The online Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders program will provide you with a career-focused curriculum, advanced training techniques and prestigious clinical preparation. Through our Circles of Excellence framework (highlighting six key qualities for clinicians) and training within a state-of-the-art simulation, you will gain the skills and experience needed to graduate prepared to enter the workforce as a compassionate SLP practitioner.

Within the program, you will gain skills and experience in a variety of in-demand areas, including:   

• Language and voice disorders 
• Dysphagia 
• Motor speech 
• Alternative communication 

• 62 credits with portfolio option  
• 66 credits with thesis option 
• 400 clinical hours
• 8 semesters (2.7 years)
• 2 intakes per year (Fall and Spring) 
• Total Tuition of $72,000 for the portfolio option or $76,645 for the thesis option (excluding fees)
• One virtual orientation before courses begin  
• One highly focused campus immersion, providing essential hands-on training 

• 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 

Required Prerequisites/Leveling Courses

To enroll in the program, you 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 

Elmhurst University's online Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders is currently authorized to accept U.S. residents from all states except California, Colorado, New York, South Carolina, and West Virginia.

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. 

Founded in 1871 with the United Church of Christ, Elmhurst University has a rich history of supporting civil rights and equality. Elmhurst’s reputation for excellent academics and career preparation has not changed since then, with U.S. News & World Report ranking it among the top 10 regional colleges in the Midwest as well as the region’s best values.

Elmhurst University aspires to cultivate a community where our students, alumni, faculty and staff lead with innovation, equity and inclusion as they seek to address complex challenges and change for the common good.

Mission, Vision and Goals

The mission of the graduate program in communication sciences and disorders at Elmhurst University is to prepare speech-language pathologists to achieve the highest standards of academic learning, clinical service, scientific inquiry and creative work.

The ultimate goal of the program is to satisfy the institution’s requirements for a master’s degree in speech-language pathology and to fully prepare students for national certification as speech-language pathologists by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and for other related credentials in the State of Illinois.

Elmhurst University’s values transcend the on-campus learning environment, so you can expect the same academic excellence and student support from these online programs.

• Intellectual Excellence
  • We promote intellectual freedom, curiosity and engagement; critical and creative inquiry; rigorous debate; innovative thinking and integrity in all endeavors. We ignite a passion for learning.
• Social Responsibility
  • We respect the dignity of every individual and promote responsible citizenship and civic engagement. We advocate for social justice on local, national and global levels. We act on our social responsibilities and empower others to do the same.
• Professional Preparation
  • We integrate professional preparation with a rigorous liberal arts foundation that prepares students for a successful, meaningful and fulfilling life.
• Stewardship
  • We are stewards of the human, fiscal and physical resources entrusted to us. We are accountable to one another for the quality of our community, the strength of our finances, and the utility and beauty of our campus as a place of intellectual engagement and personal growth. We pursue innovations that respect the environment and foster sustainability in the management of our resources.
• Community
  • We build a welcoming community that values and embraces diversity and inclusion. We achieve this through mutual respect, compassion for others, honest and open communication, and fairness and integrity in all that we do.
• Faith, Meaning and Purpose
  • We are grounded in our individual traditions and those of the United Church of Christ, and are committed to the development of the human spirit in its many forms through dialogue, inquiry and service.

Elmhurst University is recognized by U.S. News & World Report for academic excellence by national ranking organizations, including: 

• #3 Best Colleges for Veterans (Regional Universities Midwest)
• #7 Best Regional Universities Midwest (#1 in that category in Illinois)
• #14 Best Value Schools (Regional Universities Midwest)
• #3 Top Performers for Social Mobility (Social mobility is an important new measure that tracks how accessible college is to students with lower family incomes.)

Elmhurst University was founded in 1871 by the United Church of Christ and is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).  

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.

The Master of Science (M.S.) residential education program in speech-language pathology through the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Elmhurst University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. The program is accredited through 2030. 

Elmhurst University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 

Click here to see a breakdown of CSD student outcomes. 

Click here to download the CSD Strategic Plan. 

Learn more by filling out this form, which will provide you with further details about the program, including a full breakdown of the curriculum. Once you have all the information you need, the next step will be attending an information session with an Enrollment Advisor, who will walk you through the application process.