MS in Communication Sciences

Speech Language instructor teaching kid

The master's degree in Communication Sciences is a non-clinical degree in the Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education within Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services. This 30-credit program prepares students to enter the Disability Disciplines PhD program strand in Audiology, or the Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Neuroscience at Utah State University. Students from this program could also be eligible to apply to other doctoral programs in behavioral science or other health related fields.

Students in the program will receive a comprehensive and well-rounded background in the basic research pertaining to the nature of communication as well as applied research related to the efficacy of diagnostic and treatment procedures for individuals with hearing and balance disorders. Students will apply critical theories and discoveries in the areas of hearing science and neuroscience to unanswered questions about normal and disordered processes underlying hearing and balance disorders across the lifespan.

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Total credits required

30

Required credits of coursework

15

Credits of Thesis (Plan A)

6

Credits of electives in an area related to COMMDE

9

Contact the Advisor

Mason Hayes

Mason Hayes

Graduate Program Coordinator / Graduate and Deaf Education Academic Advisor

Phone: 435-797-9094
Office Location: Lillywhite 148

Admission

Prerequisites

Students can be accepted with any bachelor’s degree. However, if accepted, students will have to complete undergraduate COMD coursework needed to prepare them for their individual programs of study. These courses will be taken in addition to the minimum degree requirements.

Minimum Admission Requirements

Applicants must comply with all application procedures for the School of Graduate Studies at Utah State University. All application materials and minimum requirements are available through the Utah State University School of Graduate Studies Admissions website.

The items listed below are the minimum required to be considered for admission. Typically, applicants offered admission have strong scores and achievements across all application components. However, multiple sources of evidence are used to make the decisions. Students of diverse life experiences and backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Applicants are encouraged to contact potential faculty mentors prior to application to this research-oriented  non-clinical degree.

  • Academic transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended.
  • GPA of 3.0 or better for last 60 credits of college coursework.See USU Graduate School Requirement. Contact the Graduate School for current information on how this is calculated for 2nd bachelor, non-degree coursework, or graduate degrees.
  • GRE Scores – Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytic (Writing). No minimum scores are required.
  • Personal statement and resume: these documents should show the applicant’s relevant academic, work, and personal competencies and achievements, along with their specific area of interest and potential faculty mentors within communication sciences and disorders.   
  • Letters of recommendation: email addresses for three individuals who have agreed to submit letters of recommendation by the due date.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for this program is January 15th.

Coursework

Required Courses

Course Number Course Name Credits
EDUC 6570 Introduction to Educational and Psychological Research 3
EDUC 6600 Research Design and Analysis 3
PSY 6200 Fundamentals of Neuroscience I 3
COMD 5xxx/6xxx Neural Bases of Cognition and Communication 3
COMD 6970 Thesis (Plan A) 6

 

Required choice of one of the following

Course Number Course Name Credits
COMD 6230 Introduction to Research in Communicative Disorders  3
EDUC 6040 Applied Research Methods 3

Elective Courses (choose 3)

Course Number Course Name Credits
COMD 6020 Language Assessment and Intervention for School-Age Children and Adolescents 3
COMD 6030 Disorders of Fluency/Stuttering 3
COMD 6120 Adult Language Disorders 3
COMD 6130 Motor Speech Disorders 3
COMD 6140 Dysphagia 3
COMD 6220 Severe Communication Impairments 3
COMD 6810 Voice, Resonance and Craniofacial Disorders 3
COMD 6900 Advance Topics in Speech and Language Disorders 3
COMD 7820 Research Seminars in Communication Disorders 3
COMD 7310 Psychoacoustics and Instrumentation 3
COMD 7320 Amplification I 3
COMD 7340 Pediatric Audiology 3
COMD 7380 Advanced Audiology 3
COMD 7430 Electrophysiology 3
COMD 7460 Aural Rehabilitation Across the Lifespan 3
COMD 7490 Medical Aspects of Audiology 3
COMD 7530 Balance Evaluation and Management 3