EKU Logo
EKU Logo
Apply Now Get Info Search
Hero Image

Master of Arts in Communication Disorders

Department of Clinical Therapeutic Programs

College of Education & Applied Human Sciences

Master of Arts in Communication Disorders

Department of Clinical Therapeutic Programs

College of Education & Applied Human Sciences

On-Campus

Program

63 Credit Hours

to Graduate

Full-Time, In-State Tuition

$530 Per Credit Hour

Low-Cost Textbooks

For All Students

Prepare to Enhance the Quality of Lives of Others

The Master of Arts in Communication Sciences & Disorders prepares professionals to create a society in which individuals with communication and swallowing needs are supported. Graduates will be prepared to enhance the quality of lives of individuals with communication and swallowing needs and their caregivers, families, and communities through service, teaching, research, and advocacy.

Gain the in-depth knowledge needed to provide effective, evidence-based services to individuals in a variety of settings including, healthcare, private practice, rehabilitation clinics, early intervention and schools. Courses are designed to provide the skill sets to serve individuals of diverse ages and backgrounds, allowing graduates to become highly qualified and ethical speech-language pathologists and audiologists.

Apply Now Schedule a Visit

Learn More

Loading…

Career Outlook

Speech-language pathologists (sometimes called SLPs or speech therapists) assess and treat people who have speech, language, voice, fluency, and swallowing disorders. Speech-language pathologists also work with clients who have problems understanding and expressing language.

Employment of speech-language pathologists is projected to grow 19 percent from 2022 to 2032.

– U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Job Titles Include:

  • Speech-Language Pathologist
  • Speech Therapist

EKU communication disorders graduates work in a variety of industries and roles.

Employers Include:

  • Baptist Health Hospital
  • Bluegrass Pediatric Therapies
  • Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation
  • Ephraim McDowell Kids Can Do Pediatric Therapy Center
  • Family Choice Health Care
  • Georgetown Community Hospital
  • Hogg Therapy
  • Kentucky Public Schools
  • Kentucky’s Early Intervention System
  • Lexington VA Medical Center
  • Marshall Pediatrics Therapy
  • The Heritage Rehabilitation
  • Wilson Pediatric Therapy & Learning

The Office of Academic and Career Services is a one-stop shop for all your career and professional development needs.

Services Include:

  • Creating/updating your resume and cover letter
  • Interviewing tips and coaching
  • Career documents review
  • Job search

Why EKU?

  • Low-cost textbooks through EKU BookSmart
  • No application fee
  • Reduced tuition for active-duty military members and their spouses
  • Nationally ranked program in speech-language pathology
  • Research opportunities including: voice laboratory, interdisciplinary research, publications, presentations, thesis option
  • Clinical experiences including: EKU Speech-Language Hearing Clinic, specialty clinical experiences, medical externship, school externship
  • Employment rate of more than 90%

Clinical Experience

Communication Sciences & Disorders (CSD) students are enrolled in multiple practicum experiences throughout the graduate program, including:

Students will gain experience with clients across the lifespan and with various communication disorders.

This on-campus school-based setting provides hands-on experience with P-12 students in the classroom and therapy settings.

Opportunities with summer programming that allow focused experience with fluency, cognitive communication, support groups, early intervention supports, and literate language.

Students complete 16-week, full time externship experiences in medical and school settings. Settings including:

  • Acute Care Hospital
  • Rehabilitation Center
  • Long-Term Care
  • Home Health
  • Private Practice
  • Outpatient Center
  • Elementary, Middle, and High Schools
  • Model Lab School

Curriculum & Admission

EKU’s Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders curriculum prepares you for a variety of rewarding career options that will allow you to improve the lives of others and become a leader in your field.

Communication sciences and disorders graduate courses are taught by instructors with real-world experience and designed to provide skill sets that can be applied to service, teaching, research, and advocacy. Courses include neurogenic language disorders, child language disorders, augmentative & alternative communication systems, motor speech disorders, speech sound disorders, diagnosis of communication disorders, fluency disorders, voice disorders, and dysphagia.

A minimum of 63 credits are required to graduate. This program is full-time and completed in 6 consecutive semesters.

View the degree requirements:

EKU Academic Catalog

Please review the admissions requirements before applying for this or any program. If you have questions about the program or are planning to register for classes, please speak to the program advisor.

Students may transfer up to 12 hours of credit from accredited institutions. Please note that a minimum of 15 credit hours in this degree program must be completed at Eastern Kentucky University.

Previously earned credits must be reviewed upon admission to EKU for appropriate articulation.

TermApplication
Deadline		Classes
Begin
SummerFebruary 15May

For clear admission to the program the student must:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders or a related field
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Professional essay
  • Online interview

The Master of Arts (M.A.) education program in speech-language pathology (residential) at Eastern Kentucky University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

Student Outcome Data

Two indicators of our graduate program’s effectiveness are: (1) on-time program completion rates and (2) Praxis exam pass rates. On both indicators, our program rates have been above the 80% target level (see tables below).

On-Time Program Completion Rates (Graduation Rates)

Reporting PeriodNumber completed within the expected time framePercent completed within the expected time frame
Recent Year (2024-2025)31/3296.88%
1 Year Prior
(2023-2024)		28/28100%
2 Years Prior
(2022-2023)		28/3093.33%

3-Year Program Completion Average – 96.7%

Praxis Exam Pass Rates

Reporting PeriodNumber of Test TakersNumber PassedPass Rate Average
Recent Year (2024-2025)313096.77%
1 Year Prior
(2023-2024)		262180.77%
2 Years Prior
(2022-2023)		252392%

3-Year Praxis Exam Pass Rate Average – 90%

Strategic Plan for 2025-2029

Vision Statement
We aspire to cultivate a high-quality academic and clinical training program in Communication Sciences and Disorders, grounded in excellence, innovation, and a commitment to student and client success.

Graduate Program Mission Statement
The EKU Graduate Program in Communication Sciences and Disorders prepares highly-qualified and ethical speech-language pathologists to provide effective, evidence-based services to persons of all ages and diverse backgrounds with communication and swallowing disorders.

Undergraduate Program Mission Statement
The EKU Undergraduate Program in Communication Sciences and Disorders equips students for advanced study in the fields of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) or Audiology (AUD), and/or entry into clinical practice as an SLP-assistant.
 

Strategic Plan Focus Areas

  • Increase visibility
  • Refine clinical education model
  • Advocacy for increased resources
  • Technology integration
  • Curriculum and student assessment
  • Faculty, staff, and student wellness

Strategic Plan Executive Summary

Goal Statement: Increase awareness and visibility of the Communication Sciences and Disorders program and the profession of Speech-Language Pathology within EKU and the community.

Objectives:

  • Rebrand the Graduate Program in CSD to emphasize that we are training future speech-language pathologists (SLPs)
  • Increase awareness of EKU’s undergraduate CSD program and strategically recruit individuals for the SLP and audiology professions
  • Market CSD programs to prospective students
    Increase awareness of the CSD programs and SLP profession across the EKU community
  • Inform prospective students and stakeholders of the potential for national certification and state licensure as a speech-language pathology – assistant (SLP-A)

Goal Statement: Refine clinical education to promote state of the art training for students entering fields in CSD

Objectives:

  • Broaden clinical opportunities and experiences to equip students for entry into clinical practice or advanced study
  • Increase the number of interprofessional educational opportunities
  • More frequently engage students in ethical discussions related to social determinants of health (SDOH) and person- and family-centered care

Goal Statement: Obtain additional resources to support students, faculty/staff, and program operations

Objectives:

  • Increase internal resources
  • Secure external funding from government agencies, private foundations, and/or research organizations to support faculty research and student scholarships
  • Strengthen relationships with alumni to increase donations and support for the program
  • Increase faculty compensation
  • Build collaborations with schools, hospitals, and private practices to support students

Goal Statement: Integrate emerging technologies into CSD education and clinical training to enhance student competency, improve patient outcomes, and ensure ethical, evidence-based implementation

Objectives:

  • Increase opportunities for students to learn about telepractice
  • Establish a comprehensive framework for the ethical, effective, and appropriate integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into CSD coursework and clinical education
  • Integrate assistive technology and clinical instrumentation into CSD coursework and clinical education to prepare students for ethical, effective, and practical use of current and emerging tools
  • Introduce students to software programs used for clinical documentation / electronic health records (EHR)

Goal Statement: Revise and implement a CSD curriculum that represents the full scope of SLP practice across the lifespan and with diverse populations to achieve student competency.

 

Objectives:

  • Review existing undergraduate and graduate curricula to ensure integration of the Big 9 across the lifespan, including a focus on counseling relationships with clients
  • Foster student curiosity for researching and implementing evidence-based practice (EBP)
  • Explore competency-based education (CBE) as a means for assessing clinical skills
  • Equip students with skills to effectively find, evaluate, and use information related to principles of evaluating and treating communication and swallowing disorders

Goal Statement: Develop mental health/wellness practices to support student, staff, and faculty wellness.

Objectives:

  • Increase awareness of campus wellness resources and integrate wellness education into coursework
  • Model and promote mental health and wellness practices through faculty-student engagement and classroom experiences
  • Promote culturally responsive and inclusive approaches to wellness
  • Equip students with knowledge and skills to navigate health, wellness, and professional boundaries in their future careers

Enrolling & Advising Information

EKU’s College of Education and Applied Human Sciences is committed to delivering high-quality enrollment and academic advising for our students. We strive to create an atmosphere of mutual trust and meaningful engagement to help students reach their academic goals and have a rewarding educational experience.

Interested in enrolling? Reach out to your enrollment advisor.

Hannah Leabo

Enrollment Counselor

Call: 859-622-8610
hannah.leabo@eku.edu

Schedule an Appointment

Additional Contact Info

Admissions: 859-622-2106
Academic Testing: 859-622-1281
Big E Central (Financial Aid & Student Account Services): 859-622-2361
Military & Veterans Affairs Office: 859-622-2345

Student Stories & Features

  • Crickett Ravizee

    EKU Clinical Mental Health Counseling Student
    Connecting with my cohort has been my favorite experience. Its nice working with people who also have a drive to help others and want to better the world.

  • Kennedy Thurman

    EKU Clinical Mental Health Counseling Student
    Dr. Mi-Hee Jeon has been very beneficial in my courses and has shown me a totally different side of counseling.

  • Elizabeth Brubeck

    EKU School Counseling Graduate
    By earning my master’s, I was able to obtain my dream job at my dream school, a counselor at Fayette County Public Schools. This degree also allowed me additional experiences and opportunities that have aided my success in starting my career. Each professor that I have had in my undergraduate program, as well as my graduate program, have been so personal and passionate about their job. The professors in the counseling program are some of the best and I feel so lucky that I was able to learn from them. I see many of them as mentors and know that…

Quick Links

Upcoming Events

Calendars
Venues
Days of the Week
Time of Day
List
Grid
Plain
Tue
28

Chellgren Workshop – Preparing for Finals

at – calendar-day
Tue
28

EKU Wind Ensemble and Concert Band Performance

at – calendar-day
Wed
29

Maroon Madness College Visit

at – calendar-day
Wed
29

Chellgren Workshop – Preparing for Finals

at – calendar-day
Thu
07

Spring 2026 Graduation

May 7, 2026 at – May 8, 2026 at calendar-multiday
Fri
15

Pedagogicon

at – calendar-day

News & Updates

Making Every Word Count With Dyslexia Research

Dyslexia refers to a language-based learning disability, affecting as much as 15-20% of the population, according to the International Dyslexia Association. October as Dyslexia Awareness Month brings to light resources and learning support while celebrating dyslexia excellence. Motivated by her passion for helping children to learn—and inspired by her daughter who has dyslexia—Dr. Kellie Ellis, […]

Related Programs

Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Common Job Titles: occupational therapist

Modalities: on-campus

Credit Hours: 73-91

M.S. in Psychology – Experimental

Common Job Titles: clinical psychologist, rehabilitation counselor, human resources specialist, market researcher

Modalities: on-campus

Credit Hours: 33

Contact Information

Department of Clinical Therapeutic Programs

Wallace Building
Room 201

4366 Kit Carson Drive
Richmond, KY 40475

859-622-1125
cou.csdoffice@eku.edu

Department Directory
EKU Department of Clinical Therapeutic Programs Facebook