Communication Sciences and Disorders, M.S.
Format: In person on the Armstrong Campus
Credit Hours: 57
Entry Term: Fall
The Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders provides students with the knowledge and skills to prevent, assess, diagnose and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults. Evidenced-focused, team-orientated, problem-based instruction prepares graduates to enter the workforce as clinical fellowship-ready speech-language pathologists. Graduates are also prepared to pursue the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC). The degree includes a total of 54 semester hours of academic coursework and clinical practica.
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Prospective Students
Communication Sciences and Disorders Degree Completion
The graduate admissions process for the Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders is managed by the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application System (CSDCAS). Applications may be submitted beginning Sept 1st through the January 15th deadline. The Georgia Southern graduate application will NOT be accepted. Only materials submitted via CSDCAS will be reviewed.
Progression Requirements
Graduation Requirements
Information Sessions
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:
January 26, 2024 from 10 AM – 11 AM (Virtual only)
April 12, 2024 from 10 AM – 11 AM (Virtual)
April 12, 2024 from 10 AM – 11 AM (In person)
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.
Student Achievement Data
The Communication Sciences and Disorders program reports data on PRAXIS results, graduation and employment for their accrediting body, the Council of Academic Accreditation (CAA).
Class of: | Total # of Graduates | Secured Initial Employment or Continued Education Six Months Post-Graduation (Traditional) | Secured Initial Employment or Continued Education Six Months Post-Graduation (Online) |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | 29 | 100% | 100% |
2019 | 21 | 95% | 100% |
2020 | 28 | 97% | 100% |
2021 | 25 | 100% | 100% |
2022 | 28 | 98% | 100% |
Class | Students beginning Second half of program | Students Graduating | Attrition Rate | Graduation Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 29 | 29 | 0% | 100% |
2019 | 21 | 20 | 5% | 95% |
2020 | 30 | 28 | 3% | 97% |
2021 | 26 | 25 | 4% | 96% |
2022 | 28 | 28 | 0% | 100% |
Number of students taking ABD credential | 9 |
Number earning ABD credential from ARDMS | 9 |
Number earning ABD credential from ARRT | N/A |
Total number earning ABD credential | 9 |
ABD credential success rate | 100% |
Vision
The Communication Sciences and Disorders program will continue to uphold a strong commitment to higher learning and clinical education across the curriculum. This will include inter-professional relationships and innovative instructional formats that employ scholarly activity and civic responsibility, while acknowledging and meeting the needs of the city of Savannah and the surrounding community.
Values
The Communication Sciences and Disorders program supports these core values:
- Academic and clinical instruction that is transformative, experiential and rigorous, leading to student success.
- A balance among service, teaching, mentoring and scholarship.
- An environment of mutual trust and collegiality that respects diversity in professional collaborations and the clinical populations served.
- Ethical behavior and accountability for faculty, staff and students that support high standards of academic and clinical performance.
- Our relationship with Savannah and the surrounding areas for its rich history and abundant resources, through strategic community partnerships that provide learning opportunities for faculty and students.
Strategic Objectives
- The faculty within the Communication Sciences and Disorders program will use evidence-based instruction and transformative learning strategies to stimulate the critical thinking skills necessary for practice, advocacy, and leadership in the profession.
- The Communication Sciences and Disorders program will develop and maintain partnerships within the community to promote service opportunities for students as well as meet community needs.
- The Communication Sciences and Disorders program will develop and maintain partnerships with other health and non-health professions to promote interprofessional collaborations.
- The Communication Sciences and Disorders program will develop international partnerships and educational opportunities as well as increase the intercultural competence of students, faculty and staff.
- The Communication Sciences and Disorders program will maintain adequate resources for teaching, scholarship, communication, and productivity to meet current and future needs.
Mission
The Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSDS) Program supports the mission of the University to prepare individuals to think, lead, and serve, as well the mission of the Waters College of Health Professions (WCHP) to prepare future health professionals through academic excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration, while advancing knowledge through scholarship and serving culturally diverse communities.
The purpose of the Master of Science Program in CSDS is to prepare graduate students for certification in speech-language pathology through didactic coursework in foundational concepts; clinical instruction in assessment, intervention, prevention, and counseling; volunteerism and advocacy. The program teaches graduate students to evaluate and utilize evidence from scientific research; think critically in order to solve clinical problems; convey complex health information through written and spoken modalities; collaborate effectively to realize exceptional clinical outcomes; act ethically to serve clients within a culturally and linguistically diverse society as outlined in the accreditation standards of the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Accreditation
The Master of Science (M.S.) in speech-language pathology (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 the areas of 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/.

Commitment to Diversity
The Communication Sciences and Disorders program, in alignment with diversity initiatives within the Water’s College of Health Professions and Georgia Southern University, celebrates diversity in all its forms. Inclusive Excellence is a strategic pillar and a core value at Georgia Southern University. We recognize that our success as an institution of higher learning and a program depends on our ability to embrace, value, and appreciate the diversity of students, staff, faculty, administrators, and alumni across our campuses.
As a program, our desire is to foster a learning environment where students, faculty, staff, and administrators from all backgrounds feel welcomed and respected. Learn more about Inclusive Excellence at Georgia Southern here:
Professional License Disclosure
Upon graduation, students who complete the Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) 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 CSD graduate program at Georgia Southern University is intended to prepare students to meet 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 CSD 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 state’s 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 program in speech language pathology are eligible to apply for K-12 certification as a service provider in the state of 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 from 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 who are planning to pursue certification in other states are responsible for determining whether they will meet their state’s requirements for certification.
Do You Have Questions? Contact Us!
Department of Clinical Sciences
Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus
11935 Abercorn Street
Savannah, GA 31419
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Phone: 912-344-2969
Fax: 912-344-3472
Email: csds@georgiasouthern.edu
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Last updated: 7/18/2023