MS Communication Disorders at ASU's College of Health Solutions

Master of Science in communication disorders

The MS in communication disorders degree program at ASU’s College of Health Solutions prepares you to become a certified speech-language pathologist capable of autonomous clinical practice. Our full-time, 20-month residential program trains you to evaluate and treat clients in nine disorder classification areas through coursework, clinical placements and problem-based learning.

Build your diagnostic and treatment skills in an accredited program that meets the current standards required for certification in speech-language pathology specified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Our program holds paramount the following tenets:

• Equity and inclusion

• Evidence-based practice

• Interprofessional education

• Community embeddedness

The curriculum provides a strong foundation in the scientific knowledge base of speech-language pathology, preparing you for evidence-based clinical practice assisting people of all ages with communication, speech, language, literacy and swallowing needs.

This highly ranked program offers a thesis or non-thesis option, part-time employment track, multilingual and multicultural certificate and elective courses specializing in pediatric and adult populations.

The College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University translates scientific health research and discovery into practice. Its programs prepare students to address the challenges facing our populations to stay healthy, improve their health, and manage chronic disease — all toward improving health outcomes.

MS in communication disorders program

In your first three semesters, you will focus on developing knowledge and skills in communication disorders across the human lifespan. During your final two semesters, you will complete advanced coursework and receive individualized clinical mentorship in external clinical placements. Advanced rotations are also available to help you gain exposure to the variety of specialties the field has to offer.

Featured elective courses

SHS 512 Topics in Management of Medical Aspects of Speech-Language Pathology

Focus on varying topics in the management of medically based speech and language disorders.

SHS 580 Advanced Clinical Rotations

Offer experience in fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, neuromuscular disorders, voice disorders, and pediatric feeding and swallowing.

SHS 568 Special Populations in Communication Disorders

Explore clinical assessment and intervention issues relevant for children with complex medical and developmental disabilities that impact communicative development with an emphasis on cleft lip and/or palate and genetic etiologies.

SHS 586 Language Essentials for Teaching Reading

Understand the fundamentals of literacy instruction and assessment in preschool through high school.

SHS 597 Bilingual Speech Language Pathology

Learn about speech and language assessment and intervention practices with bilingual populations from infants to adults.

Part-Time Employment Program

PEP addresses the critical need for qualified speechlanguage personnel in public schools. During the master’s program, you can work part-time as a speech-language pathology assistant at an Arizona public school while you pursue your degree.

Multilingual/multicultural certificate option

Gain a specialization in communication disorders in bilingual, multilingual and multicultural populations. Students take enhanced classes, gain clinical experience in diverse community-based settings and engage in interprofessional projects to effectively serve culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Extensive opportunities

The Phoenix metropolitan area offers vast resources and learning opportunities for students including:

• 50+ medical centers.

• 500+ schools.

• 100+ languages representing our diverse population.

• 20+ federally recognized Tribes.

Phoenix is ranked in the top 10 metropolitan areas for speech-language pathologists with a higher salary than the national average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Our program offers extensive research opportunities with over a dozen active labs, interprofessional collaboration in real-world and simulation settings, and concentrations in adult or pediatric disorders, research, or multilingual and multicultural issues.

Accreditation

The Master of Science in Communication Disorders education program in speech-language pathology {residential} at Arizona State University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard #310, Rockville, Maryland 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.