About Emerson

With speech and communication as two of our founding disciplines, Emerson College has been devoted to communication and the arts since the College’s establishment in 1880. The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders continues to innovate and advance research and education within these ever-important disciplines today.

With campuses in Boston, Los Angeles, and the Netherlands, Emerson infuses its energy and culture of innovation into each of its undergraduate and graduate program offerings—online and on campus, in the US and abroad. Our diverse community fosters curiosity and creative thinking, which our students and graduates are using to shape our 21st-century society.

About the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

Emerson’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders has been dedicated to helping people overcome challenges associated with speech, language, and other communication disorders for more than 80 years. The Department’s pioneering undergraduate- and graduate-level programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field, including speech-language pathology, audiology, and occupational therapy.

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is known for being at the forefront of research and has a reputation for excellence in its clinical preparation of professionals in the field.

Our community of communication disorders students and alumni is supported by:

Reflective Clinical Practice

The communication disorders curriculum is built on the foundation of clinical practice, and students gain hands-on practice exposure in their communities, beginning in their second semester of applied graduate-level study.

You will take part in five clinical placements. One placement will be virtual, while four will be based in the community. Placement specialists will find you a local site for your hands-on training, where you will gain experience working with individuals of different ages, as well as groups, gaining critical experience that is applicable to future roles.

Our online students attend two immersions on Emerson’s Boston campus to complete seminars on academic and clinical topics. Through these learning opportunities, students are encouraged to integrate academic and clinical knowledge and to think critically about the effectiveness of their own clinical practice.

Faculty Research and Evidence-Based Scholarship

Emerson communication disorders faculty are engaged in clinically relevant research for people with communication and swallowing impairments; this research informs our academic and clinical instruction.

Personalized Support

Our faculty think of their students as future colleagues, offering mentorship and opportunities for professional growth. Online classes are kept small with a 15:1 student-to-teacher ratio, ensuring a personalized experience in which all students are equal contributors.

Students in our online Master of Sciences in Communication Disorders (M.S.) program benefit from joining a collaborative and caring group of passionate and self-motivated students from across the country.

Emerson also offers the Master of Sciences in Communication Disorders (M.S.) program at our main campus in Boston. Learn more about the on-campus program.

Prepare to Make a Difference with Emerson

Benefit from our family-centered treatment approach and supportive community when you become a Speech@Emerson student.

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