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, 58 (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). Clinicals 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.
Information Sessions
| Date | Time | Location | Register Here |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 20, 2026 | 4:00-5:30 EST | Campus | July 20 Registration Information |
| August 12, 2026 | 2:00-3:00 EST | VIRTUAL | August 12 Registration Information |
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 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: Prerequisite Course Content Areas Related to SLP Certification 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.
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.
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 .
What is the estimated cost of attendance for the MS-SLP program and what funding options are available?
The Cashier’s Office provides an Estimated Cost of Attendance broken down by on campus, distance education, residential and non-residential. You can also find the current and previous Tuition & Fees on the Financial Services website. Please note, that ECU caps graduate credit hours billing at 9 hours, meaning the maximum you would pay each semester would be for 9 credits. The Graduate School has Additional Funding Information and information about financial aid, scholarships, and assistantships.
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 will accept up to 10 non-direct or video recorded sessions towards the 25 total needed)
ECU’s report of guided observations (DOCX)
How to check if a CCC-SLP has met the standards:
Go to asha website; 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.