2025-2026 Graduate Catalog 
    
    Aug 04, 2025  
2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

Speech-Language Pathology (NYT), MS


Chair:

Kathy Vander Werff, Ph.D.
621 Skytop Road, Suite 1200

Contact:

Phone: 315-443-9637
Email: csd@syr.edu

Faculty

Academic: Stephanie McMillen, Charles Nudelman, Yalian Pei, Jonathan Preston, Ellyn Riley, Victoria Tumanova, Kathy Vander Werff, and Jamie Desjardins; Clinical: Colleen Gargan, Brianna Hammerle, Lynne Henry, Anita Lightburn, Joseph Pellegrino, Elizabeth Tollar, Ramani Voleti. Adjunct instructors for specialty areas.

Emeritus Professors: Raymond Colton, Mary Louise Edwards, Janet Ford, Soren Lowell, and Linda Milosky

Program Description

The M.S. program in speech-language pathology is a nationally ranked, accredited program with a long history of excellence. While pursuing a speech-language pathology degree, students can work with researchers in state-of-the-art laboratories and to learn from certified speech-language pathologists whose expertise cover all areas of speech and language across the life span.  In addition, the location of the University provides students opportunities to gain clinical experience in diagnosis and treatment with a wide variety of clinical populations.  The M.S. program provides both substantive knowledge and practical experience through a carefully selected sequence of academic study, clinical practice, and research training. Students are prepared for a professional career in diagnosis and management of individuals with speech and language disorders.

Students in speech-language pathology participate in a wide range of diagnostic and therapy experiences under the direct supervision of clinical faculty. Students typically obtain 75 hours of on-campus clinical practicum in the department’s Gebbie Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic (50 hours for students who bring in 25 clock hours from their undergraduate program) before being assigned two off-site clinical experiences. These off-site placements provide students with experience working in the field under the supervision of a certified speech-language pathologist. Placements include public schools, preschool programs, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, private clinics, and special education programs.

Completion of the master’s program provides students with the academic and practicum qualifications for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and for New York State licensure in speech-language pathology.

Consistent with the requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) described by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), students must complete the 375 clock hours of supervised clinical practicum (in addition to 25 hours of clinical observation) in the field of speech-language pathology during the master’s program.

Graduates in the NYT teaching certification track also fulfill the requirements for New York State teacher certification as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (see the teaching certification track program option).

Accreditation

The Master of Science (M.S.) education program  in speech-language pathology (residential) at Syracuse 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.

Admission

Admission occurs once per year for fall entry. Applicants must complete a common application on the CSDCAS application system for consideration. See our website for links to the online application: https://artsandsciences.syracuse.edu/department-communication-sciences-disorders/graduate-program-overview/apply-ms-slp-and-aud/

Applicants are required to submit undergraduate transcripts, essays, and three letters of recommendation.  Although the minimum GPA is 3.0, a 3.4 or higher is recommended to be competitive, GRE scores are optional. If submitted, strong GRE scores will enhance applications.  GRE scores will not be used to deny admission or funding.  International students, except those from English-speaking Canadian schools, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores (less than two years old) as proof of English proficiency. This requirement is waived for non-residents who have completed four years of undergraduate or two years of graduate study in the U.S. The recommended minimum scores are 105 on the TOEFL iBT and 7.5 on the IELTS.

Student Learning Outcomes


  1. Foundations of Speech-Language Pathology Practice: Demonstrate knowledge of the discipline of human communication sciences and disorders; basic human communication and swallowing processes, including the appropriate biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, linguistic, and cultural bases; ability to integrate information pertaining to normal and abnormal human development across the life span; nature of communication and swallowing processes. 
  2. Identification and/or Prevention of Communication and Swallowing Disorders and Differences: Demonstrate knowledge of principles and methods of identification of communication and swallowing disorders and differences, principles and methods of prevention of communication and swallowing disorders
  3. Evaluation of Communication and Swallowing Disorders and Differences: Demonstrate knowledge and skills in assessment across the lifespan for disorders and differences associated with articulation; fluency; voice and resonance, including respiration and phonation; receptive and expressive language (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, prelinguistic communication, and paralinguistic communication) in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and manual modalities; hearing, including the impact on speech, language, and communication; swallowing (oral, pharyngeal, esophageal, and related functions, including oral function for feeding; orofacial myology); cognitive aspects of communication (e.g., attention, memory, sequencing, problem solving, executive functioning); social aspects of communication (e.g., behavioral and social skills affecting communication); and augmentative and alternative communication needs
  4. Professional Practice in Speech-Language Pathology: Demonstrate knowledge and skills in working with individuals with the aforementioned communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan as evidenced by: ethical conduct; integration and application of knowledge of the interdependence of speech, language, and hearing; engagement in contemporary professional issues and advocacy; processes of clinical education and supervision; professionalism and professional behavior in keeping with the expectations for a speech-language pathologist; interaction skills and personal qualities, including counseling and collaboration; self-evaluation of effectiveness of practice

Degree Requirements


The master’s degree program for a student with a background in communication disorders is typically 50 credits for students in the non-teaching track and 53 credits for students in the teaching certification track and requires a minimum of four semesters and one summer. Approved undergraduate coursework in Aural Rehabilitation or in Speech and Language Services in Schools may reduce the total number of required graduate credits. Students with undergraduate majors other than communication disorders need additional coursework, up to 75 total credits. During the final semester, all students must pass a comprehensive examination or complete a master’s thesis.

To complete the degree, students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students with an academic GPA below 2.6 at the end of their first semester in the program, or an academic or clinic GPA below 3.0 at the end of the first academic year or in any subsequent semester, may be dismissed from the program. Additionally, clinic hours earned during a semester in which a student fails to achieve a passing grade in CSD 650 will not count toward the required 400 clinical hours. If a student receives more than one failing grade in CSD 650, they may be subject to dismissal from the program.

Students in the NY Teaching Track in the MS SLP program must also earn a B- or better in ALL coursework for the class to count towards the program. Students who do not meet these criteria would not be eligible for NY teaching certification or must repeat the course to be eligible.

II. Clinical Coursework (10 credits minimum)


III. 3 Credits of electives, including any of the following combination


  • Any CSD 600 Selected Topics courses (1-3 credits each)
  • CSD 626 Sociocultural Bases for Communication (3 credits)
  • CSD 690 - Independent Study (1-3 credits)
  • CSD 799 - Independent Research in Speech Pathology or Audiology (1-3 credits)
  • Non-CSD courses as approved by the department.​​​​​​​

IV. Milestones


Capstone = Comprehensive exam or Master’s Thesis

Facilities


The CSD academic department and Gebbie Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic are located at 621 Skytop Road on South Campus.

Transfer Credits


Students may petition to transfer up to 12 graduate credits from another university into the Master of Science program.

Part-Time Study


Part time study is not available in the Master of Science program.

Total Credit = 53