The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers a Master of Science degree in speech-language pathology. This program provides the academic and practicum experiences for developing clinical competence in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of speech and language disorders. Graduates are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics, schools, universities, and private practice.

Students can pursue a Master of Science degree leading to professional licensure in: 

• speech-language pathology without teaching certification
• speech-language pathology with teaching certification.

Both programs meet the academic and clinical requirements for New York State licensure in speech-language pathology and the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) awarded by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Students seeking teaching certification must take additional courses and clinical practicum experiences to meet the New York State requirements for certification as a Teacher of Students with Speech-Language Disabilities (TSSLD) and the Bilingual Extension to the TSSLD.

The speech-language pathology program is available in Garden City, at the Manhattan Center, and at St. Joseph's College in Patchogue, New York. Candidates are expected to attend classes at the location to which they are admitted. Candidates enrolled at the Manhattan Center and St. Joseph's College sites will be required to take in-house clinical practica and clinical seminars in Garden City.

The program of academic courses at Garden City is based on a 15-week semester. Classes at the Manhattan Center and St. Joseph's College are based on an 8-week cycle and are held on Sundays.

Students are expected to meet all departmental and University admission requirements.


Program Requirements
The MS program in speech-language pathology is a minimum of 56 credits. Students must present evidence of having taken 18 credits of prerequisite courses prior to matriculation. In addition, students must complete one biological science (no lab necessary), one physical science, one math (preferably statistics), and one social science (preferably child psychology).

Academic and clinical coursework in the master's program are aligned with ASHA's 2005 standards. They are designed to provide students with opportunities to develop knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors necessary to assess and treat individuals across the lifespan, within the scope of practice, and from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Students are expected to demonstrate competency in each area. Those not meeting competencies will receive remediation. In the event a student earns two Cs in the first 24 credits or an F at anytime s/he will be dismissed from the program. A student who earns a second C beyond 24 credits will be required to retake that course. Formative oral and written evaluations are conducted duirng a student's first semester. Recommendations for follow up evaluations or enrollment in a writing course may be made. Students maintain their own Knowledge and Skills Assessment Form (KASA) (PDF 106KB). The KASA, along with reflective clients studies/self-evaluations and other academic and clinical artifacts are kept in a student-maintained portfolio.

Students pursuing NYS Teacher of Students with Speech-Language Disabilities (TSSLD) certification or the Bilingual Extension to the TSSLD in addition to their NYS license and ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) must consult with the coordinator of clinical practicum in the schools to develop a program of study.

To be eligible for graduation, master's level students must pass a departmental comprehensive examination. Applications for this examination must be approved by the student's academic adviser during the semester prior to taking the examination. The comprehensive exam for students with a concentration in speech-language pathology is offered three times in an academic year (during the fall, spring and summer semesters).

To apply for NYS license as a Speech-Language Pathologist and the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) form ASHA, students must pass the Praxis exam (currently score 600 or better).

Adelphi University graduates have consistently exceeded ASHA's pass rate of 80% on ther National Praxis Exam. Our program completion rate is nearly 100%. The vast majority of AU graduates students are readily employed upon graduation in schools, private agencies, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers.

Refer to the graduate handbook (PDF 361KB) for more detailed program information.