As a graduate student at Emerson College, you will have access to a variety of exclusive benefits and opportunities that will help prepare you to take your career as a speech-language pathologist to the next level.
Clinical and Research Opportunities for Communication Disorders Students
Students in Emerson College’s on-campus graduate Communication Disorders MS program gain valuable hands-on clinical experience both on- and off-campus. Housed in the School of Communication, the program also offers opportunities for students to participate in research alongside our faculty.
The Robbins Center
The Robbins Center is the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders’ on-campus primary clinical training facility. Here you will learn to provide evaluation and treatment to a wide variety of clients including children, adults, and their caregivers.
Clinical Placements
During clinical practice, you will have opportunities to participate in multiple clinical settings while evaluating and treating a wide variety of culturally and linguistically diverse individuals.
Clinical placement settings include:
- Robbins Center
- Early intervention programs
- Public and private schools
- Private practices
- Acute care and rehabilitation hospitals
Your first clinical placement will be on-campus in the Robbins Center, where you will participate in one of the specialty programs devoted to children and adults with communication disorders, such as aphasia; developmental speech, language, or learning disorders; and stuttering.
Before the end of your second year, you will take a written comprehensive examination in communication disorders (administered twice per year) or complete a thesis.
Throughout your time in the program, you’ll be compiling a portfolio reflecting the integration of your academic and clinical work.
Typical Semester Format
- 3 academic courses (3 credits each)
- 1 clinical methods course (1 credit each)
- 1 clinical practicum (1 credit each)
Research Opportunities
The graduate program takes advantage of Emerson’s technologically enhanced classrooms and laboratories, the on-campus Robbins Speech Language and Hearing Center, as well as a wide variety of off-campus community clinical sites.
The Robbins Center is an active outpatient community clinic. Facilities include:
- Individual and group treatment rooms for children and adults, each outfitted for digital recording for remote recording/viewing
- Student clinician preparation room
- Augmentative and alternative communication laboratory
- Voice analysis lab
- Audiological testing booth
On-campus clinical experiences are enhanced by access to iPads, clinical applications, and a wide array of the most current testing and treatment materials.
The CSD Research Suite offers you the opportunity to partner with the department’s faculty to gain research experience in our cutting-edge laboratory facilities.
Praxis Pass Rate
The Praxis examination is a national examination administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service) and is taken by our program graduates in order to qualify for ASHA certification, as well as licensure in many states.
- 99% of our students passed the examination on their first attempt*
*Over the past three years
Career Outlook for Communication Disorders Graduates
Students interested in a career in Speech-Language Pathology can anticipate competitive salaries and a healthy job market.
- In 2022, US News & World Report ranked Speech-Language Pathology as the 3rd best job in healthcare, with a median salary of $80,000.
- Employment for Speech-Language Pathologists is projected to grow 25% from 2019–20291
- Speech-Language Pathologists can find work in a variety of fields including educational services, hospitals, nursing, and residential care facilities, physical, occupational, audiology, and speech therapy offices, and self-employment2
- Employees with a master’s degree earn up to $12,000 more per year than those with a bachelor’s.
Talk with the Communication Disorders MS Admission Counselor
Get the Emerson Edge with Our Graduate Student Benefits
Once you commit to graduate school at Emerson, you’re automatically enrolled in our Emerson Edge program. Emerson Edge is designed to help you network with peers, alumni, faculty, and staff to ensure you’re getting what you need out of your graduate program including career exploration, resume building, financial planning, and access to exclusive events for students and alumni.
Emerson Edge Benefits
- Career exploration and preparedness: Work with the Career Development Center to discuss your interests and skills to investigate different career paths. Our Career Development team reviews industry trends and updates you on emerging career paths and industries. Start with the Graduate Career Action Plan to learn about your skills, the Emerson community, industry, and network. Work with our team to craft your resume, cover letter, and portfolio and receive access to exclusive job listings.
- Attend graduate student events: Meet new friends and network with your colleagues in the graduate community at in-person and online events hosted by the Graduate Student Association.
- Work with your graduate program director: Your graduate program director serves as a mentor to you and your classmates. They’ll help you connect with alumni, identify internship and career opportunities, and build a class schedule that excites you.
- Network with Emerson alumni: Our alumni network consists of 51,000+ proud lions. Meet alumni from around the globe through Emerson’s exclusive Emerge platform, and in-person and virtual events hosted by our Alumni Relations team. Our alumni are known for helping each other out, from mentoring opportunities to career guidance, and you’ll join one of the best alumni networks in the country.
- Consult with our Lacerte Family Writing and Academic Resource Center to create a work-life balance plan and receive feedback on writing projects and coursework for native and non-native English speakers.
- Find graduate housing: Work with our Off-Campus Student Services to find off-campus graduate housing, roommates, neighborhood and budgeting advice, and even learn how to sign a lease.
- Explore our accessible resources: Coordinate with our Student Accessibility Services to receive access and support to our graduate programs and courses, activities, and services to ensure your needs are met while studying at Emerson.
1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Speech-Language Pathologists, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm
2Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Speech-Language Pathologists, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm