Program Requirements

These requirements may change; consult the current Graduate Catalog for updated information. The program is fulltime and completed in 6 consecutive semesters. 

The following two forms will be helpful to you as you explore the EKU CD MA Program curriculum (all forms can be found in the Forms tab)

• Graduate Advising Guide

Communication Disorders Core: 39 hours

• CSD 720 Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems. (3) I. An overview of various approaches to aided non-oral systems of communication. Various devices and symbol systems will be discussed.
• CSD 863 Motor Speech Disorders. (3) II. Prerequisites: admission to communication disorders and sciences program or by departmental permission. Study of the neurophysiology, assessment, and treatment of various motor speech disorders, including dysarthria and apraxia.
• CSD 867 Advanced Language Disorders. (3) A. Prerequisites: admission to communication disorders and sciences program or by departmental permission. Advanced study of formal and informal assessment and treatment approaches in child language without consideration of etiology. Emphasis on collaboration within the classroom, language and narrative sampling analysis techniques and use of language within the natural context. Minimum of eight hours field/clinical experiences required.
• CSD 873 Advanced Articulation and Phonology Disorders. (3) I. Prerequisites: admission to communication disorders and sciences program or by departmental permission. Study of the research and principles associated with symptomatology, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of articulation and phonological disorders. Issues related to accent enhancement and modification, including assessment and intervention are explored. Minimum of three hours field/clinical experiences required.
• CSD 874 Graduate Practicum: Speech Language Pathology. (3) A. Prerequisite: admission to communication disorders and sciences program or by departmental permission. Supervised clinical practice in speech-language pathology. Must be retaken for a total of nine hours for the MA degree. Minimum of 145 field/ clinical experience hours required across three semesters.
• CSD 875 Adult Neurogenic Language Disorders. (3) II. Prerequisites: admission to the communication disorders and sciences program or by departmental permission. The study of the neurophysiological bases of aphasia classification systems, evaluation procedures, and treatment strategies.
• CSD 876 Advanced Voice Disorders. (3) I. Prerequisites: admission to communication disorders and sciences program or by departmental permission. Study of the research and bases of laryngeal phonation deviation, including etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of functional and organic voice disorders; assessment and use of clinical techniques with a variety of voice disorders. Minimum of three hours field/clinical experiences required.
• CSD 877 Advanced Fluency Disorders. (3) II. Prerequisites: admission to communication disorders and sciences program or by departmental permission. Critical study of research literature on etiology, theory, assessment and intervention strategies for preschool, school age, and adult fluency disorders. Minimum of two hours field/clinical experiences required.
• CSD 878 Diagnosis of Communication Disorders. (3) I. Prerequisite: admission to communication disorders and sciences program or by departmental permission. Diagnosis of language and speech disorders with emphasis on the use of dynamic assessment and comprehensive test batteries to describe the communication skills of children and adults. Profile analysis will be utilized to determine relative strength and weakness. Minimum of ten hours field/clinical experiences required.
• CSD 879 Dysphagia. (3) II. Prerequisite: admission to communication disorders and sciences program or by departmental permission. An introduction to dysphagia, including the anatomy, physiology, and development of normal swallowing, and evaluation, etiologies, and treatment of dysphagia. Minimum of five hours field/clinical experiences required.
• CSD 880 Research Methodology in Communication Disorders. (3) I. Prerequisites: admission to communication disorders and sciences program; or by departmental approval. Corequisite: CSD 878. Critical examination of research methodology in communication disorders and sciences. Students acquire the fundamental motivation, knowledge, and skills for conducting clinical and basic science research and for reading and critically evaluating research literature.

Approved Electives in CD: 9 hours 

Approved electives may be selected from areas such as CDF, CSD, EDF, ENG, EPY, NUR, OTS, PSY, and/or SED. Candidates who choose the Research Option will take CSD 899 for 3 hours and will take 6 hours of approved electives.

• CSD 899 Research Project/Thesis Option. (3) II. Prerequisite: CSD 880 or instructor approval. Completion of a research project related to a special population that may lead to a thesis and/or to a professional presentation and publishable paper. May be retaken to a maximum of 9 credit hours. Credit not awarded for both SED 899 and CSD 899.

Professional Semester I: 9 hours

• CSD 870 and CSD 898 or 897.
• CSD 870 Professional Issues in Communication Disorders. (3) A. Prerequisite: admission to communication disorders and sciences program or by departmental permission. Scope of practice, professional Code of Ethics, trends in service delivery, pertinent legislation, legal concerns, and other issues which impact the field of communication disorders will be examined.
• CSD 897 School Experiences in CD. (6) I, II. Prerequisites: CSD 874 (9 credit hours), completion of CD core courses and admission to student teaching. Supervised full-time clinical practice with a variety of communication disorders in selected school settings for a minimum of 70 school days. For CSD graduate students seeking certification in speech-language pathology.
• CSD 898 Externship in Communication Disorders. (6) I. Prerequisites: CSD 874 (nine credit hours) and completion of graduate core course work in communication disorders and sciences. Supervised 12-week, full-time clinical practice with a variety of communication disorders in selected externship sites. 

Professional Semester II: 6 hours

• CSD 897 or 898 and Approved Elective.
• CSD 897 School Experiences in CD. (6) I, II. Prerequisites: CSD 874 (9 credit hours), completion of CD core courses and admission to student teaching. Supervised full-time clinical practice with a variety of communication disorders in selected school settings for a minimum of 70 school days. For CDS graduate students seeking certification in speech-language pathology.
• CSD 898 Externship in Communication Disorders. (6) I. Prerequisites: CSD 874 (nine credit hours) and completion of graduate core course work in communication disorders and sciences. Supervised 12-week, full-time clinical practice with a variety of communication disorders in selected externship sites. 

Minimum Program Total: 63 hours

Exi

Candidates will complete one of the following exit requirements for the M.A. in Communication Disorders (CD): a thesis manuscript and oral defense or a written comprehensive examination. 

Thesis — The thesis is not required. However, candidates with special research interests are invited to explore thesis possibilities during CSD 880. 

Comprehensive Examinations — The candidate will have an opportunity to demonstrate professional growth through a written examination covering education and major program components.

Apply Here

To be eligible for consideration for admission into the M.A. Program in Communication Disorders, applicants must meet the requirements for admission to the Eastern Kentucky University Graduate School and have a bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders or a related field with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall which includes the fall semester prior to the application deadline of Feb. 15. Candidates admitted with a degree other than Communication Disorders must complete program pre-requisites before starting the graduate curriculum.

The following documentation must be submitted with the online application:

1. Undergraduate transcripts showing all college level courses completed.
2. A personal essay of approximately 500 words describing the applicant’s professional objectives.

A review of applications will result in an initial selection of candidates to interview. CSD faculty will conduct the interviews and make final admissions decisions based upon GPA, the personal essay, and candidate interview.

Once a candidate’s application has been approved, the following documentation is necessary before official admission:

Background Check – The CD Program requires a state criminal history background check approved¹ by the College of Education and Applied Human Sciences as a condition of admission. Under certain circumstances, a national criminal background check may be required as a condition of admission. An additional state criminal background check approved¹ by the College of Education and Applied Human Sciences is required prior to beginning off campus externship courses (CSD 897 School Experiences in CD, CSD 898 Externship in Comm Disorders) or may be required at additional points in the program. Under certain circumstances, a national criminal background check may be required. Students must purchase professional liability insurance prior to enrollment in clinical practicum courses. Further, that insurance coverage must be maintained throughout enrollment in the graduate program.

Admission to Eastern Kentucky University’s undergraduate program in Communication Disorders does not guarantee acceptance into Eastern Kentucky University’s graduate program. There are limited spaces available in the graduate program. The most qualified applicants are admitted. Admission is based upon the criteria described above. Application forms are available online at the Graduate Education and Research website, . Submit the completed application for admission with all required documents (application form, official transcripts, essay) by February 15 to the Office of Graduate Education and Research.

1“Approved” is a formal review process of the criminal records report. Any misrepresentation of facts, by omission or addition, may result in the denial of admission to the Communication Disorders Program or enrollment in off campus externship courses.

Candidates must complete 375 clinical clock hours before exiting from the graduate program. This requirement will meet the number of hours specified for national certification by the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology and will meet or exceed the hours required for Kentucky Teacher Certification in Communication Disorders and for Kentucky Licensure in Speech-Language Pathology. Clinical experiences for accruing clock hours are offered through CSD 874, 898 and 897. A maximum of 50 clinical clock hours accrued at the undergraduate level may be counted with appropriate documentation. A minimum of 25 clock hours of (documented) clinical observation must be completed prior to earning these clinical clock hours.

Please see the 2020 ASHA Standards for CCC in Speech-Language Pathology for additional information regarding the academic and clinical requirements for certification in Speech Pathology.

Students in the Communication Disorders graduate program must purchase the college student professional liability insurance prior to enrollment in clinical practicum courses.

The Clinic Handbook outlines the clinical expectations, policies and procedures of the EKU Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.

Please see the EKU Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic website for additional information regarding our clinic and the clients you may treat as an EKU graduate student.