M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders

The M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders program is open to those with a bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology from a regionally accredited institution or those with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than communication sciences and disorders who have completed appropriate prerequisite coursework in the field of speech-language pathology/communication sciences and disorders.

Prerequisite courses required include:

• Biological science (the science of living things, including biology, human anatomy, etc.)
• Physics or chemistry
• Social science (psychology, sociology, anthropology, etc.)
• Statistics

Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) on all college-level coursework. 

To apply, please submit:

• An online application through the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application System (CSDCAS).
• Official transcripts for all previous college- and graduate-level work. 
• Official GRE scores. Admission requires a score of no less than 145 on the Verbal Reasoning section (or the equivalent score of 380) and 141 on the Quantitative Reasoning section (or the equivalent score of 430) of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Scores must be achieved within five years of the application due date. (The GRE will be waived for Fall 2024 Applicants.)
• Three completed CSDCAS Reference Forms. At least two of the three forms should be completed by professors with knowledge of your academic performance and professionalism. Professors in communication sciences and disorders are preferred. No more than one of the three forms should be completed by a professional reference, such as an employer.
• An essential skills statement. The Essential Skills document includes functions you will be expected to perform during your educational program as a student and professional career. Review this document in its entirety (cover sheet, Appendix A and Appendix B) to understand the cognitive skills, physical abilities and behavioral characteristics necessary to successfully complete the program and work as a speech-language pathologist. A cover sheet with acknowledgment, signature and date MUST be obtained and submitted as part of the admissions packet via CSDCAS.
• A video recording. In place of onsite interviews, the CSDS program requires all applicants to submit a video recording as part of the admissions process. Information regarding requirements for the video can be found in the Questions section of CSDCAS. 

All application materials will be submitted through the CSDCAS. 

Application Deadlines

All students admitted to the program begin in the fall semester. The application deadline is Jan. 15.

Your application and all required documents must be received by the deadline.

Contact Information

csds@georgiasouthern.edu
912-344-2896

Information sessions are led by CSDS graduate program faculty and include an overview of the program and the admissions process. Information sessions will be held on the following dates and times:

• Fall – Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, 10-11 a.m. (hybrid with tour)
• Winter – Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, 10-11 a.m. (virtual)
• Spring – Friday, April 11, 2025, 10-11 a.m. (hybrid with tour)

If you want to attend one of the above sessions, please register below. All in-person information sessions will be held on the Armstrong campus. Once registered, you will receive a parking pass for in-person sessions or a link for virtual sessions two days prior to the session.

The communication sciences and disorders program reports data on PRAXIS results, graduation and employment for their accrediting body, the Council of Academic Accreditation (CAA).

Praxis Passing Rate

Program Completion Rate

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Communication Sciences and Disorders (residential program) at Georgia Southern University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301- 296-5700.

National accreditation ensures that the program meets specified standards in administrative structure and governance, faculty and instructional staff, curriculum, students, assessment and program resources. Students graduating from an accredited program are eligible for state and national certification. For more information, visit the website at https://caa.asha.org/about/.

Upon graduation, students who complete the communication sciences and disorders (CSDS) graduate program at Georgia Southern University will be eligible to apply for the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC). The CCC is considered the gold standard for employment in speech-language pathology and is required in most employment settings. States may also require a license to practice. The state license is required in addition to the CCC. Some states also require an additional teacher certification to work in the K-12/school setting. 

The CSDS graduate program at Georgia Southern University is intended to prepare students to meet the requirements for ASHA certification and Georgia state licensure. Admission into the program or completion of the program does not guarantee that students will obtain the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) or state licensure. Certification and licensure requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with Georgia Southern University. In addition, certification and licensure requirements can change at any time.

State Licensure: Georgia Southern University has not determined whether its CSDS graduate program meets other states’ educational and/or professional requirements for state licensure. Students enrolled in our program who are planning to pursue licensure in other states are responsible for determining whether they will meet their states’ requirements for licensure. Individual state requirements may be viewed at: https://www.asha.org/advocacy/state/info/.

K-12/School Certification: Georgia Southern University has not determined whether its CSD graduate program meets other states’ educational and/or professional requirements for K-12 certification. Students who complete the Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders program are eligible to apply for K-12 certification as a service provider in Georgia. Instructions regarding the certification process are provided to all students in the fall of the second year of graduate study. In addition, you can view the rules as prescribed by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for Speech-Language Pathology. 

Some states require that teacher certification applicants be eligible for certification in the state in which the master’s degree was earned. As a result, completion of the credentialing process for the state of Georgia is optional but highly recommended. Students enrolled in our program planning to pursue certification in other states are responsible for determining whether they will meet their states’ requirements for certification.

Many of the clinical programs offered by the Waters College of Health Professions (WCHP) require a clinical internship or practicum experience to fulfill degree requirements. Pursuant to the University’s legal agreements, participants in clinical experiences are required to abide by the workplace rules of the clinical site. The University is aware of recent federal requirements that would mandate vaccination against COVID-19 for those working in certain settings, including health care. At this time, we expect that these new requirements may significantly impact our ability to locate a placement for students who remain unvaccinated. As always, WCHP will continue to make every effort to place students at clinical sites. However, please be aware that we may be unable to locate a site to accept unvaccinated students, which may cause a delay or inability to progress and complete the program of study.