The distance ABSN and MENP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)* and approved by the Illinois Board of Nursing.

The distance pathway for the Master of Science (M.S.) program in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Elmhurst University is under review by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

When you’re ready, visit this page to start your application and schedule an appointment with an enrollment advisor to talk through the application process and any questions you have. 

Both the MENP and ABSN programs are available in several authorized states. Students of the MENP and ABSN programs must either reside or be willing to relocate to an approved state during the program. The M.S. CSD program is currently authorized to accept U.S. residents from all states except California, Colorado, New York, South Carolina, and West Virginia. Please visit our State Authorization page for more information.

The online Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders is designed to meet the academic and clinical education requirements for national certification through the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (CCC-SLP) and Illinois state licensure in speech-language pathology. Please see licensure information here for details related to individual state requirements. 

Please be aware that some states require a separate credential to practice in the school system, which may have additional requirements. If a state Department of Education requires a separate credential to practice in the school system, you must obtain that credential to practice in schools. It is the student's responsibility to determine what is required to obtain the credential to work in the school system. It is the student’s responsibility to remain up to date on all state licensure requirements. 

No, there is no GRE or MAT test required to apply to the program. 

Your enrollment advisor will help ensure you meet all of the requirements for the distance CSD. Admission requirements include:

• CSDCAS application for admission
• An undergraduate degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA (and a minimum 3.0 GPA in CSD courses)
• Official transcripts
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• Personal statement
• A brief video introduction 

To enroll within the program, students must complete the following prerequisites/leveling courses:

• Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism
• Child Language Development & Disorders
• Clinical Methods
• Introduction to Audiology
• Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Phonetics
• Speech Science
• Speech Sound Disorders (Articulation and Phonology)
• Aural Rehabilitation
• 25 observation hours with an ASHA-certified, licensed provider
• + ASHA foundational science courses 

Our clinical placement team identifies and secures quality placement sites as close as possible to your local community. We manage this process for you so that you’ll have time to focus on your coursework and the core competencies you’ll need to succeed and graduate fully prepared. 

Your placement coordinator will be with you through the entire process by answering your questions, verifying your clearance requirements and walking you through the clinicals checklist. The checklist details the dress code, clinical tools and professional expectations to ensure your success during each placement.

The speech-language pathology clinical experiences are designed to provide you with real-world, hands-on experience to complement your classroom learning. These off-campus experiences in practice settings near your home enrich your graduate journey by preparing you for action in the field in a variety of settings.

Students will provide assessment and intervention services to pediatric and/or adult clients within various clinical settings in areas such as speech production, receptive language, expressive language, cognitive-communication, fluency, voice, social communication and/or augmentative and alternative forms of communication. Students will use assessment data to construct appropriate intervention plans, develop lesson plans, deliver therapy to address desired goals, and conduct ongoing assessment of client progress.

Coursework is 100% online until the start of clinicals. The program also contains one virtual orientation, which begins before you start your courses, and one campus immersion, which takes place in summer or January, depending on the start date.

The online CSD program is 8 semesters, or 2.7 years. It consists of 62 credits through the portfolio option, or 66 credits through the thesis option, including 400 clinical hours.

Please reach out to your enrollment advisor, who can help you navigate any financial aid questions you may still have. If you have not already connected with an enrollment advisor, please fill out the form, and a team member will reach out to you. 

Unfortunately, payment plans are unavailable for the online healthcare programs due to their accelerated timeline. Please note that full payment is required before the start of each term.

Full payment is required by the payment deadline. The payment deadline falls on the 15th before the semester starts. For example: August 15 for Fall, January 15 for Spring. 

We recommend applying for private loans at least one month before your class starts to have it secured before the payment deadline. Please note that different lenders may have different terms and timelines. 

Online students can apply for private loans through certain financial institutions. Please visit ELMSelect for more information on available lenders. In addition to Federal Stafford loans, graduate students enrolled in the online MENP program can apply for a Federal PLUS Loan. Both private loans and Federal PLUS Loans are credit-based and require a credit check.

Students should file their FAFSA as soon as they have completed their application to the program. Once you have been admitted into the program, Student Financial Services will be able to assist with the next steps. Please note that Federal Stafford Loans will not be able to cover the entirety of tuition costs and that additional financial resources, such as private student loans, will be required.  

Elmhurst University does not offer grants or scholarships for online healthcare programs. We encourage you to explore opportunities to apply for private scholarships. With the growing demand for more healthcare professionals, many scholarships are offered to help encourage growth in the profession. 

In addition to private scholarships, some states, such as Illinois, offer a limited number of nursing scholarships and grants designed to grow the nursing workforce in that state, so you may want to research local options as well. 

The cost of the online CSD program is $72,000 (excluding fees) for the portfolio option and $76,645 (excluding fees) for the thesis option.

If you are looking for financial aid, your Enrollment Advisor can help you navigate the financial options that are available.