Master's Program
UCF School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Overview
The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers professional education leading to a Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders. The program requires the equivalent of two years of full-time attendance, including summers, and is designed to meet the certification requirements of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and licensure by the state of Florida.
Accreditation
The Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders (MA) education program in Speech-Language Pathology residential program at the University of Central Florida is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700
Program Goals
The primary goal of this clinical master’s degree program is to prepare speech-language pathologists for work in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, community clinics and private practices with children, adolescents and adults who experience a variety of communication and associated disorders. To accomplish this goal, much of the educational programming at the master’s level takes place at the UCF Communication Disorders Clinic and in more than 200 practicum/internship sites throughout the greater Orlando area and the state of Florida. Following completion of the master’s degree, some graduates continue on to pursue doctoral studies.
- To prepare speech-language pathologists who have the knowledge and skills to provide quality services to diverse populations in a variety of settings for individuals with communication disorders across the lifespan.
- To prepare speech-language pathologists who will conduct themselves ethically and professionally.
- To prepare speech-language pathologists to work collaboratively with other professionals.
- To prepare speech-language pathologists who will advocate for individuals with communication disorders as well as for appropriate prevention, assessment and intervention services in a variety of settings.
- To provide graduates with the knowledge and skills to seek and find appropriate employment.
- To instill in students an appreciation for lifelong professional learning.
Student Achievement Data
Program Completion Rate
| Period | # completed within expected time frame | % completing within expected time frame |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | 99 | 96 |
| 2021-2022 | 78 | 95 |
| 2020-2021 | 89 | 100 |
| 2019-2020 | 99 | 99 |
| 2018-2019 | 87 | 100 |
| 2017-2018 | 94 | 100 |
| 2016-2017 | 94 | 100 |
| Average | 90.16 | 99 |
Praxis Examination Pass Rates of Graduates
| Period | # taking exam | # passed exam | Pass rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | 76 | 76 | 100 |
| 2021-2022 | 81 | 81 | 100 |
| 2020-2021 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 2019-2020 | 89 | 89 | 100 |
| 2018-2019 | 87 | 87 | 100 |
| 2017-2018 | 94 | 94 | 100 |
| 2016-2017 | 94 | 94 | 100 |
| Average | 90.83 | 90.83 | 100 |
Employment Rates of Graduates within One Year of Graduation
| Period | # graduates | % of graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | 104 | 96.2 |
| 2020-2021 | 88 | 98.96 |
| 2019-2020 | 91 | 98.9 |
| 2018-2019 | 88 | 99 |
| 2017-2018 | 94 | 80 |
| 2016-2017 | 94 | 100 |
| Average | 93.16 | 95.51 |
Join Us at an Open House
We have regularly scheduled clinic tours and information sessions available. Please feel free to review the calendars below to schedule your visit in advance.
Advising
The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers a full range of advising services, including academic, professional and personal advisement. The school provides you with two types of advisors: Academic Advisors and Faculty Advisors.
Academic advisors are non-faculty, professional staff members who are knowledgeable about school program requirements and university guidelines for admissions, registration and graduation. Prior to registration for your first semester of graduate study, the academic advisor will assist you in the development of an Academic Plan of Study and a Clinical Plan of Study. As you progress through your program, the academic advisor will continue to help you update your study plans, aid in the selection of classes, assist you in registering each semester and advise you about graduation requirements.
Faculty advisors are full-time professors in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders. When you enter the graduate program, you will be assigned to a faculty advisor who will be responsible for academic and professional advising. Faculty advisors typically schedule five office hours during the week. At peak advising times, such as registration, they will often schedule additional hours. To assure successful progress through the program, you will be required to meet with your faculty advisor each semester prior to registration to affirm that you are “on track” for completion of the program.
As you move through the program, you will follow a prescribed sequence of courses. This sequence can only be changed under extraordinary circumstances. If you need to request a change in either your Academic Plan of Study or Clinical Plan of Study, you will be required to provide your request, in writing, first to your faculty advisor who will then refer you to a master’s program coordinator. The master’s program coordinator will be responsible for approving all changes to study plans. A request to change a study plan will be granted only for the most significant and serious reasons.
Advisor
Christie Hasegawa
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 407-823-0892
Schedule An Appointment Today!
Make an Appointment:
Master’s degree student advising is readily available in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Advising is offered Monday through Friday by appointment. Prospective graduate students should read the Admission FAQs prior to meeting with the academic advisor.
To make an appointment:
- Please email [email protected] at least two days prior to your requested appointment.
- Include a few dates and times that you are available, your name and the reason for the meeting request.
- You will receive an email response to confirm your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Master’s Program
Thank you for your interest in the Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders program at the University of Central Florida. We hope that some of your questions can be answered with the information provided below. If you still have questions after reading this information, contact us at [email protected].
Program Information
For specific program information, including admission requirements and even the prescribed plan of study with the required courses, review the appropriate section in the UCF Graduate Catalog. We recommend that you review this information in full before applying to the program.
The Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders program consists of a minimum of 72 credit hours.
The school admits
- qualified in-field applicants with an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders or speech-language pathology and audiology. In-field students complete the program in six semesters.
- out-of-field applicants with an undergraduate degree in another major. Out-of-field students complete the program in eight to nine semesters. They take an additional 32 to 35 credit hours of prerequisite undergraduate course work that may be completed in approximately two to three semesters after being admitted to the graduate program.
There are three options when completing the program.
I. Traditional Program
I have a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders and want to attend the program full time.
The traditional master’s degree program requires a prescribed sequence of academic and clinical courses that may vary according to the semester of entry. The school must approve changes to the prescribed plan of study. The program takes six semesters to complete. The UCF Graduate Catalog outlines the prescribed plan of study.
II. Out-of-Field Student
I do not have a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders but would like to apply to the program.
Students who did not major in communication sciences and disorders or a related field (“out of field”) may still apply to the program but must complete the undergraduate prerequisite courses upon admission. These courses are meant to be taken upon admission to the graduate program at UCF, not before admission. These courses are specific to UCF, and other graduate programs will have different course requirements. Students are not guaranteed admission if they complete the courses prior to being admitted to the program.
A course-by-course analysis will not be done prior to admission for out-of-field courses. However, upon admission we will most certainly do a course-by-course analysis to establish a plan of study. There is no guarantee that courses will transfer, so if you choose to take the courses prior to admission or graduate courses at other schools you do so at your own risk.
Out-of-field students must complete the following undergraduate prerequisite courses or their equivalents once admitted:
- STA 2014 – Principles of Statistics 3 Credit Hours or
- STA 2023 – Statistical Methods I 3 credit hours
- LIN 3716/3716L – Language Development and Lab 5 Credit Hours
- SPA 3101 – Physiological Bases of Speech and Hearing 3 Credit Hours
- SPA 3104 – Neural Bases of Communication 3 Credit Hours
- SPA 3112C – Basic Phonetics and Lab 4 Credit Hours
- SPA 3011 – Speech Science 3 Credit Hours
- SPA 4032 – Audiology 3 Credit Hours
III. Consortium Track
Admission to the Consortium program is currently paused and will be unavailable until further notice. Any updates will be listed here when available.
IV. Other Options?
I want to attend a part-time or an online program.
Currently, we do not offer a part-time or an online master’s degree program. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (AHSA) website provides information on schools that offer online/distance-learning programs.
Please see the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders’ nondegree student policy.
Nondegree students are applicants who have completed at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States and are not seeking a graduate degree. Students interested in taking courses in communication sciences and disorders are able to apply as a non-degree student through UCF’s College of Graduate Studies (www.graduate.ucf.edu).
Once admitted as a nondegree student, you must come to the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders’ office during the first week of classes to receive permission to be enrolled in a communication sciences and disorders course. The school will not grant permission to enroll in any courses prior to the first week of classes and only certain courses are available for nondegree students. Most courses are full by the start of the semester.
Due to the large number of applicants to our program, we cannot evaluate prerequisite courses prior to admission. Our program accepts prerequisites from other accredited institutions. Most students are required to complete additional prerequisites, approximately one semester, after admission to the program.
The graduate advisor and graduate coordinator will review transcripts after a student is admitted to the graduate program.
How To Apply
The Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders program at UCF uses the CSDCAS application service. Please refer to the school’s admissions page for detailed information on how to apply.
All required materials must be submitted by the established deadlines. We admit students in the fall and spring.
Fall – January 15th
Spring – October 1st
In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide the following to the College of Graduate Studies:
- Three (3) letters of recommendation with CSDCAS recommendation forms, preferably two from former faculty members. Letters of recommendation cannot be dated more than one year prior to the date of the application deadline.
- A letter of intent describing educational background, professional experiences, future goals, interest in the field, why you want to attend UCF, other related information about your qualifications, and how you will embody and uphold ASHA Code of Ethics
- A current resume.
- All CSDCAS supplemental questions. Question can be found on CSDCAS application
- Video Requirement-In addition to content knowledge, there are a variety of technical skills, personal flexibility and resiliency behaviors, and overall positive attitudes that are required to be successful as a Speech-Language Pathologist. With these factors in mind, please discuss how you would contribute to enhancing a positive professional culture as a student in the Master of Arts program in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Central Florida. Your video may not exceed 3 minutes.
- UCF Graduate Application (supplemental) must be submitted by the deadline in addition to CSDCAS application.
Please note:
Incomplete or unverified applications will NOT be reviewed by CSD Admission Committee.
All application materials MUST be sent directly to CSDCAS. Application materials must be received by CSDCAS no later than October 1st for Spring admission.
Please be advised: It may take CSDCAS up to Three Weeks to verify your application. The earlier you submit a completed application; the quicker CSDCAS can begin the verification process.
Please be advised: It may take CSDCAS up to Three Weeks to verify your application. The earlier you submit a completed application; the quicker CSDCAS can begin the verification process.
The GRE is not currently required.
The average GPA of applicants offered admission ranges from a 3.6 to 3.8 (last 60 credit hours).
Most bridge programs are accepted as comparable to having an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders so you would apply as a Traditional student rather than Out of Field. If you completed an official bridge program, you would not be required to take any prerequisite coursework.
You can check the status of your application anytime online at myUCF. If you have questions regarding submitted materials, please contact the College of Graduate Studies at 407-823-2766 or [email protected].
Please start by reviewing our complete Selection Policies and Procedures. Once you have an understanding of those, you can download and complete the Graduate Assistantship Application.
Our admissions committee completes a holistic review of each applicant and for the 2020-2021 admissions cycle students have the opportunity to answer the Additional COVID-19 Questions in the Core CSDCAS Application. While these questions are optional we strongly encourage students to answers these questions as part of their CSDCAS application.
Additional COVID-19 Questions in the Core CSDCAS Application
Did your school move to offering only online curriculum during the COVID-19 crisis?
Did you receive a pass/fail grade for any of your courses taken during the COVID-19 crisis?
Please describe how COVID-19 has impacted your pathway to graduate school. (2500 characters maximum)
Items to consider incorporating in your response may include, but are not limited to:
Academic: Were you able to interact with your professors? Did you have to leave an academic program stateside or abroad? Did your school require you to move to pass/fail grading systems? Did your GRE exam get cancelled or delayed? Other academic barriers?
Professional: Did you hold a job? Did have to seek new job opportunities? Did you lose a job? Other financial or professional barriers that you faced?
Personal: Did you have to move out of a house or dorm? Did you have to cancel travel plans? Did you modify your planned experiences related to healthcare or volunteer opportunities? Did you seek out volunteer opportunities that arose from the crisis? Did you assist any family or community members that were affected?
General Information
Campus tours are available Monday through Friday (except holidays) at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
If you are interested in stopping by the school, please select an informational session and clinic tour from the calendar above.
Estimated school costs are posted the Office of Student Financial Assistance website. The fee schedule is posted on the Student Account Services website.
The Office of Student Financial Assistance assists all students with the financial aid process.
Students offered admission may be eligible for a position in the school as a graduate teaching assistant (GTA) or graduate research assistant (GRA), however, these opportunities are limited. Please review the College of Graduate Studies’ Assistantships webpage for more information. A GTA application can be completed after admission to the program. Further information will be shared with all accepted students.
ASHA Certification
Being “certified” means holding the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), a nationally recognized professional credential that represents a level of excellence in the field of Audiology (CCC-A) or Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). The certification requirements can be found on the ASHA website.
Those who have achieved the CCC-ASHA certification have voluntarily met rigorous academic and professional standards, typically going beyond the minimum requirements for state licensure. They have the knowledge, skills and expertise to provide high quality clinical services, and they actively engage in ongoing professional development to keep their certification current.
Eligibility for Licensure
At this time our program meets the educational eligibility criteria for licensure as a speech-language pathologist in the state of Florida. We are unable to confirm the licensure and certification requirements of other states. If you intend to pursue such credentialing in your state or elsewhere, we advise you to contact the applicable state credentialing authority to familiarize yourself with its specific requirements and determine if our program meets its eligibility criteria.
You are welcome to contact Jacqueline Towson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, our master’s degree program director, with questions in this regard. We will do our best to assist you in your career planning.
For additional information
The Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology
is responsible for licensing, monitoring, disciplining and educating speech-language pathologists and audiologists to assure competency and safety to practice in Florida. For other state requirements, visit the ASHA State Overviews webpage.
