Master of Arts in Communicative Sciences and Disorders

The Communicative Sciences and Disorders Master's Program from Michigan State University will not only give you the coursework needed to learn necessary skills but will also allow you to participate in problem-based learning designed to promote critical thinking skills and leadership. MSU's clinical training is community-based. We have a network of over 100 off-campus facilities including public schools, hospitals, nursing homes and private clinics, both here in Mid-Michigan and throughout the state, to support the clinical training of our master's students.
Our clinical supervisors are working in the field as speech-language pathologists and therefore opportunities for you to apply knowledge learned in the classroom directly to real-world clinical life is abundant. Additionally, our program offers two career-oriented tracks: Plan A is the thesis track, and Plan B is the non-thesis track. Students electing to pursue a thesis will have the opportunity to develop and conduct original research under the mentoring of faculty with substantial scholarly experience. While the non-thesis track offers options for comprehensive elective clinical coursework.

All Official Transcripts. Bachelor Degree is required for Admission.
Name and email addresses for three (3) letters of recommendation: The names you provide should be persons who are familiar with your academic and professional work and who are willing to assess your aptitude for graduate work. Of these three names, ideally it is suggested that you provide two academic faculty from an institution you attended and someone who supervised you in a professional environment. Once you have listed your recommenders and their email addresses, the system will automatically generate an email to your recommenders explaining the process to submit their letters electronically (no hardcopies accepted).
R'sum (1-page limit): Include all activities that account for your time while and since earning a bachelor's degree (e.g., employment, military service, travel). Be sure to include the type of activity, name of employer, city/state, and dates. List the most recent activity first. Also include all relevant communication sciences and disorders professional or volunteer experiences, along with locations and dates. MSU Career Network Services contains tools for creating resumes.
Personal statement (maximum of 800 words): Please describe your qualities and skills that will contribute to your success in graduate school and in professional practice. We want to learn more about you as an individual. Briefly describe life experiences that have brought you to this pivotal point in your life. Highlight your personal interests, characteristics, and achievements, as well your unique social, economic, cultural, familial, educational or other experiences, and emphasize how these will help you succeed and thrive in this difficult but rewarding professional training experience. Upload this statement as a PDF.
Academic Statement (two parts):
Part 1 Essay choice (maximum 500 words): As you pursue your advanced degree, you will actively engage in a process to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for a lifetime of professional practice and development. Please select one (1) of the following essay topics to convey more about your academic perspective as you embark on this process. Upload this statement as a PDF.
value during graduate school?
Part 2 Prerequisite Review Form: Use one of the two forms which best matches your background - Prerequisite Coursework Review Form - MSU Undergraduate or the Prerequisite Coursework Review Form - Alternative Undergraduate Institution. The first form is for MSU graduates who have taken MSU CSD undergraduate courses, where the second is for all other applicants. Within these forms, you will enter the coursework information that satisfies prerequisite training for our M.A. program and coursework/standards required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Computer version a minimum average of 237 with no sub-scores below 21 required. Internet-based test an average of 93 minimum with no sub-scores below 21. When submitting scores please use the university code of 1465 and department code of 83 and submit directly to the Office of Admissions, 250 Administration Bldg. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.
Admission to regular status in the Masters of Arts program is contingent upon a bachelor's degree from an approved university or college, and an academic grade-point average of 3.00 or better in the last two years of undergraduate study.