Communication Disorders

The Department of Communication Disorders offers programs leading to the Master of Science degree in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. Students are admitted for the fall semester. To be considered for admittance, the application process must be completed by March 1st.

Students may be admitted to graduate study from a variety of undergraduate majors. Individual programs are designed for each candidate to meet the requirements for certification in speech-language pathology and audiology by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and Connecticut licensure and teacher certification. When necessary, graduate programs are developed to include prerequisite courses in normal speech and language development, speech and hearing science, anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanism, and introductory courses in communication disorders. A total of 350 hours of supervised clinical experience is required for graduation with a minimum of 250 hours at the graduate level. Twenty-five hours of observation prior to beginning clinical work are also required. Registration for all courses requires departmental permission. (Students graduating in the fall 2004 term or later must meet the new ASHA requirements for certification which will go into effect January 1, 2005. Under these standards a total of 375 hours of supervised clinical experience plus 25 hours of observation will be required for graduation with a minimum of 325 hours obtained at the graduate level.)

The graduate academic programs of the Department of Communication Disorders are accredited in speech-language pathology and audiology by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (These programs are accredited through December 31st, 2010. Clinical services offered by the departmental Center for Communication Disorders hold ASHA Professional Services Accreditation.  For more detailed information regarding programs, please visit our departmental website.