Master of Science Program (MS)

The Master of Science program in Communication Sciences and Disorders is designed to offer students a wide range of training experiences related to the treatment/management of communication and swallowing disorders. Students will receive academic and clinical experiences that meet the requirements for certification in Speech-Language Pathology from the Council for Clinical Certification (CFCC) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. We offer an on-campus and distance education (DE) program. Students who did not graduate with a BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders (or a related degree) and have not completed required per-requisite courses, may apply to the Master’s Program as a provisional student. This option is only offered to students who wish to enroll in the on-campus program.

The Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders offers 2 tracks (speech-language pathology track and communication science track). The speech-language pathology track is a 2 year, 56 (minimum) credit hour program of study designed to train clinical speech-language pathologists. Coursework is face-to-face at ECU in Greenville, NC or via Distance Education in the geographical location where the student resides (please note- you must live at least 75 miles outside of Greenville, NC to qualify for the DE program). Clinical s are completed in the geographic region where the student is located, including the vicinity of Greenville, NC for our on campus students. The communication science/non-clinical track requires a thesis for a research training component and does not train clinical speech-language pathology.

Student Resources

FAQ for students

Where do I find the Graduate School’s application form that is required?

Go to the Graduate School website. You can find application information through the “Apply” button.

How many students are accepted into the program?

Currently the Campus Master’s of Science Program accepts between 30-32 students, and the Distance Education MS Program accepts between 10-12 students per academic year.

What should be in the reference letters submitted through the application?

You need THREE reference letters. Please see the SLP application for specific details as to what the references should address in their letters. It is typical that references are written by former professors, undergraduate advisors, employers, or Speech -Language pathologists or physical therapists that can speak to your ability to complete the rigors of this program.

When do I find out about the Admission Committee’s decision?

Please see Application Timeline for an approximate breakdown of the application timeline.

Is the Essay important for my application?

The essays (400 words or less) are one measure of the application and gives the applicant an opportunity to highlight his or her special abilities, skills, talents, and experiences. The answers should reflect genuine impressions about you as an individual and future professional. This is a very important component of the application and should be taken seriously by the applicant.

What if I don’t have an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders?

If your undergraduate degree is in a field other than Communication Sciences & Disorders, you MUST have at least 21 credit hours of required undergraduate courses. The specific courses are defined on our website under Admission Information – Prerequisites.

What if I think a course I have taken meets one of your prerequisites, but I am not sure?

First, please reference the ASHA prerequisite requirements with questions about acceptable prerequisites: https://www.asha.org/Certification/Course-Content-Areas-for-SLP-Standards/ .  If you have additional questions, please email the course description or syllabus for any course that is not taken at ECU to the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Master’s Program Director for advice at masterscsdi@ecu.edu.

I have taken some graduate courses in the field at another university. Will you accept transfer credits toward the degree?

We may accept up to 9 semester hours of graduate transfer credit from another institution(s). Requests for such transfer credit must be made at time of admission. The course syllabus and official transcripts from the transferring institution must accompany the request. The course(s) to be transferred must be in the content area of the courses required in our department. Our instructors will determine if the course content warrants approval of the transfer credit.

The DE program-of-study is for three years. Can I shorten it by taking more than two courses per semester?

Because we offer undergraduate, Master’s and PhD degrees for full time students, we must adhere to a schedule and class size that we can effectively manage. We therefore cannot make any changes in the program-of-study without those changes adversely affecting the quality, and possible accreditation of the program. Therefore, you will not be allowed to take more than what has been outlined. Further, we have found that most students are in the DE program because they are working. Our experience tells us that two graduate courses per semester plus a clinical internship is MORE than enough to handle, and handle well! All students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in good academic standing.

Are there quotas in your program for in-state students? Out-of-state students?

All qualified, interested applicants are considered for admission, regardless of the state of residence.

Can I work and go to school at the same time?

The curriculum is very demanding and requires a student to devote a great deal of time to completing course assignments. It is not recommended that students be employed outside of the university while enrolled in the program. External work can place you in a state of conflict with classmates when completing group work, which is a large part of many courses. However, some graduate assistantship positions are available throughout the university and within the department, which are designed for students who need to earn additional funds. At the end of the curriculum, students will be working full time (40+ hrs) on a full-time internship and will find it very difficult to maintain employment. We encourage applicants to plan accordingly.

Do you offer any financial aid/assistance for the Distance Education student?

You should contact ECU Student Financial Aid Office (252-737-6610) for information regarding financial aid.

What are some example course titles that fulfill the general science requirements?

ASHA outlines example courses and gives more information in detail for each pre-requirement at Prerequisite Course Content Areas Related to SLP Certification Standards (asha.org) and CCA for SLP Standards .

How do I document my observation hours?

The guided clinical observations should include the observation of a variety of communication and swallowing disorders across the life span in different settings (e.g., clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and video recordings) In addition, the Guided Clinical Observation Hours need to be in compliance with the following 2020 Certificate of Clinical Competence Standards in Speech-Language Pathology as outlined on ASHA’s website:

The guided observation and direct client/patient contact hours must be within the ASHA Scope of Practice in Speech-Language Pathology and must be under the supervision of a clinician who holds current ASHA certification in the appropriate profession and who, after earning the CCC-SLP, has completed (1) a minimum of 9 months of post-certification, full-time experience and (2) a minimum of 2 hours of professional development in the area of clinical instruction/supervision. Guided clinical supervision may occur simultaneously during the student’s observation or afterwards through review and approval of the student’s written reports or summaries. Students may use video recordings of client services for observation purposes.

ECU’s report of guided observations (Word)

How to check if a CCC-SLP has met the standards:

Go to www.asha.org; Click on tab at top, “certification”, put in the 8-digit ASHA # or the SLP’s name with city/state (you have to know where they may live). Then click on the SLP’s name on the next screen and then you can see on the next screen if they “have met” the requirements.

Application Requirements

Application Requirements Include:

1. Complete the application via the ECU Graduate School and submit the application fee
2. Submit official transcripts for all colleges/universities attended to gradschool@ecu.edu.  Any transcript that is sent to the Master’s CSDI account will not be accepted and will need to be sent to the graduate school to be eligible for admission.
3. Three letters of recommendations (at least 1 from an academic professor)
4. Writing Prompt: Why is ECU the school in which you want to pursue your graduate degree in speech-language pathology? Express how your values and strengths align with the mission of the program, college, and ECU.
5. List of Pre-requisite Courses taken along with the course description. Completed Course Description Document (.dox)
6. Completed Pre-requisite Excel file that contain grades, credits, etc. This will calculate your Pre-req GPA. Please use the file link here to complete and upload in the application portal: Prerequisite-Summary-Form
7. Submit resume (max 2 pages)
8. Complete Casper a 90-110 minute online, open-response situational judgment test. To complete this assessment visit AcuityInsights.app to create an account and register to complete Casper (Duet is not required) and report scores to ECU.

How to complete Casper

In order to take the assessments, you will be responsible for securing access to a laptop or desktop computer with webcam and audio capabilities and a reliable internet connection with an internet speed of at least 1.5 Mbps and upload speed of at least 2 Mbps. You will require the following for both account creation and completing Acuity Insights Assessments::

• Government-issued photo ID (English/French) for account validation
• Valid email address (the same one you will use to submit your application)
• Desktop or laptop computer
• Working webcam
• Working microphone
• Reliable high-speed internet connection

1. Please go to www.acuityinsights.app to sign up for Acuity Insights Assessment-Casper for Speech-Language Pathology (CSP-10101 – U.S. Professional Health Sciences) under your specific country, and register using your full name and a piece of government-issued photo ID.
2. Select a Casper test date. You will be provided with a limited number of testing dates and times, which have been pre-arranged/approved by your program(s) in accordance with their admissions timelines. Please note that these are the only testing dates available for your Casper test based on your program selection(s). There will be no additional tests scheduled. Please use an email address that you check regularly and that you have used for your application; there may be updates to the test schedule.
3. Important: To account for identity verification and payment processing timelines, ensure that you register for your test at least 3 days before your preferred test date and time. Last-minute bookings are not recommended.
4. Ensure you have selected ECU for distribution before the posted distribution deadline. Likely, there will be no additional tests scheduled, but the most up-to-date information can be found by browsing the Test Dates and Times on acuityinsights.app.
5. Please direct any inquiries on Acuity Insights Assessments to support@acuityinsights.app. Alternatively, you may use the chat bubble in the bottom right corner of your screen on the acuityinsights.app website.

Accommodations: Applicants requiring testing accommodations to complete their Acuity Insights Assessments should submit an Initial Request Form (Part 1 and 2) at least four (4) weeks prior to their scheduled Casper test date. More information regarding the accommodations policy can be found in this help article here.

More information regarding accommodations can be found here.

About Casper

The Casper test comprises 12 sections of video and written scenarios. Following each scenario, you will be required to answer a set of probing questions under a time contract. The test typically takes between 60-90 minutes to complete. Each response is graded by a different rater, giving a very robust and reliable view of personal and professional characteristics important to our program. No studying is required for Casper, although you may want to familiarize yourself with the test structure at TakeAltus.com, and ensure you have a quiet environment to take the test. We strongly urge you to take advantage of the 12-section practice test, which will not only immerse you in the test environment, but will also ensure you meet the technical requirements to access and complete the test.

Casper test results are valid for one admissions cycle. Applicants who have already taken the test in previous years will therefore be expected to re-take it.

For a more detailed look at the Casper test, please see this video.