Communication Sciences and Disorders - BS/MSED

Program Overview:

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), which is part of the Lally School of Education, currently offers both separate and combined B.S. and M.S.Ed. degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Completion of the M.S.Ed. degree leads to certification as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities, as well as eligibility for NY State license and the certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

The department was approved in 2006 to offer a combined undergraduate/graduate dual degree program in CSD for incoming freshman as part of an ongoing effort to recruit and retain highly motivated and scholarly students who have the potential to become effective and compassionate speech-language pathologists. The program, detailed below, accelerates movement through the bachelor’s degree by one semester.

Students who are accepted into the combined, dual degree program do not receive a bachelor’s degree when undergraduate coursework is complete; rather, both the bachelor and master’s degrees are awarded when all graduate requirements are completed. Students who are accepted into the dual degree program as undergraduates, and who meet all requirements for advancement, are guaranteed acceptance into the graduate program. Also, the financial aid package provided as freshmen is maintained throughout the program.

Students who are accepted into the dual degree program will take all of the CSD classes that are required in the traditional, separate degree programs, will meet all liberal arts core requirements, and will meet all teacher certification requirements. The total undergraduate credits equal 114; 48 are CSD credits, 12 are non-CSD credits, 41 are Liberal Education Requirements, and 13 are required for teacher certification. Graduate credits total 56.

The undergraduate portion of this program is completed in seven regular semesters (no summer semesters required); the graduate portion of this program is typically completed in five to six semesters (which may or may not include summer semesters). Because a full schedule of graduate course offerings is available during summer semesters, students typically include summer semesters as part of their schedule. Students in this program must maintain a minimum grade of B in all required classes in order to remain in this program. Students who do not meet the stated standards of the dual degree program will be re-assigned to the traditional CSD bachelor's degree program.

Students who transfer in AP credits will have additional opportunities to take non-CSD courses on the undergraduate level. Students may not accelerate through the program beyond that provided by the sequence and may not begin their clinical placement early.

Program Contacts:

Dr. James Feeney

Communication Sciences & Disorders Department Chair

Email: feeneyj@strose.edu

Program Webpage:

Communication Sciences and Disorders M.S.E.D.

Program Requirements:

The dual degree program requirements include:

Note: Students in the dual degree program must complete all of the undergraduate and graduate CSD courses, all of the liberal education courses, and all of the teacher certification courses that are included in the traditional program. They achieve the one semester acceleration by taking only 114 undergraduate credits rather than 122.

Internship/Field Experience/Service:

Required Practicum Experiences (10 Credits)

Culminating Academic Experiences:

Comprehensive Exam or Thesis Option (0-6 Credits)

Professional Accreditation:

The College of Saint Rose, sponsored by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, Albany Province, is chartered by the Board of Regents of New York State. All of its degrees and programs are registered and its professional programs are fully approved by the Board of Regents through the New York State Education Department.

The College of Saint Rose is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

The specialized accrediting agencies noted below are recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation: The Communication Sciences and Disorders Program at the master’s level is accredited by The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology; Programs offered by The College of Saint Rose for the preparation of all school professionals, leading to initial and advanced certifications, are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Admissions and Financial Aid Information:

General Admission Information

Eligibility for admission to The College of Saint Rose graduate programs is typically based upon the following minimum requirements:

1. Submission of a completed application and a Statement of Purpose of approximately 300 words detailing the applicant’s goals for graduate study.
2. Evidence of the possession of a U.S.  baccalaureate degree or equivalent from an accredited institution through submission of official transcripts from all post-secondary education.
3. Academic and professional qualifications for graduate study, as indicated by two letters of recommendation. The Communication Sciences & Disorders program requires three letters of recommendation.
4. A grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), overall and in the undergraduate major.
5. Other admission criteria specified by academic programs such as submission of resumes, writing samples, portfolios, test scores, and participation in interviews or admissions workshops.

Applicants to The College of Saint Rose are responsible for completing their applications by submitting all required components. Prospective students may wish to visit our website at www.strose.edu/gradapply for online application.

See Graduate Admissions section for more information.

Financial Aid

The College of Saint Rose has long been committed to the premise that a quality education should be within the reach of qualified students. To this end, the College serves its student body through a comprehensive program of federal, state, and institutional financial aid. While the basic responsibility for financing education lies with the students and their families, scholarships, loans, and/or assistantships can supplement insufficient family resources. The amount of aid available through the College is limited and is awarded on the basis of academic merit. All financial assistance from the College is subject to adjustment if the recipients are later granted aid from other sources. Financial aid awards are contingent upon students’ maintaining good academic standing and satisfactory academic progress.

See Financial Aid section for more information.

Additional Communication Sciences and Disorders Admission Information:

Applications to the dual degree program will be reviewed by the CSD admissions committee (which also reviews graduate applications). Students should approximate the following academic profile: 1200 combined SAT score, high school average of 92 in English and Science, and a strong letter of recommendation. An on campus interview is also required. The program is not available to transfer students.

Requirements for Advancement in Dual Degree

1. No CSD grade less than a B.
2. A “pass” in their clinical placement.
3. Acceptable performance on the Professional Qualities Assessment (PQA) at the end of the sophomore year.
4. Successful completion of an interview and a spontaneous writing sample during the first semester of study.
5. Meetings with the academic advisor at least once each semester.

Note: Students who do not meet the stated standards of the dual degree program will be re-assigned to the traditional undergraduate program.

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