Program Description

The Communication Sciences and Disorders, BS/Speech Language Pathology, MS program is designed for students to obtain a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the end of their senior year. The B.S. in communication sciences and disorders provides students with a broad education in human communication sciences and disorders. Students will participate in clinical experiences in the Gebbie Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, and interested students will have the opportunity to participate in research in faculty laboratories.

The M.S. part of the program begins in the summer after the student completes the B.S. program and requires students to complete four graduate semesters (summer, fall, spring, summer). The M.S. program in Speech-Language Pathology at Syracuse University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech Language-Hearing Association. Graduates of the M.S. program may also fulfill the requirements for New York State teacher certification as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities.

While pursuing the M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology 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 externship 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.

Student Learning Outcomes

B.S. in Communication Sciences & Disorders

1. Human Communication Process and Disorders. Identify the developmental norms for speech/language acquisition, the theoretical and scientific foundations of CSD, and general knowledge of speech, language, and hearing disorders.

2. Clinical Practices for Communication Disorders. Understand and explain the basic clinical process for the prevention, identification, evaluation, and remediation of communication disorders.

3. Critical Thinking. Apply critical thinking, problem solving, and logical reasoning skills to problems, issues, and/or clinical case studies in communication sciences and disorders.

4. Scientific Inquiry and Research Skills. Explain “evidence-based decision making” as a lifelong learning process in communication sciences and disorders.

5. Professional Communication Skills. Demonstrate effective professional written communication skills as they pertain to clinical topics and situations in communication sciences and disorders. Demonstrate effective spoken communication skills to explain and describe content and/or research knowledge as it pertains to topics in communication sciences and disorders.

6. Ethics, Integrity, and Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion. Identify how individual, cultural, and linguistic differences influence speech, language, and hearing, and the disorders of communication that individuals may experience. Recognize and explain professional ethical principles in the fields of speech language pathology and audiology.

M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology

1. Apply knowledge of basic human communication and swallowing processes, including the appropriate biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural bases across the life span for individuals with and without disorders.

2. Describe communication and swallowing disorders and differences, including the appropriate etiologies, characteristics, anatomical/physiological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural correlates in the following areas: 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; hearing, including the impact on speech and language; swallowing (oral, pharyngeal, esophageal, and related functions, including oral function for feeding, orofacial myology); cognitive aspects of communication (attention, memory, sequencing, problem-solving, executive functioning); social aspects of communication (including challenging behavior, ineffective social skills, and lack of communication opportunities); augmentative and alternative communication modalities.

3. For each of the areas specified in outcome 2, demonstrate current knowledge of the principles and methods of prevention, assessment, and intervention for people with communication and swallowing disorders, including consideration of anatomical/physiological, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural correlates.

4. Demonstrate knowledge of processes used in research and of the integration of research principles into evidence-based clinical practice.

Major Requirements

Students are formally admitted to the major after consulting a department advisor on a plan of study and successfully completing CSD 212 with a B- or better, or by petition.   

To be eligible to apply for the combined BS/MS Speech-Language Pathology 5-year program, a student must have an overall GPA of 3.7 after the Fall semester of the third year, and 24 CSD credits earned.