The Master of Science in Communication Disorders (M.S.) Curriculum

The Speech@Emerson curriculum is the same curriculum used in our on-campus Master of Science in Communication Disorders (MS) program, enabling you to develop the critical problem-solving and analysis skills you’ll need throughout your professional career as a speech-language pathologist.

Our generalized approach to curriculum allows our students to graduate as more well-rounded clinicians with the ability to adapt to any environment as needed. The broad curriculum covers a wide range of speech-language pathology topics to prepare you to become a confident clinician. 

Throughout the program, you will work closely with clinical faculty to design and implement intervention programs and perform evaluations. All of this hands-on work will cover various age ranges, facilitating a breadth of clinical experiences with both children and adults.

Grounded in the complexities of human communication and its disorders, the Speech@Emerson curriculum takes into account biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. You will take courses such as Autism: Social Communication Development and Disorder and Neurological Bases of Communication to engage in culturally responsive frameworks and examine disorders, policies, and procedures that might create barriers to equity for your clients.

Depending on your academic background, you may need to take up to 18 credits of foundational coursework. Foundational courses are assigned during the admissions review process and determined based on your transcripts and Speech@Emerson foundational form. This evaluation is conducted only when your application is fully completed.

If you are required to take foundational courses, you must earn a grade of “B” or better in each assigned course to advance to the applied curriculum. You will need to retake these courses if you don’t earn at least a “B”.

If you have successfully completed the foundational courses within five years of your intended start date with a grade of “B” or better, you may be able to waive certain foundational coursework.

To begin applied coursework, you must first complete foundational courses with a grade of “B” or better, if applicable. The applied curriculum consists of 54 credit hours, including 49 credits of academic and clinical courses and five 1-credit clinical practica. Your first practicum will be virtual – you’ll participate in clinical simulation from your own home.  Your other 4 practica experiences will be near your community. In addition, you must successfully complete a comprehensive exam.

Applied coursework must be passed with a grade of “B-” or better.

For a full list of foundational and applied coursework, view our Course Catalog.