Curriculum

Build Your Path to Becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)

Our 48-credit program of study includes supervised clinical experiences sufficient in breadth and depth to help you gain the evaluation, intervention, and interaction skills necessary for entry into professional practice as a speech-language pathologist. Bilingual students have the additional option of enrolling in our 7-credit Bilingual Extension Program, which provides supplemental training on evaluating and treating clients using culturally and linguistically sustaining approaches.

For students who do not have a bachelor's in CSD or a related field, we offer foundation courses to provide basic knowledge prior to beginning graduate-level study. Many undergraduates come to our program from diverse academic backgrounds such as psychology, linguistics, theater, foreign language, and more.

Additional curricular opportunities include an honors thesis option for students interested in research and study abroad programming in Lund, Sweden, and Accra, Ghana. 

Required Graduate Courses (48 Credits)

Our rigorous program of study will teach you methods of prevention, assessment, and intervention for people with communication and swallowing disorders, as well as how to integrate research principles into evidence-based clinical practice.

Normal Process and Research Courses

• CSCD-GE 2125 - Speech Science: Instrumentation (2 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2109 - Critical Evaluation of Research Communicative Sciences and Disorders (2 credits)

Clinical and Disorders Courses

• CSCD-GE 2016 - Motor Speech Disorders (3 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2021 - Adult Language Disorders (3 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2028 - Fluency Disorders (3 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2035 - Language Development and Disorders in School-Aged Children (3 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2037 - Voice Disorders (3 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2039 - Language Disorders in Children (3 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2060 - Dysphagia in Children & Adults (3 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2075 - Principles of Intervention in Speech-Language Disorders (2 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2108 - Speech Sound Disorders in Children (*Formerly Phonological Analysis of Normal and Disordered Speech) (3 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2141 - Multi-Cultural Issues in Communicative Sciences and Disorders (2 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2142 - Professional Issues in Communicative Sciences and Disorders (1 credit)

Clinical Practicums and Field Placements

A minimum of eight units are required; additional practicums may be necessary to complete the required clinical hours.

You will complete a supervised practicum that includes experience with individuals across the life span and from culturally/linguistically diverse backgrounds. The practicum will include experience with populations with various severities of communication and /or related disorders, differences, and disabilities.

• CSCD-GE 2111 - On-Campus Clinical Practicum I: Pre-Clinic (2 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2115 - On-Campus Clinical Practicum II: Diagnostic Assessment (2 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2116 - On-Campus Clinical  Practicum III: Treatment (2 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2117 - Field Placement IV: Pediatrics (1 credit)
• CSCD-GE 2118 - Field Placement V: Adults (1 credit)
• CSCD-GE 2119 - Field Placement (1 credit; only as needed)

Research, Normal Process, Clinical, and Disorders Electives

Seven units from the following:

• CSCD-GE 2015 - Seminar in Speech Pathology: Augmentative Communication Devices (1 credit)
• CSCD-GE 2019 - Therapeutic Procedures in Speech Pathology: Advanced Voice Disorders (2 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2020 - Therapeutic Procedures in Speech Pathology: Aphasia (2 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2022 - Craniofacial Anomalies (3 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2023 - Neurogenic Speech Disorders in Children (2 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2030 - Language and Communication in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (2 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2068 - Instrumental Assessment and Treatment of Dysphagia (2 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2067 - Speech and Swallowing Management for the Medically Complex Child (2 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2077 - Counseling in Communicative Sciences and Disorders (1 credit)
• CSCD-GE 2114 - Computerized Analysis of Language Transcripts (1 credit)
• CSCD-GE 2127 - Hearing Loss: Rehabilitation (2 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2130 - Perception and Production of Speech (3 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2136 - Interdisciplinary Habilitation: Speaking Voice & Vocal Performance Synergistic Remediation Effect (2 credits)
• CSCD-GE 2165 - Interdisciplinary Case-Based Dysphagia Management (1 credit)
• CSCD-GE 2420 - Communicative Sciences and Disorders Research Colloquium (1 credit)
• CSCD-GE 2424 - Honors Research: Communicative Sciences and Disorders I
• CSCD-GE 2425 - Honors Research: Communicative Sciences and Disorders II
• CSCD-GE 2079 - Bilingual Assessment and Intervention (3 credits)

Departmental and Certification Courses

• CSCD-GE 2000 - Department Master of Science Seminar (0 credits)
• TCHL-GE 2999 - Drug and Alcohol Education, Child Abuse, School Violence Protection (0 credits)

Bilingual Extension Program

Bilingual and culturally-responsive speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are in high demand in schools and clinical settings throughout the country. Through our Bilingual Extension Program (BEP), you have the opportunity to supplement your master’s with an additional seven credits of training on evaluating and treating clients using culturally and linguistically sustaining approaches. Learn more about the BEP and gaining certification as a bilingual SLP.

CSD Foundation Courses

Students who enter the MS degree must have completed a bachelor’s either with a major in communicative sciences and disorders or in another subject area. Students are required to master some basic knowledge and to complete specific courses prior to beginning graduate-level courses. All foundation courses are necessary for New York State licensure and ASHA certification. These foundation courses do not carry graduate credit for the MS degree.

There are two ways to meet the foundation requirements for courses specific to the MS degree:

1. The foundation courses may be taken at another university before the student begins the program at NYU. All courses must be completed prior to the first day of the Fall term.
2. The foundation courses may be taken at NYU once the student begins the MS program. Once students begin the program at NYU, they may not take courses at another university for transfer credit into the program at NYU.

NYU’s graduate program will certify to ASHA that the requirements for clinical certification have been met. Thus, the faculty in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders at NYU must be convinced that the foundation courses taken elsewhere are equivalent in breadth, depth, and rigor to courses at NYU. In addition, students must demonstrate that they have mastered the information in the required foundation courses by earning a grade of B or higher in all foundation courses taken at another university or they will be required to take the course again at NYU. Students must earn a C or better in all foundation courses taken at NYU or they will be required to take the course again.

Students are required to submit the appropriate documentation to their academic adviser to ensure that the content of their completed course work is sufficient in terms of breadth and depth. This includes a thorough review of the course syllabus. Students may also be asked to provide information pertaining to the course texts, exams, notes, and at times a one-to-one discussion, to demonstrate working knowledge of the information in a foundation course to determine course equivalency. Courses for which equivalence cannot be established must be taken as part of the graduate program.

Students must complete all foundation course work prior to entering the practicum sequence. Students may take foundation courses concurrently with some of the approved graduate-level courses. These will be determined by your adviser and indicated on your course plan.

• CSCD-GE 2002 - Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Swallow Mechanisms
• CSCD-GE 2003 - Neurological Basis of Cognition, Behavior, and Communication
• CSCD-GE 2004 - Introduction to Audiology and Aural Rehabilitation 
• CSCD-GE 2006 - Phonetics
• CSCD-GE 2007 - Science of Language
• CSCD-GE 2008 - Language Development and Disorders
• CSCD-GE 2009 - Speech Development and Disorders in Children

Any student who is missing some or all of the foundation courses must complete these in addition to the 48 credits required for the MS degree (see section above).

Note: Students must have a completed academic course in Linguistics or Science of Language as a prerequisite to the master's curriculum. The linguistic course may be taken at NYU, another college, or online, with the permission of a faculty member.

Due to the high number of interested applicants, our department is unable to review transcripts and approve foundation courses for prospective students. It is advised that students compare the course descriptions of previously taken courses in communicative sciences and disorders to the department’s foundation course descriptions, in order to determine if the content is an accurate match. In addition, students may utilize our Foundation Course Equivalent resource in order to determine some of the alternative course titles that we have accepted from outside universities.

Additional ASHA/New York State Course Requirements

In addition to the foundation courses listed above, all students must complete 12 combined units of course work in social/behavioral science, biological science, physical science and statistics to be eligible for ASHA certification. Our graduate program is also registered with New York State, and all graduates are required to complete three college-level units in a language other than English.

Students may have completed these requirements at another accredited college prior to entering the program, and need only to submit confirmation of an earned C or better grade (on graduate or undergraduate transcript) for credit. If the course content or earned grade was not sufficient, then students must complete these requirements prior to starting the practicum sequence. It is the policy of the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders that all students must earn credit hours for each of these courses. In any case, continuing education units (CEUs) OR continuing education credits (CECs) will not be accepted. 

• Biological Science: Acceptable courses in biological sciences emphasize a content area related to human or animal sciences (e.g., biology, human anatomy and physiology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, human genetics, veterinary science).
• Physical Science: Course work in physical sciences includes introductory or advanced physics or chemistry.
• Statistics: Acceptable courses include any college-level, standalone statistics course that is computational versus remedial, historical, or methodological in nature. 
• Social and Behavioral Science: Acceptable courses in social/behavioral sciences should include psychology, sociology, anthropology, or public health
• Foreign Language: A minimum of 3 credits of course work in a language other than English must be completed. In addition to foreign languages, American Sign Language can fulfill this requirement. 

The combination of biological science, physical science, statistics, and social/behavioral science must equate to a minimum of 12-credits. Research methodology courses in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) may not be used to satisfy the statistics requirement. Courses in biological and physical sciences specifically related to communication sciences and disorders (CSD) may not be applied for certification purposes to this category unless the course fulfills a university requirement in one of these areas. In addition to transcript credit, applicants may be required by their graduate program to provide further evidence of meeting this requirement.