The Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders Online Program From Baylor University

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences offers a Master of Science (M.S.) in Communication Sciences and Disorders through distance education. The online graduate program is as rigorous and Christian-based as the residential program and adheres to the same overall course requirements and clinical placements that meet CAA standards. Although courses are taught with live instructors in the evening, daily hours are spent at placement sites during practicum and internship terms to complete a minimum of 375 clinical clock hours. These sites require both childhood immunizations and the influenza (flu) vaccines.

The online CSD program is designed for aspiring speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for children and adults with speech, language, and hearing disorders. After earning a master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, completing a clinical fellowship year (CFY), passing the Praxis exam, and pursuing state licensure and ASHA certification, students will enter the field as compassionate and knowledgeable clinicians who are prepared to make an impact in the lives of clients and their families in the communities in which they live.

Communications Sciences and Disorders Curriculum

Baylor’s online Master of Science (M.S.) in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) is designed for service-oriented professionals who are called to assist children and adults with communication, hearing, and swallowing disorders. As a Christian university, Baylor integrates faith into the CSD curriculum and strives to understand all of God’s creation and how it impacts our communication and quality of life.

The online CSD graduate program is rooted in research, clinical experiences, and real-world competencies that will empower you to serve diverse communities facing communication difficulties in their everyday lives.

The 45-credit online CSD graduate program can be completed in five trimesters (full time) or seven to 11 trimesters (part time). As part of the program, you will be required to complete clinical practica and a clinical internship.

The online Master of Science (M.S.) in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Baylor University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation. Learn more about accreditation for the online CSD graduate program.

Request Information

Courses

The courses that make up the program’s curriculum integrate academic, research, and clinical experiences. As a student in the online CSD graduate program, you will be exposed to current theories, principles, cutting-edge technologies, research methods, and practices.

Upon graduation, you will be prepared to assess, diagnose, and treat communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults with innovative clinical work and evidence-based practice.

Learn more about individual courses.

Clinical Practica and Internship

Both full-time and part-time students will complete a minimum of 400 field hours across three practica and one internship, totaling nine credit hours. The practica are each one credit and require a commitment of 16-20 hours per week during daily working hours. The internship is six credits and requires a commitment of 35-40 hours per week.

During the practica and internship, you will participate in client sessions and provide diagnostics such as treatment plans, lesson plans, and evaluations. You may have virtual client sessions as part of this experience.

As an online CSD graduate student, a placement specialist from our dedicated field placement team will work with you to find a high-quality internship in your community. Placement specialists do their best to place students as close to their homes as possible, however, placement sites can be located up to 100 miles away.

During the clinical placement experience, your clinical supervisor will offer constructive and ongoing feedback while you complete your field hours. Upon graduation, you will be a competent, evidence-based practitioner, well-prepared to pursue licensure and work in the speech-language pathology field.

Online CSD Graduate Program Admissions

Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences maintains the same admissions standards for our SLP master’s online as we do for our on-campus program.

In order to apply, you must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, and an undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or higher is preferred. Undergraduate coursework in the basic sciences is also required.

If you do not have a bachelor’s degree in CSD, you may have to take leveling courses before beginning the graduate-level courses.

To apply, you will need to submit the following items:

  • The online application
  • A resume/curriculum vitae
  • Official transcripts
  • Documented observation hours (if applicable)
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • A personal statement
  • TOEFL/IELTS scores (for international students)
  • GRE not required

Join Our March 2024 Cohort

Serve and guide those struggling with speech, language, and hearing challenges.
The final deadline for the March 2024 cohort is March 4, 2024.

Request Information

Why Earn Your Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders Online?

By pursuing a career as a speech-language pathologist (SLP), you’ll not only serve your community, but you’ll also join an in-demand field. Employment of SLPs is projected to grow 21 percent from 2021 to 2031.1

Baylor University’s Communication Sciences and Disorders Department brings 60 years of SLP education experience to online learners. The online program utilizes the same curriculum as the on-campus program and is taught by expert Baylor faculty.

With a Baylor education, you can trust that you will be prepared for your future as a knowledgeable clinician. From 2019 to 2022, graduates of Baylor’s online and residential CSD master’s programs had a 90.19% Praxis pass rate — and an employment rate of 96.99%.2

As an online CSD graduate student, you will attend live online classes each week, which facilitates face-to-face interaction with your professors and peers. Visit the student experience page to learn more about the online learning experience for Baylor’s Master of Science (M.S.) in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

1 Speech-Language Pathologists: Job Outlook. (2022). Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved June 2023.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference

2 Student Outcome Data. Baylor University. Retrieved August 2023.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference