Master of Science Degree: Program Overview
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers an innovative professional program leading to the Master’s degree. The full-time program spans two years: four academic-year semesters (two fall, two spring), a summer session between years 1 and 2, and one or two J-terms (January Term). During year 1, students will engage in clinical work that directly and simultaneously corresponds to course work. During year 2, students will participate in an on-campus diagnostic clinic as well as complete two externships. Upon completion of the degree, graduates are prepared to practice clinically in a range of employment settings, including schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private practice and early intervention centers.
The field of speech-language pathology is broad and increasingly broadening as the profession takes a lead role in emerging clinical problem areas. Accordingly, there is a growing interest in specialization within the field. The UNH Communication Sciences and Disorders Master’s Degree program offers students the opportunity to pursue one of four options that best suits their career goals. During their graduate studies students complete a combination of required and elective courses according to their selected option:“no option” or generalist option; language/literacy disorders; early childhood communication disorders; and adult neurogenic communication disorders. Providing students with choices during their graduate studies is consistent with the Department’s mission to advance knowledge in the field and to prepare graduates to be the very best they can be – as clinicians, advocates, and researchers – with the population they are most interested in serving. Irrespective of which of the four options students select, the program of study will prepare them to treat the full range of communication disorders across the life-span and meet the academic and practicum requirements of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in speech-language pathology.
The master's degree education program in speech-language pathology at the University of New Hampshire is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
For more information about the Department Mission & Goals, see the CSD Strategic Plan.