Prepare for a Career in Speech-Language Pathology
Degree Type: Master of Science | Format: On Campus | Department: Communication Sciences and Disorders | Time to Degree: 2 Years | Total Estimated Tuition Costs: $70,000
The master’s program in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) at Elmhurst University prepares students for rewarding careers as speech-language pathologists in professional settings such as schools, hospitals, clinics, research institutions, private practice and more.
Special Announcement: Excellence in Multilingual Personnel in Illinois Schools (EXCEMPILS) Scholar Opportunity
We are offering a competitive scholarship for the M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders program. The EXCEMPILS training project is funded through a grant awarded to Elmhurst University from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education. For more information including how to apply, click HERE.
Jennifer Kremkow, program director of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, talks about how a degree from Elmhurst prepares you for your career in speech-language pathology.
Designed primarily for students with bachelor’s degrees in CSD, the graduate program prepares students for national certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and for state licensure.
In addition, students are prepared for employment in the Illinois public school system and endorsed by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), provided they have met the requirements for the master’s degree in speech-language pathology and have completed coursework in teaching methods of exceptional children and reading methods.
A Unique Program Format
Students attend classes full time, and most can complete the program in 21 months. The program takes a cohort approach, fostering teamwork skills and strong bonds among classmates.
State-of-the-Art Simulation Center
Students also can experience medical placement preparation in the state-of-the-art Elmhurst University Simulation Center.
Other Real-World Experiences
Opportunities abound for clinical experiences in a variety of locations, from public schools to hospitals to rehab facilities to Elmhurst University’s own Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.
The CSD department designs and integrates interprofessional education and practice (IPE/IPP) into learning within the classroom and simulation center. We work closely with our colleagues in nursing and occupational therapy to design collaborative experiences that prepare graduates to enter the workforce with these important skills to maximize patient safety and outcomes.
In addition to the Clinic and Simulation Center, our students have unique training opportunities, such as:
- Serving individuals with developmental disabilities and adults with brain injury with our partner centers.
- Serving adult students with autism and other disabilities in the University’s Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy (ELSA).
- Supporting adults through an aphasia support group run by Elmhurst faculty.
- Receiving hands-on training in fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).
- Participating in SPEAK OUT! training, with the opportunity to evaluate and treat adults with speech and voice changes due to Parkinson’s Disease.
I just want to take a moment to brag about Haley, she is absolutely amazing!! I have been a supervisor for 5 years and she is by far the most qualified and knowledgeable new graduate I have had until this point. Our company would love to have more of your graduates due to their knowledge! Again, thank you for educating Haley to be an amazing clinician and all-around outstanding person!
Jacquelyn McGhee, M.S., CCC-SLP, Sidekick Therapy Partners
Opportunities to Specialize
In addition to the stellar graduate program, graduate students may also choose to pursue one or more of our remarkable professional emphases.
Multicultural/Multilingual Emphasis
The master’s program offers a remarkable multicultural/multilingual emphasis in speech-language pathology with many unique features.
This emphasis is designed for students who wish to pursue specialized academic, research, and clinical experiences to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse populations, including bilingual populations, in a variety of settings.
Several of our faculty are experts in multicultural/multilingual issues, and students in this emphasis have the opportunity to work with them all.
- Learn more about the multicultural/multilingual emphasis.
- Contact us about the multicultural/multilingual emphasis.
Goodban Fellowship, Assistantships, and Endowed Scholarships
EU offers a variety of possibilities to students for financial assistance. Currently available are the merit-based Goodban Fellowship, Graduate Assistantships, and endowed scholarships.
Criteria for the Goodban Fellowship includes completion of all prerequisite CSD requirements, minimum 3.5 undergraduate GPA, strong letters of recommendation, NSSLHA involvement with leadership potential, and a focused statement of purpose.
Two graduate students will be offered a graduate assistantship which is designed to cover one-quarter of the total graduate tuition and will involve five hours per week (180 per year) of research, teaching, and/or administrative work that will benefit the department and the student. The assistantship award continues into Year 2 of the graduate program so long as the student remains in good academic standing (course grades of B- or higher) to successfully fulfill academic and assistantship responsibilities.
Additionally, first-year graduate students can apply for Endowed scholarships.
Accreditation Information
The Master of Science (M.S.) residential education program in speech-language pathology through the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Elmhurst 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. The program is accredited through 2030.
U.S. Department of Education Compliance
The MS in CSD program is compliant with Federal regulation 43CFR 668.43. View the list of applicable states.
The Elmhurst University Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, gender identity/gender expression, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability with regard to the evaluation and treatment of clients and dissemination of scholarship funds.