School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Master of Science Program in Communication Disorders
Objectives
The Master of Science program in Communication Disorders offers broad-based professional preparation in speech-language pathology within an environment which supports an active program of clinical services and research. Students are provided comprehensive exposure to clinical approaches in communication disorders and to the scientific foundations from which clinical approaches are derived. Practical experience is available in a variety of on- and off-campus clinical, educational, and medical settings.
The graduate program in Communication Disorders is accredited in speech-language pathology by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Facilities
The principal sites for the academic, clinical, and research activities of the Communication Disorders program are the UT Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders, adjacent to The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and Callier-Richardson on the UT Dallas main campus. These facilities, and others throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, provide the educational, clinical, research, and medical environments essential for an interdisciplinary program in Communication Disorders.
Admission Requirements
The University's general admission requirements are discussed on the Graduate Admission page.
Admission to the Communication Disorders Program is based on a review of the applicant's transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and statement of purpose.
Degree Requirements
The University's general degree requirements are discussed on the Graduate Policies and Procedures page.
The Master of Science program requires a minimum of 48 semester credit hours. Students completing the master's degree meet the academic and clinical practicum requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Master of Science in Communication Disorders
48 semester credit hours minimum
Faculty
Professors: Thomas Campbell, Sandra B. Chapman, Christine Dollaghan, Julia Evans, Lisa Goffman, John Hart Jr., William F. Katz, Robert D. Stillman, Linda M. Thibodeau, Hanna K. Ulatowska, Anne van Kleeck
Associate Professors: Mandy J. Maguire, Pamela R. Rollins
Assistant Professors: Raúl Rojas, Jun Wang, Andrea Warner-Czyz
Senior Lecturers: Michelle Aldridge, Jessica Carter, Lucinda Dean, Diane Garst Walsh, Karen Kaplan, Helen Kenedi, Janice Lougeay, Felicity Sale
Affiliated Faculty: Lori Cook, Audette Rackley, Melissa Sweeney
Required Courses
Students entering the master's program with a bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology are required to take the following courses:
COMD 6221 Voice Disorders
COMD 6222 Stuttering
COMD 6320 Motor Speech Disorders
COMD 6377 Neurogenic Communication Disorders
COMD 7303 Dysphagia
Elective Courses
Students must also complete approved elective courses and practicum/internship totaling 48 semester credit hours. In addition to the required courses listed above, students must complete a minimum of three additional courses in the areas of language disorders in children and language disorders in adults. Two courses must be completed in one area and one course in the other.
Students enroll in Practicum (COMD 6330) or Internship (COMD 6630) each semester in order to earn the necessary clock hours for certification and licensure. In general, a maximum of 9 semester credit hours of Practicum/Internship may be counted toward the minimum 48 semester credit hours required for the degree. Exceptions to the above requirements must be approved by the program head.
Combined Master/Doctoral Study
Students who wish to earn a clinical master's degree while pursuing doctoral study may apply for combined master's/doctoral study. Students approved to enroll in both master's and doctoral courses pursue an individualized plan of study leading to both degrees. A minimum of 39 semester credit hours in the chosen PhD program must be taken in addition to the minimum credit hour requirements for the MS degree.
Comprehensive Examination
All students seeking the master's degree in Communication Disorders must pass a written comprehensive examination. A thesis is optional.
Out-Of-Field Students
Students entering the program who lack undergraduate preparation in speech-language pathology or audiology are required to take preparatory courses as part of their graduate degree plan. Students must be admitted to the graduate program before they are eligible to enroll in preparatory courses. UT Dallas does not offer a non-degree or "leveling" program in Communication Disorders.