Communication Sciences Disorders MS Curriculum Requirements

Emerson College’s on-campus graduate Communication Disorders MS program features a 54-credit curriculum, with the option to add up to 18 credits of foundational coursework. Housed in the School of Communication, the program is designed with each student’s unique prior experience in mind. Whether you have an undergraduate background in Communication Sciences and Disorders or have no prior experience in the field, we will work with you to tailor your curriculum based on your academic needs.

Curriculum Requirements

Our Communication Disorders MS program can be completed full-time in two years. For full course information, review our course catalog.

The curriculum is a combination of:

  • 18 credits of foundational coursework
  • 54 credits of applied coursework
    • 45 credits of academic coursework
    • 4 credits of clinical methods
    • 5 credits of practicum

Foundational Courses

We require completion of the following undergraduate courses (within five years) before starting the 54 credits of applied coursework.

  • Courses can be completed as part of your bachelor’s degree or at any institution (online or in-person).
  • Courses must be approved with a grade of B– or better (effective for students applying to the Fall 2026 term).
  • You are not required to complete these courses by the time you apply, but they must be completed by the time the applied coursework for the program begins in the fall.
  • Emerson offers all foundational coursework for admitted students in the summer in an online, accelerated format:
    • Students who enroll in at least 2 foundational courses through Emerson will be able to apply their Federal Financial Aid package to their foundational coursework.
Course Code Title Description Credits
CD 625 Structures and Functions for Speech, Hearing, and Swallowing Covers anatomy and physiology of the speech, language, swallowing, and hearing mechanisms 3
CD 626 Language Development Covers language development from birth to adulthood 3
CD 627 Survey of Communication Disorders Across the Lifespan Introduces students to the broad range of speech, language, hearing disorders across the lifespan 3
CD 629 Speech Sounds: Phonetics and Acoustics Combines phonetics and speech science 3
CD 630 Foundations of Audiology An introductory course in audiological assessment and disorders of hearing 3