Master of Science in Communication Sciences & Disorders
With initial and bilingual extension certification in Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities
Our degrees offer advanced education and training in the processes of individual human communication (speech, hearing, language disorders of human communication, literacy, bilingualism, and swallowing disorders).
The master's program in Communication Sciences and Disorders is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and students who complete the degree program are eligible for New York State licensing in speech and language pathology.
Students who complete an additional course and school-based practicum are eligible for initial certification in Teacher of Speech and Language Disabilities (TSLD). Most of our students obtain this certification as all the other content information required by the state is infused within the curriculum. If you opt for the bilingual extension, you need an extra course on top of the TSSLD requirements — "Communication Disorders in Bilingual/Bicultural Children" — to earn the extension. Please select the "dual" certification degree when applying.
The maximum number of credits is 58 if you choose the bilingual program. Students will be admitted to the program after having completed the minimum of 5 pre-requisite courses of anatomy, audiology, language development, phonetics and speech science. The program is typically completed in 2 full years of study (fall, spring, summer of first year and fall and spring of second year).
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 terms.
Master of Science
- Points/Credits: 58
- Entry Terms: Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based
Certification
View Public Disclosure Notification
- NY State Initial: Speech and Language Disabilities K-12 with Bilingual Option
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term Available | Priority Deadlines | Final Deadlines | Extended Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Summer | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Fall | January 15, 2025 | January 15, 2025 | N/A |
Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines, such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.
Application Requirements
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume | |
| Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed | |
| Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable) | |
| $75 Application Fee | |
| Two (2) Letters of Recommendation | |
| Supplemental application required (included in online application) | |
| Prerequisites required prior to enrollment |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact BBSadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
Prerequisite Courses
Students will be admitted to the program after having completed the minimum of 5 pre-requisite courses of anatomy, audiology, language development, phonetics and speech science.
Students must complete all of these prerequisites prior to starting our program in September. Beginning in 2019 we will offer all, or any, of the needed prerequisite courses from May through August for students who have accepted admittance to the Communications Sciences and Disorders master's program at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2024-2025)
Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 terms.
This degree program incorporates academic and clinical practicum requirements for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Certification of Clinical Competence (ASHA CCC-SLP) and the New York State Education Department (NYSED) requirements as well as departmental and college requirements. Students who complete the degree program are also eligible for New York State licensing in speech and language pathology. Students may also elect to apply for the NYSED Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities Certificate (TSSLD) and the NYSED bilingual extension to the TSSLD. New York State Education Department (NYSED) mandates teacher certification requirements that are needed for program completion and graduation which are listed in the Office of Teacher Education section of the catalog.
Students are admitted to the program with undergraduate majors in speech and language pathology or with all required prerequisite courses completed.
Completion of the program is typically accomplished within two calendar years (four semesters and one summer session) of full time study.
Bilingual-Multicultural Program Focus
The Bilingual-Bicultural Program Focus is for students who wish to develop expertise in working with culturally and linguistically diverse children and adolescents with communication disorders. Following the Bilingual-Multicultural Program Focus will satisfy the coursework and field placement requirements for the bilingual extension to the New York State TSSLD. Under New York State Education Department regulations, the bilingual extension certificate is required to provide speech and language intervention for bilingual children and adolescents ages 3 through 21. This includes working in a school system in New York State as well as providing bilingual therapy in a private practice where funding comes from the New York City Department of Education.