Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

Applications to Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg's M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology program are managed by the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application System (CSDCAS). The applicant portal opens in early August and can be accessed using this link: CSDCAS Portal.

• Materials to be submitted through CSDCAS include:
  • a one-page, typed letter detailing your professional background, experience, and rationale for seeking admission to the MS in Speech-Language Pathology Program.
  • three letters of recommendation from references who have knowledge of your academic and/or clinical background.
  • current resume.
• The deadline for receipt and verification of all application materials is February 1 of the year that you plan to begin the graduate program.
• Applications are only accepted for fall semester enrollment.

Early Admission

The Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology Admissions Committees offer early admission into the programs based on the evaluation of an applicant’s ability and readiness for graduate work. The committee may offer early admission to students who meet the strict criteria established by the programs.

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements for the School of Graduate Studies, applicants for the MS in Speech-Language Pathology Program must meet the following requirements:

• Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a major in communication disorders and a minimum QPA of 3.0.
• Applicants whose major is in an area other than communication disorders will be required to satisfactorily complete certain academic and practicum deficiencies. These will be prescribed by faculty following analysis of the applicant’s transcript.

>> AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability

• Organization: American Association on Health and Disability
• Description: Graduate or undergraduate students with a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act can apply for this scholarship. They must also be pursuing a degree in public health, disability studies, audiology, special education, rehabilitation engineering, or other fields that have an impact on individuals with disabilities.
• Amount: Up to $1,000.00
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> Allied Healthcare Scholarship Program

• Organization: California Department of Health Care Access and Information
• Description: Applicants must be taking at least six credits, have a GPA of at least a 2.0, and commit to working in an underserved area of California for at least one year. Students must be enrolled in a qualified healthcare program which includes speech pathology.
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> AMBUCS Scholarship Program

• Organization: National AMBUCS, Inc.
• Description: This scholarship is open to graduate students earning a degree in speech-language pathology, hearing audiology, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
• Amount: $600 to $6,000
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Graduate Student Scholarship

• Organization: American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation
• Description:
  • General Graduate Student Scholarships- Applicants must be accepted for, or enrolled full-time in, graduate study in a CAA accredited CSD program in the US for general graduate student scholarships
  • Endowed Scholarships–
    • International Student Scholarship- for international students studying in the US. Only non-US citizens are eligible.
    • Minority Student Scholarship- for students who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group and are US citizens.
    • NSSLHA Scholarship- for undergraduate senior students with active National NSSLHA membership who will begin grad study in the fall.
• Amount:
  • Up to 15 general graduate student scholarships of $5,000 each.
  • Up to nine Endowed scholarships of $5,000 each.
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> Autism Science Foundation Pre- and Postdoctoral Training Awards

• Organization: Autism Science Foundation
• Description: This award goes to graduate students or postdoctoral fellows who want to conduct research into almost any research area, including speech and communication disorders, as long as they relate to autism.
• Amount: $35,000 (for predoctoral students) or $50,000 (for postdoctoral students)
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> CAPCSD Frances J. Laven Scholarship

• Organization: CAPCSD (Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders)
• Description: This award is intended for graduate students in a professional program (Master’s SLP, Master's AuD, or SLPD) who have shown exemplary service. Examples of service may include, but are not limited to, community service, service to the department or university, or service to the greater discipline. Students must be enrolled in a professional graduate program at a CAPCSD member institution.
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> DotCom Therapy Scholarship

• Organization: DotCom Therapy
• Description: DotCom Therapy funds three scholarships for student members of the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing. To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled in a program that will lead to a career as a speech-language pathologist, show an interest in practicing as a teletherapist, and discuss why diversity is important in telehealth.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> Graduate Student Scholarship

• Organization: American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation
• Description: Any student who’s enrolled in a graduate-level communication science and disorders program may apply. A select number of scholarships will be reserved for certain types of applicants, such as international, disabled, and minority students.
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> Karlind T. Moller Cleft/Craniofacial Scholarship for Speech Pathology/Audiology Students

• Organization: American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association
• Description: The scholarship helps graduate and undergraduate speech-language pathology and audiology students fund their research projects that involve patients with cleft lip/palate or other craniofacial conditions.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> LSVT Global Student Grants

• Organization: LSVT Global
• Description: This grant is for graduate students planning on or completing behavioral treatment studies related to speech, language, or swallowing disorders resulting from any neurological disease or injury. Domestic and international applications are accepted.
• Amount: $1,500
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> Med Travelers Scholarship

• Organization: AMN Healthcare – Med Travelers
• Description: An applicant must be a current student in a physical therapy, occupational therapy, school psychology, or speech-language pathology graduate program.
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> NAJA Scholarship Program

• Organization: National Association of Junior Auxiliaries
• Description: Students interested in this scholarship should have completed at least one year of graduate studies in a field that relates to special needs children, including speech pathology, special education, and counseling. Applicants must also have plans to work directly with children after graduation.
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> NBASLH Invo Healthcare Scholarship

• Organization: National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing
• Description: Applicants must be enrolled in an ASHA accredited Master’s program in Communication Sciences and Disorders. This is given to a graduate student whose primary career goal provides services to children in school or early intervention settings following graduation and who identifies the importance of strong mentoring relationships to prepare for the role and responsibilities necessary.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> Preparing Students for Academic Research Careers (SPARC) Award

• Organization: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• Description: The primary goal of this scholarship is to help students who want to engage in a research-oriented career in a field relating to communication sciences and disorders. This scholarship is only open to graduate students and upper-class undergraduates.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> Sertoma Communicative Disorders Scholarship

• Organization: Sertoma, Inc.
• Description: Funded by the Sertoma Annual Fund, this scholarship is intended for graduate students enrolled in an accredited audiology or speech-language pathology program. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have at least a 3.5 GPA.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Student Scholarship

• Organization: Voice Aerobics
• Description: Anyone who’s enrolled in a graduate speech-language program that’s ASHA-accredited is eligible to apply.
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> Student Research Grant in Early Childhood Language Development

• Organization: American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHFoundation)
• Description: This grant is awarded to master’s degree students studying speech-language pathology or speech-language science who have research plans to that focus on early childhood language development.
• Amount: $2,000
• Deadline: Verify on website

>> Von Drach Memorial Scholarship

• Organization: Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association (PSHA)
• Description: This scholarship is available to full-time students working towards a degree that will result in professional-level certification in speech-language pathology, audiology, or educating the hearing impaired within Pennsylvania. Applicants must be a member of the PSHA.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: Verify on website

On-Time Program Completion Rates

Praxis Pass Rates

Employment Rate of Graduates

* = 19 of 27 Responding

Out-of-State Licensure and Certification

Commonwealth U- Bloomsburg is approved to offer programs that lead to certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and licensure in Pennsylvania. Commonwealth U- Bloomsburg’s Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program is designed to prepare you for the national exam required for certification and leads to eligibility for speech-language pathology licensure in PA.

Commonwealth U- Bloomsburg cannot confirm this program meets the requirements for licensure in other states. Other states’ requirements may be viewed at the www.asha.org. Because requirements differ by state, applicants should verify requirements for their state(s) of interest prior to applying to this program. Note that state requirements are subject to change at any time and without notice. Please visit our state authorization page and www.asha.org for details.

The Communication Sciences and Disorders Admissions Committee accepts graduate students based on the evaluation of an applicant’s ability and readiness for graduate work. The committee may conditionally accept a limited number of undergraduate students enrolled in Commonwealth U- Bloomsburg’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program who meet the strict criteria established by the Department. The specific conditional acceptance policy is here.

Practicum opportunities are available through the Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic located in Centennial Hall on Commonwealth University's Bloomsburg campus and through other affiliated agencies. Affiliations are also in place with more than 80 hospitals, clinics, public schools and private practice settings.

• Q: How is the Program Delivered?
  A: Taught in a combination of face to face and online. See the Program Overview.
• Q: When can I start?
  A: A new cohort starts every Fall semester.
• Q: Do I need to take the GRE in order to apply?
  A. No- the GRE is not required for admission.
• Q: Is there an application deadline?
  A: Yes. The deadline for receipt and verification of all application materials is February 1 of the year that you plan to begin the graduate program.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Acquire knowledge and skills required to meet ASHA standards for certification
2. Demonstrate cultural competence.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of processes used in research and integration of research principles into evidence-based clinical practice.
4. Communicate effectively, recognizing the needs, values, preferred model of communication, and cultural/linguistic background of the client/patient, family, caregivers, and relevant others.
5. Demonstrate counseling skills for communication and swallowing disorders to clients/patients’ family, caregivers, and relevant others.
6. Adhere to the ASHA Code of Ethics and behave professionally.