The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers the Consortium track leading to the Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
The Consortium track is designed specifically for students with a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders or speech-language pathology and audiology who currently work in participating central Florida public school districts and have been providing speech and language services for at least one semester prior to application.
The Communication Sciences and Disorders program strives to educate students to become successful practitioners in the field of speech-language pathology. To that end, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Code of Ethics is re-enforced throughout the academic curriculum. Students who violate the ASHA Code of Ethics may be subject to academic sanctions or dismissed from the program.
Track Prerequisites
All students must complete at least 3 credit hours in statistics with a grade of "C" or better. Undergraduate course work in statistics is a prerequisite to SPA 6805 - Research in Communicative Disorders.
To be certified to practice by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), all students must have undergraduate transcript credit, which could include course work, advanced placement, CLEP, or examination equivalency, for each of the following areas: biological sciences, physical sciences, social/behavioral sciences, and statistics. Courses may consist of any number of credits and must be taken outside the discipline.
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
39 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- SPA6204 - Articulation/Phonological Dis (3)
- SPA6211 - Voice and Upper Airway Disorders (3)
- SPA6225C - Fluency Disorders (3)
- SPA6236 - Motor Speech Disorders in Adults and Children (3)
- SPA6327 - Aural Habilitation Rehab (3)
- SPA6410 - Aphasia and Related Disorders (3)
- SPA6474 - Assessment and Management of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations (3)
- SPA6559 - Augmentative and Alternative Communication (3)
- SPA6565 - Feeding and Swallowing Disorders (3)
- SPA6805 - Research in Communicative Disorders (3)
- SPA6541 - Assessment of Language Disorders in Children and Adolescents (3)
- SPA6542 - Intervention of Language Disorders in Children and Adolescents (3)
- SPA6417 - Management of Acquired Cognitive/Communication Disorders Across the Lifespan (3)
Clinical Practice
24 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- SPA6551 - Foundations of Clinical Practice: Level I (1)
- SPA6503 - Foundations of Clinical Practice Level II (1)
- SPA6503L - Found Clinic Practice-II APP (1)
- SPA6553L - Clinical Practice in Differential Diagnosis in Speech and Language Pathology (1)
- SPA6563L - Clinical Practice and Instrumental Diagnostics in Individuals with Dysphagia (1)
- SPA6942L - Found Clinic Practice-III APP (1)
- SPA6942L - Found Clinic Practice-III APP (1)
- SPA6943 - Advanced Clinical Practice Seminar (1)
- Earn at least 2 credits from the following types of courses: Students will repeat SPA 6503L and SPA 6942L twice.
- Earn at least 14 credits from the following types of courses: SPA 6946 - Clinical Practice
- Supervised clinical practice is an integral part of the graduate program in communication sciences and disorders. It provides students with an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to the evaluation and management of individuals with a wide variety of communication disorders. Students complete three clinical practica at the UCF Communication Disorders Clinic and other affiliated facilities, as well as external rotations in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, long-term care facilities, community clinics, and private practices. Through these practica and external rotations, students obtain a minimum of 400 clock hours of supervised clinical experience in accordance with the guidelines outlined by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Clinical practica and external rotations vary in length and do not always coincide with the academic calendar.
Thesis/Nonthesis Option
9 Total Credits
- Complete 1 of the following
Thesis Option- Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: SPA 6971 - Thesis
- Earn at least 3 credits from the following types of courses: 1 Elective course selected in consultation with Faculty advisor.
- Thesis hours cannot be counted toward graduation requirements if students fail to complete or successfully defend the thesis. For additional information, thesis students and their advisory committees should refer to the thesis requirements in the UCF Graduate Catalog.
Nonthesis Option- Earn at least 9 credits from the following types of courses: Appropriate electives selected in consultation with Faculty advisor.
Comprehensive Examination and Clinical Documentation
0 Total Credits
- In additional to the coursework and supervised clinical clock hour requirements listed above, satisfactory completion of a School Comprehensive Examination and submission of final clinical documentation, including demonstration of clinical competence and professionalism are required for completion of the master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Grand Total Credits: 72
Application Requirements
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
The Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders program at UCF participates in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service, known as CSDCAS. Prospective students applying to the Communication Sciences and Disorders MA program must apply online using the CSDCAS application in addition to the UCF online application. To learn more about the CSDCAS application process, visit http://www.capcsd.org/csdcas-student-page/
Entry Terms: The Consortium track admits for spring term only. Please note that admission is granted for the spring term only and for this specific track. Applicants may not change start terms or tracks after an admission decision has been made. If the applicant determines that they cannot accept the offer of admission as presented in the admission letter, they must rescind the offer and may apply to the desired track in the next admissions cycle.
Step 1: Complete the CSDCAS application for UCF
Completed CSDCAS Application (https://csdcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login)
One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
Official, competitive GRE score (verbal, quantitative, and written) obtained within the last five years. Use GRE CODE for UCF CSDCAS: 7407. (Do not use the "Institution Code" for GRE listed to the right side of this page).
Three (3) letters of recommendation with CSDCAS recommendation forms. One of the three letters of recommendation must be from the district school administrator or program specialist of the Speech-Language Program of the employing school district, one from the school principal, and one from a former professor. Letters of recommendation cannot be dated more than one year prior to the date of the application deadline.
A letter of intent describing educational background, professional experiences, future goals, and how you will embody and uphold the ASHA Code of Ethics (http://www.asha.org/code-of-ethics/) in your professional career
A current resume.
All CSDCAS supplemental questions. Question can be found on CSDCAS application.
UCF Graduate Application (supplemental) must be submitted by the deadline in addition to CSDCAS application.
Incomplete applications will NOT be reviewed.
All application materials MUST be sent directly to CSDCAS. Materials sent to the university or program will not be accepted. Application materials must be received by CSDCAS no later than February 1st for Summer admission.
In addition to the CSDCAS application, applicants must also submit a UCF application for graduate admission at https://application.graduate.ucf.edu/. Supporting documents (i.e. transcripts, test scores, etc.) do not need to be submitted to UCF directly. University applications must also be submitted by the stated application deadlines.
Admission to the Communication Sciences and Disorders program is granted on a competitive basis. Approximately thirty-five to forty-five (35-45) students are admitted each semester. Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. The recent class statistics are listed on the Graduate Program Profile webpage. Additionally, the program reserves the right to deny admission or dismiss a student after admission to the program if, in the judgment of the faculty, the student fails to demonstrate and/or uphold the ASHA Code of Ethics (http://www.asha.org/code-of-ethics/) during coursework and/or practice in the field. A background check is required for all new students during their first semester in the program. All applicants and admitted students must perform certain Essential Functions in order to participate and complete program requirements.
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
