Communication Disorders

Note that these are minimum credit and grade requirements, without which applications will not be considered. Actual admission decisions are based on competitive review.

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
• A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (4.0 scale)
• A college-level course in statistics with a minimum grade of 2.0 (4.0 scale)
• At least nine courses in speech, language and hearing at the undergraduate level. Courses must be determined to be equivalent to the New Paltz minimum specified courses listed below. These courses must be completed prior to matriculation
• Official results of the GRE general test with satisfactory test scores
• One copy of ALL official transcripts (including transfer schools)
• A non-refundable application fee of $60
• Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your recent professional/academic activity and qualifications; at least two of these must be from academic faculty
• A completed Prerequisites Form
• A typed, 400-500 word graduate admissions essay
• Interview and proctored writing sample may be required

Minimum Specified Courses | Credit Hours

These courses must be completed at a regionally accredited institution within the 10 years prior to matriculation. It is possible to take these courses online through the New Paltz post-baccalaureate program, Foundations in Communication Disorders.

• Anat. and Phys. of Speech and Hearing, Speech and Swallowing, or Speech and Language | 3
• Audiology | 3
• Aural Rehabilitation | 3
• Hearing and/or Speech Science | 3
• Language Development in Children | 3
• Diagnostic and/or clinical methods, incl. completion of 25 hours of supervised observation | 3
• Phonetics | 3
• Speech and/or Language Disorders (minimum of two courses) | 6

Required for Licensure and Certification

In addition, students applying for the Speech Language Disabilities Program (090I) must complete the following three courses, or their equivalents. These courses should be taken in advance but may be completed during graduate study:

• A course in the foundations of Education, e.g., equivalent to EDS340 Sociological and Philosophical Foundations of Education. (3 credits)
• A course in child, adolescent, or human development, e.g., equivalent to EDS371 Child Psychology and Development. (3 credits)
• A course in special education inclusion, e.g., equivalent to SPES350 Creating Inclusive Elementary School Classrooms. (3 credits)

Other required courses for ASHA certification which should be taken in advance but may be completed during graduate study are listed below. These courses must be college-level. A minimum grade of 2.0 (4.0 scale) is required in each course.

• A biological science course (preferably with emphasis on human or animal sciences) (3 credits)
• A physics or chemistry course (general, or topic relevant to the study of communication disorders) (3 credits)
• Two social or behavioral science courses (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology, ethnic and cultural, political science, economics, etc.) (total of 6 credits)
• Although manual communication proficiency is no longer required for ASHA certification, we recommend that students have a course or certificate demonstrating manual communication proficiency (such as American Sign Language)

Due Dates & Procedures

Applications should be submitted to the Office of Graduate & Extended Learning. Click this link to apply: How to Apply to the Graduate Program

Applications must be complete (all application materials must be received by the Office of Graduate & Extended Learning) by February 1, no exceptions.

Graduate students enter the program in the fall semester; there is no spring admission.

If you have questions about the application process, contact the Office of Graduate & Extended Learning at (845) 257-3285 or email gradstudies@newpaltz.edu.

If you have questions specifically about the masters program, contact:

Dr. Wendy Bower, Graduate Coordinator
Communication Disorders Department
Humanities Building (HUM), Room 13
State University of New York
1 Hawk Drive
New Paltz, New York 12561-2440

SUNY New Paltz
1 Hawk Drive
New Paltz, NY 12561
845-257-SUNY (7869)
877-MY-NP-411 (toll free)

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