who are missing prerequisites or who wish to be licensed to work in public schools.

Program Format

Students in the program attend classes full time, with most students completing the program in 21 months.

The program takes a cohort approach fostering teamwork skills and strong bonds among classmates.

Opportunities abound for clinical experiences in a variety of locations, from public schools to hospitals to rehab facilities to Elmhurst University’s own Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.

Required Courses

  • CSD 500 Clinical Practicum I
  • CSD 501 Clinical Practicum II
  • CSD 502 Clinical Practicum III
  • CSD 503 Practicum in Educational Settings, Part-Time
  • CSD 504 CSD Practicum in Medical Settings, Part-Time
  • CSD 505 Introduction to Professional Clinical Procedures
  • CSD 507 Research Methods in Communication Sciences and Disorders
  • CSD 509 Language/Literacy in Young Children: Assessment and Treatment
  • CSD 510 Advanced Studies in Phonology & Articulation
  • CSD 513 CSD Practicum in Educational Settings, Half-Term
  • CSD 514 CSD Practicum in Medical Settings, Half-Term
  • CSD 515 Language Disorders in Adults
  • CSD 516 Language and Academic Literacies in K-12 Classrooms: Assessment and Intervention
  • CSD 518 Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Services in Communication Sciences and Disorders
  • CSD 519 Neurology
  • CSD 521 Dysphagia and Feeding Disorders
  • CSD 522 Alternative/Augmentative Communication
  • CSD 523 CSD Practicum in Educational Settings, Full-Term
  • CSD 524 CSD Practicum in Medical Settings, Full-Term
  • CSD 525 Public School Methods in a Diverse Society
  • CSD 526 Voice Disorders
  • CSD 527 Fluency Disorders
  • CSD 528 Motor Speech Disorders Across the Lifespan
  • CSD 530 Thesis Research
    or
    CSD 590 Research Option II

Additional Program Requirements

In order to successfully complete the master of science in communication sciences and disorders at Elmhurst, students must meet the following program requirements.

Students must complete a minimum of 400 hours of supervised clinical experience.

In addition to the curriculum requirements above, students must be able to demonstrate a set of essential functions in order to enroll in clinical practicum and proceed through the program.

Students must successfully meet the Standards for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology established by the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in order to graduate.

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook to view knowledge and skill requirements.

Illinois has two regulatory agencies that provide credentials to speech-language pathologists. These agencies are the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), which regulates who is qualified to work in the Illinois public schools, and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations (IDFPR), which regulates who is qualified to work in all other settings.

In order to work within the state of Illinois, a speech-language pathologist must hold the appropriate credentials from ISBE or IDFPR. ISBE credentials include a Master’s degree in speech-language pathology and coursework in the instruction of exceptional learners, reading, English Language Learners and reading in the content area is required. Students must also pass the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Content Test for Speech Pathology and Audiology (232).

State of Illinois licensure requires successful completion of the graduate program requirements, which includes a passing score on the Praxis Exam (National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology)

Jennifer M.D. Kremkow, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Program Director, M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders; Associate Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

Connect with #elmhurstu