Master of Science in Communication Sciences
and Disorders
The master of science in communication sciences and disorders program is designed to prepare students to function independently as speech-language pathologists within the field of communication disorders. The program in speech-language pathology at UW-Eau Claire is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. By the end of the graduate program, a student can meet requirements for: The Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology; Wisconsin licensure in speech-language pathology; and the Department of Public Instruction license in speech and language pathology.
Goals and purposes of the program
The purpose of the MS degree is to help students develop knowledge and/or competencies in several areas:
- Normal speech, hearing, swallowing and language development and behavior.
- Nature, evaluation and management in various work settings of the disorders of speech, hearing, language and swallowing in children and adults.
- Investigative procedures in communication science and disorders.
Prerequisites for admission to the program
Students wishing to pursue a MS degree in communication sciences and disorders must have a baccalaureate degree, preferably including a major in communication sciences and disorders. Completion of 30 semester credits in communication sciences and disorders course work prior to entering the graduate program is required. Students who do not have 30 CDIS credits may apply as conditional graduate students and complete undergraduate course work in communication sciences and disorders prior to beginning the master's degree program. Students must have an overall grade-point average of 2.75 or better (or 2.90 in the second half of undergraduate course work) and a GPA of 3.0 or better in communication sciences and disorders course work. To be admitted to the program, students also must have a grade of B or better in each graded practicum experience.
Requirements of the program
The student must complete a minimum of 54 credits of graduate course work in communication sciences and disorders prior to earning the MS degree in communication sciences and disorders. A thesis is optional in this program. Those students who do not write a thesis must pass a written comprehensive examination. Those who write a thesis must complete an oral comprehensive examination about the thesis. Participation in a practicum experience occurs during each enrollment term. Each student must complete two externships in the final semester. Prior to an externship, a student must complete a methods course related to the appropriate setting (rehabilitation or schools). Students whose undergraduate programs are marked by deficiencies may have programs extended beyond the nominal four semesters plus one summer session duration of the graduate program.
Practicum experiences are planned to serve the needs and interests of students and to allow students to meet credential requirements. Students obtain a diverse clinical experience through the Center for Communication Disorders on campus and its many affiliated off-campus practicum sites. Under the supervision of qualified university personnel and on-site supervisors at affiliated practicum sites, students have opportunities to encounter clients ranging in age from infancy to the geriatric population and exhibiting all types of communication disorders. The affiliated practicum sites represent a wide variety of types including hospitals, clinics, community agencies, nursing homes, private practices and schools. Faculty members teach academic courses and supervise clinical practicum experiences within their areas of expertise.
Admission application requirements
To apply to the MS in communication sciences and disorders program, submit the following documents prior to Feb. 1 to be considered for the next fall term:
- A complete application for graduate admission along with the application fee.
- Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions previously attended.
Send materials to:
Graduate Admissions
UW-Eau Claire
Schofield Hall 112
Eau Claire WI 54702-4004
The communication sciences and disorders program also requires its own departmental admissions application, three letters of recommendation and GRE scores sent directly to them. Anyone interested in applying to the program should contact the graduate program coordinator of the department of communication sciences and disorders to obtain materials and instructions. Applications should not be initiated until contact is made with the department. Generally, application materials for a given year are available after Oct. 15. These materials as well as the departmental application materials should be received by Feb. 1.
The fact that a student has met the minimal criteria listed does not guarantee admission to the program. Enrollment in the graduate program is limited to a maximum number of students determined annually by the program faculty. In recent years, the number of students admitted annually has been 15 or 16. Applications for admission are reviewed only once per year in the spring. Students begin their graduate programs as full-time students during the fall semester following admission.
Students are encouraged to visit the program prior to reaching a decision about whether to apply to it. Visits should be scheduled through the graduate program coordinator. Ideally, students should visit when the university is in session, maximizing the opportunity to talk with department faculty and students as well as to observe a variety of events.
The Eau Claire Advantage
- U.S. News & World Report magazine consistently ranks UW-Eau Claire among the top public regional universities in the Midwest.
- UW-Eau Claire’s reputation as an interactive university has been cited in publications such as Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, Money Magazine and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
- Four UW-Eau Claire professors have been recipients of Wisconsin Professor of the Year awards.
- UW-Eau Claire is a member institution of The Council of Graduate Schools and is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
- The master’s degree program in speech-language pathology is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
- UW-Eau Claire has an excellent clinical facility with state-of-the-art technology on campus (the Center for Communication Disorders) and affiliation with many off-campus practicum sites where students gain experience working with clients.
For more information
For further information about the options available in communication disorders at UW-Eau Claire, contact: |
For general information about the campus and admission to a program, contact: |
