About the M.S. Program

Prepare for your future as a speech-language pathologist

The Master of Science program at Penn State University Park provides the training needed to work in educational, clinical, and medical settings.

During our five-semester, full-time program, students learn foundational knowledge and practical skills through integrated academic courses, hands-on clinical experiences and required externships, as well as an opportunity to work side by side with nationally recognized faculty on basic and applied research projects.

As a graduate student of Penn State’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program, you’ll learn how to assess, diagnose, and treat differences and disorders of speech, language, voice, swallowing, cognition, and hearing while mastering core knowledge of the communication disorders that affect nearly 10 percent of the world’s population.

Program learning objectives

Upon completion of the M.S. program, graduates will be able to:

1. Demonstrate deep conceptual understanding and proficiency in theories related to the field of communication sciences and disorders.
2. Demonstrate applied clinical principles and practices required to provide competent clinical services.
3. Critically conceptualize and define the critical aspects of a clinical case and determine and apply practical and theoretically driven solutions.
4. Demonstrate proficiency in assessing, designing, and executing a research strategy to answer significant questions that have real world applications in the field of communication sciences and disorders.
5. Effectively communicate relevant theory, evidence-based practice, and decision-making during group presentations of clinical cases and client outcomes.
6. Effectively communicate research and clinical evidence in presentations at local, national, and/or international meetings or conferences.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to clinical ethics, collaboration, as well as federal guidelines for service provision and client protection (e.g., IDEA, HIPAA).

Certification and licensure

Graduates of the master's program in communication sciences and disorders at the University Park campus meet the academic and practicum requirements to apply for ASHA certification and Pennsylvania state licensure. Students are prepared to complete their clinical fellowship year (CFY) and pass the Certificate of Clinical Competence.

Master's graduates can also meet the requirements for a Pennsylvania Instructional Level I certification in Speech-Language Impaired, which is required to practice as a speech-language pathologist in a Pennsylvania public school. To do so, the student's academic and practicum program must meet current Pennsylvania Department of Education standards which may require additional courses, a full-time public-school externship, and Pennsylvania certification tests. These requirements are typically able to be included in the standard M.S. degree program.