Communication Sciences and Disorders, M.S.

Admission Requirements

To Apply

Complete the CSDCAS Application. Applications in CSDCAS Verified status on or before February 1^st will be considered. CSDCAS advises that it takes four weeks after achieving Complete status to be in Verified status.

Complete applications must have the following:

Official bachelor’s degree transcripts from an accredited college or university and all other transcripts from college-level coursework. All official transcripts MUST be sent to CSDCAS
An undergraduate major in Communication Sciences and Disorders or an undergraduate major in a different discipline with a cumulative degree GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale OR a master’s degree
Minimum of three recommendations
One of the three must be from faculty other than Longwood CSD faculty
Résumé or curriculum vitae that details your work experience, education, leadership and professional organization activities, and scholarly activities, including publications, presentations, research, honors and awards
$40 application fee

In addition to the CSDCAS application, complete the Longwood University Online Application, on or before the February 1 deadline. CSDCAS applications will not be considered if the Longwood application has not been submitted.

Application Review Process: Applications are reviewed annually after the February 1 deadline for consideration for admission to the subsequent fall semester. Applicants are sent notification of a decision no later than March 15 and must accept the offer-of-admission by submitting a deposit by April 15.

Students accepted for the fall semester are given the option of taking courses the preceding summer.

A waitlist is maintained for applicants.

Need Help?

CSDCAS Customer service is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. Phone: (617) 612-2030; Email: [email protected]
Longwood Graduate Admissions is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. Phone (434) 395-2380; Email: [email protected]

Prerequisite Requirements

The following courses must be completed with a grade of B- or better prior to enrollment in graduate-level coursework (courses deemed comparable and approved by the CSD graduate faculty may be substituted):

Biological concepts and applications
General chemistry or physical science or general physics
Social or behavioral sciences
Mathematics (statistics)
Anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanisms
Phonetics
Speech science
Introduction to audiology and hearing science
Language development across the lifespan
Neurology of human communication
Acquisition of 25 observation hours
Aural re(habilitation)
Speech sound disorders
Language disorders across the lifespan

Students can be admitted without these courses and will complete them during their first two semesters on campus. The length of the program: five to six semesters with an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and eight to nine semesters without an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Learn more about Longwood's SLP Online prerequisites.

Deadlines

CSDCAS Application Open Date (July 15)

CSDCAS Application Due Date (Feb 1)

Notification of acceptance (by March 15)

Acceptance of admissions offer (by April 15)

Upon submission of your application, you can indicate your interest in a SHLS Graduate Assistantship position.

Cost, Financial Aid & Scholarships

The M.S. Degree is 53 credits, making the cost breakdown:

$24,433- Estimated in-state cost
$461 per credit hour

$58,724- Estimated out-of-state cost
$1,108 per credit hour

These are based on current tuition rates. Our program does not require textbooks. Recommended textbooks can often be accessed for free from Longwood University's Greenwood Library or the CSD Library in our Speech, Hearing and Learning Services Clinic.

View available Longwood Scholarships (pdf).

View available Outside Scholarships (pdf).

Visit Longwood's Graduate student tuition estimates and hours webpage.

Learn more about our Graduate Monthly Payment Plan.

Information on financial aid resources can be found from the American Speech Language Hearing Association and from Longwood's Financial Aid office.

The College of Graduate & Professional Studies and SHLS offers a number of Graduate Assistantships.

Cost of Attendance

Program Details

Longwood’s program prioritizes connection and collaboration. Through small classes and a low faculty-student ratio of 1:6, you will become immersed in a robust and close-knit learning environment, allowing you to find your voice as a professional and to develop your skills and passions alongside supportive faculty. Students who have completed undergraduate coursework in Communication Sciences and Disorders (with a bachelor’s degree or having completed “leveling” courses) complete the program in 5-6 semesters. Students without that background complete in 9-10 semesters.

Our program values varied, hands-on clinical experience because we know how fulfilling it is to work with patients. We also know how beneficial clinical experience is in helping you identify your professional path, which is why we make sure to offer a variety of medical and educational opportunities.

One such opportunity includes requiring students to complete six modules (about 17 hours) to become EI (Early Intervention) certified, a unique opportunity not found in many programs.

At Longwood, you’ll begin your clinical work under close faculty supervision at our updated Speech, Hearing and Learning Services (SHLS) center, where we serve clients from infancy through senior years. The SHLS clinic offers a variety of evaluation teams that students are included in such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) Evaluation Team, the CTOPP Evaluation Team, and the Early Intervention Team.

Then, you'll move to offsite placements, arranged and vetted by our faculty, to further develop your skills. Opportunities include interprofessional practice with our clinical audiologist at SHLS’ audiology clinic and with early intervention professions through SHLS’ Infant Toddler Connection of the Heartland, a program that provides support and services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.

Over the last three years (2020-2023), Longwood graduates have achieved a 98.5% first-time pass rate on the Praxis II in Speech-Language Pathology. Our graduates (97.1%) have completed the program on time (5-6 semesters for students who have successfully completed the prerequisite coursework).