Master of Science Communication Disorders 60 Credits | School of Health and Natural Sciences | Dobbs Ferry
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M.S. in Communication Disorders Overview
Gain the real-world experience you will need to pursue a career in the field of Communication Disorders.
There's a growing need for speech and language services. With more young children and seniors in need of services, the demand for speech-language pathologists is great. Mercy College's Master's Degree in Communication Disorders is a premier program in the metropolitan New York area. The 60-credit program fosters ethical, competent, autonomous practice.
Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2022
General deadline to submit applications is: 2/1/2022. Submit your application here.
Application requirements are available below.
Speech language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults.
SLPS work with the full range of human communication and swallowing disorders in individuals of all ages:
Evaluate and diagnose speech, language, communication and swallowing disorders
Treat speech, language, communication and swallowing disorders
Provide training and education to family/caregivers and other professionals
Work collaboratively with professionals from many other disciplines
27% Growth
Job growth expected to
rise 27% through 2028*
$88K Salary
Average Pay
For speech-language
pathologist with M.S.
Total Credits to Earn Your Degree
Classes in Neuroanatomy, human
communication & speech sound disorders
GRE Update
We would like to share an update on the GRE requirement. After receiving further clarification from NY State today, we are writing to you with exciting news. We have confirmed that the GRE is NOT required for TSSLD certification and therefore we will be removing the GRE requirement for admission into the Communication Disorders graduate program.
At Mercy College we know our students are much more than a number on a standardized test, which is why we are so excited to share this news. This change will go into effect immediately. We encourage all those that have not taken the GRE to submit applications.
The Mercy Advantage
Campus based Speech and Hearing Center
Global mission trips
TSSLD certification*
NYC DOE Scholarship partner
State-of-the-art Clinical Simulation lab used for interprofessional education
Audiology and voice labs
All students participate in research
*New York State Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities
Mercy College Speech and Hearing Center
The Master of Science program in Communication Disorders has an invaluable training tool, our campus-based clinic offers students hands-on clinical learning supervised by licensed speech-language pathologists.
For more than 30 years, the Mercy College Speech and Hearing and Hearing Center has served the community. The Center offers comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and therapy for preschoolers, school-aged children, adolescents and adults.
We'd like to hear from you! Get more information.
Oren Abramowitz Instructor
oabramowitz@mercy.edu
Shari Berkowitz Associate Professor
sberkowitz@mercy.edu
Denise Dicristofaro Assistant Professor
ddicristofaro@mercy.edu
Ashley O'Rourke Instructor
Clinic Director, Communication Disorders
aorourke@mercy.edu
Faculty Emeritae/i
Gloria Schlisselberg Professor Emerita
Communication Disorders traveled to Santa Marta, Colombia
Communication Disorders Program Video
As an educational program in speech-language pathology designed to facilitate the knowledge and skills needed for entry-level practice in the discipline, students will:
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Gather relevant case history information
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Interpret standardized and non-standardized measures to inform diagnostic decision making.
Develop treatment goals aligned to assessment data related to client performance.
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Construct interventions informed by research evidence, expert opinion, and client preferences.
The Master's of Science (M.S.) degree in Communication Disorders at Mercy College is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech- Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296- 5700.
Contact the Communication Disorders Program
Ashley O'Rourke
Program Director, Communication Disorders
Denise Dicristofaro
Graduate Admissions Coordinator
Ashley Webb
Clinical Supervisor, Speech and Hearing Clinic
awebb5@mercy.edu
Barbara Rosenfeld
Administrative Assistant, Communication Disorders
brosenfeld1@mercy.edu
Patti Rosenfeld
Clinic Administrative Assistant, Communication Disorders
prosenfeld1@mercy.edu
What is the clinical component of the Master's program?
It includes both in-house and externship practicum experiences in over 150 metropolitan area facilities. Students evaluate and treat people of varying ages and cultural/linguistic backgrounds who display a variety of communication disorders including articulation, phonology, oral motor, voice, fluency, swallowing and feeding, hearing, and language disorders. A total of 375 direct contact hours is required by ASHA for certification (a maximum of 50 hours can be accrued on the undergraduate level). The first, in-house practicum takes place in the Mercy College Speech and Hearing Center, where students are supervised by faculty and supervisory staff who are NYS licensed and ASHA certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Clinical externships are completed in a college-affiliated site in the New York metropolitan area, including New York City, Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The age and disorder of the population that is served varies from site to site.
How do I apply to the Communication Disorders (CD) Graduate program?
Applicants for the Master's Degree program in Communication Disorders must apply through Communication Science and Disorders Centralized Application service (CSDAS) at portal.csdcas.org.
Application deadline is January 15, prior to the fall for which the student would begin the program.
Please see "How to apply" section below for additional information.
What career options are available in communication disorders?
Schools, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, private practice, health care agencies, and college/university settings. A free brochure entitled Careers in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology containing additional information about the profession is available from ASHA.
Evaluate and diagnose speech, language, communication, and swallowing disorders.
Treat speech, language, communication, and swallowing disorders.
Provide training and education to family/caregivers and other professionals.
Work collaboratively with professionals from many other disciplines.
Where can I find information about the New York City teacher scholarship program?
Go to www.teachnycprograms.net, click on the link for "scholarship program", and then click "speech language pathology".
How does Mercy stand out from other graduate CD programs?
Mercy college has several advantages for students:
Campus based Speech and Hearing Center allowing students to practice hands-on learning while still in school
Opportunities to participate in global mission trips
Dedicated audiology and voice labs
Who can I contact if I have questions regarding the Master's degree program in Communication Disorders?
The Graduate Admissions Coordinator, Professor Denise DiCristofaro via email at ddicristofaro@mercy.edu or call (914) 674-7739.
What is the CD program's non-discrimination policy?
The Master's Degree in Communication Disorders program adheres to the Mercy College Non-Discrimination policy. The policy of Mercy College, both historically and currently, is that discrimination against any individual for reasons of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, or handicap and status as a parent is specifically prohibited. Accordingly, equal access to educational programs, employment opportunities, and all other college activities is extended to all persons, and the College promotes equal opportunity. Information concerning non-discrimination policies, including complaint procedures, may be obtained from the following individuals. • For Students: Deputy Director of PACT. • For Faculty, Administration, and Staff: Director of Human Resources. • For Accessibility Services: Director of ACCESSibility
Is there an undergraduate program in Communication Disorders?
Yes, there is an undergraduate program available.
What if I don't have a background in speech-language pathology or communication disorders?
A series of prerequisites courses can be taken by post-baccalaureate students interested in applying to the Mercy College graduate program in speech-language pathology.
*The graduate program in Communication Disorders at Mercy College requires the following courses:
Introduction to Communication Disorders
Introduction to Audiology
Normal Speech and Language Development
Speech and Hearing Science
Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech & Hearing Mechanisms
Note: Taking the prerequisite course series does not guarantee admission to the graduate Communication Disorders program. Students must apply to the graduate program. See the "How to apply" section below for more information.
*Speech-language course requirements vary across institutions.
Program Details & Curriculum
Required Coursework: 46 Credits
Elective Coursework: 6 Credits
Clinical Education: 8 Credits
Total: 60 Credits
For a full list of courses see our catalog
Speech-language pathologists provide habitation and rehabilitation services to individuals across the life span who demonstrate disorders in communication. These disorders may include language, articulation, phonology, voice, motor, memory, fluency, swallowing, feeding, attention and/or hearing deficits. The profession is built upon basic and applied physical and social sciences, educational principles and clinical research. The curriculum of this Program offers students a variety of opportunities for academic, clinical, research and specialized area experience reflecting that foundation. The program prepares students to work in a variety of different health care settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, outpatient programs, schools, community centers and private practice. Graduates are eligible to begin their Clinical Fellowship (CF) in accordance with requirements of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and are eligible to apply for state licensure.
The Master's Degree program in Communication Disorders is designed for full-time and part-time students and can be completed in two years and two summers for full-time students. The program consists of academic and clinical components that are organized in a progressive sequence. Courses are primarily offered in the evening. Some courses may be offered in various scheduling formats. Clinical practicum schedules require days, evenings and/ or Saturdays. The College defines full-time as nine credits. For the purpose of completing the CD program in two years (including two summers), the student must follow the projected curriculum sequence established by the program. Part-time students must follow the required course projections.
Students who graduate from the program may sit for the National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology (Specialty Area Test of the Praxis Series by the Educational Testing Service). Students then complete their Clinical Fellowship (CF). Upon successful completion of the degree, the examination, and the CF, the individual will be certified as a Speech-Language Pathologist by ASHA.
Successful completion of the educational and clinical requirements of the graduate program will prepare students for eligibility for the New York State License as a Speech-Language Pathologist.
The Master of Science Communication Disorders education program in speech-language pathology at Mercy College 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.
Communication Disorders Mission
The Master of Science in Communication Disorders is an educational program in speech-language pathology that offers students a comprehensive combination of academic and clinical learning experiences to facilitate the knowledge and skills needed for entry-level practice in the discipline.
The program seeks to:
Develop academic and clinical excellence through commitment to teaching, research and service.
Promote a culture of scholarship and respect of individuals.
Provide a foundation of knowledge and skills that foster competent, autonomous, clinical practice for the professional lifetime.
The mission of the program is to:
Prepare professionals to provide quality speech and language services to clients of all ages, cultures, and disabilities in a variety of settings.
Instill in students the interconnection among the theoretical, clinical, and research components of speech-language pathology through evidence-based research and current/relevant clinical practices.
Infuse the latest technology into the curriculum.
Promote in our graduates a culture of scholarship, critical thinking, and respect, and provide a foundation of knowledge and skills that foster competent, ethical clinical practice for the professional lifetime.
In fulfillment of this mission, the program will:
Provide coursework and clinical practicum experiences specified in the KASA competencies for speech-language professionals.
Deliver a program of study that is a pathway to TSSLD* certification and which is supportive of applicants seeking New York City (NYC) Department of Education scholarships for new clinicians.
Engage students in Capstone research projects to develop their understanding of research in the discipline.
Offer participatory opportunities in interprofessional education and practice activities that highlight collaborate care.
Provide campus and community-based clinical learning experiences that stress evidence-informed decision making in practice.
Expect professionalism, ethical conduct, and respect for individual and cultural differences in the provision of care.
*Certificate for Teaching Students with Speech-Language Disabilities
Clinical Component of the M.S. in Communication Disorders Program
Prerequisite Program
The mission of the pre-requisite program is to provide you with the foundation you need to enter a graduate level program in speech pathology.
An introduction to a variety of academic, scientific and clinical methods in the evaluation, treatment and prevention of speech-language disorders
All students from all fields of study are welcome. Our faculty is comprised of doctoral and master's level speech language pathologists and audiologists with various specializations, providing Mercy students with first rate and well-rounded instruction.
Students who earn the 21 credits in the pre-requisite program are eligible to apply to the MS degree program. An MS degree is mandatory for entry level into the field. For more information about the prerequisite program in Communication Disorders please download and read.
Employment Rate in Profession # of Graduates Percent of Graduates
2019 - 2020 38/40 95%
2018 - 2019 43/45 96.56%
2017 - 2018 45/45 100%
3 Year Average: 96.12%
Program Completion Rate # Completed Program Percentage Completing
3 Year Average: 98%
Praxis Examination Pass Rate
# Passed
Percentage Completing
2020 - 2021 36/39 92.3%
Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disability (TSSLD) Certification
The program is registered with the New York State Education Department offer Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD) certification. Students who with to obtain the academic and clinical requisites for Initial TSSLD certification must complete the following requirements in addition to program requirements:
Twelve credits in Education, which include three credits in Foundations of Education, three credits in Special Education, and six credits in Literacy.
Thirty-six credits in Speech/ Language Pathology and Audiology.
Student Teaching: a minimum of 150 "direct contact" hours.
Achievement of passing grades on the New York State Teacher Certification exams:
Educating All Students (EAS) test
Completion of Workshops:
Child Abuse Identification
School Violence Prevention
Human Dignity (DASA)
Fingerprint Clearance.
Upon acceptance into the Master of Science Program in Communication Disorders, students will be assigned a faculty member who will serve as their advisor. Students accepted into the program will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit at the time acceptance. This fee will be applied to the fall tuition payment. The advisor will meet with students to counsel them on Program and ASHA certification requirements, and to develop a plan of study and a future professional development plan.
Attendance and punctuality in all classes and clinical education assignments is required, unless the student is excused for extenuating and extraordinary life circumstances. A maximum of three undocumented absences from class will result in failure in the course and may jeopardize the student's standing in the program. Absence from a clinical assignment is subject to the rules and regulations of the institution.
The program has adopted a list of Essential Functions that outlines the necessary communication, motor, intellectual/cognitive, and behavioral/social attributes deemed necessary for program completion and clinical practice within the field. Students are expected to review this list and sign a form stating that they are or are not capable of performing the skills and abilities listed.
Download a copy of the full Essential Functions
Executive Summary: Strategic Planning 2018-2023
The Communication Disorders graduate program at Mercy College strives to consistently promote academic excellence in its students. The program is committed to preparing its students for career readiness in entry-level clinical jobs as speech-language pathologists. Students must obtain the knowledge and skills outlined in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Knowledge and Skills Acquisition (KASA) form and successfully pass the Praxis national examination for ASHA certification in speech-language pathology.
Program goals include:
Attracting Students - Faculty will routinely discuss trends in admission for speech-language pathology programs, at both the broad and local levels to remain current in the market.
Encouraging Student Research - The program will promote and support student research. The mandatory student capstone research projects will remain encouraged, as will other forms of faculty: student scholarship activities.
Participation in Interprofessional Education - The program will continue to participate in IPE events in the SHNS and beyond. Student participation in IPE will remain an expected part of the graduate curriculum.
Growing Grantsmanship - The program will expect faculty to explore internal and external grants, awards, etc. to support their research, or program needs. Collaborative scholarly activities between and among faculty at the program, college, university, and professional levels will remain encouraged.
Expecting Teaching Excellence - Faculty will participate in pedagogical trainings offered through the Center for Teaching and Learning, professional conferences, and/or workshops to remain current in the profession and effective in the classroom and clinic.
Incorporating Technology - As appropriate, the program will prioritize student access to innovative instructional tools and materials that enhance their learning in both the didactic and clinical settings.
Supporting Students - The program will recommend appropriate students for scholarships (e.g., NYC DOE Scholarships), academic programs (e.g., LEND*), employment opportunities, and other awards which they are qualified and suited.
Lifelong Learning - The program will offer workshops to practicing speech-language pathologists in the region.
Program Scholarships - The program will offer the Communication Disorders Scholarships to students yearly.
Community Outreach - The program will highlight faculty and student participation in SHNS medical missions, vetted events such as awareness walks, and approved outreach via lectures to constituents in the college and community.
Clinical Learning - Faculty will routinely discuss purposeful and feasible expansion of services offered via the Speech and Hearing Center to diversify and strengthen the students' clinical exposures. Faculty will continually explore the merits of existing externship partnership and the expansion of partnerships to extend the community-based learning experiences offered to students.
Praxis Test-Preparation - The program will continue its commitment to preparing students for the Praxis exam with continuous and targeted preparation for this examination.
*Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND), a multi-multi-disciplinary training program open to students at Mercy and several other partner universities.
2019 - 2020 Academic Year: Summary Highlights
Two faculty retired. A new Program Director began in Spring of 2020 and a tenure-track position was approved in Spring 2020 with an applicant to start in the Fall 2020.
The program revised student learning outcomes to align more closely with client care (PLOs submitted to the School of Health and Natural Sciences).
Students' progress on the Praxis. Some test dates were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly all students who graduated in Spring 2020 passed this measure.
The Clinic Director instituted HIPPA compliant teletherapy services in the Speech and Hearing Clinic secondary to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students were restricted from working with clients physically due to COVID-19 in the later part of the Spring 2020 term. Clinical learning was supplemented with case-based stimulated learning. Teletherapy was increasingly used at practicum sites.
Insurance was no longer collected in the Speech and Hearing Center; a fee for service model was implemented (decision unrelated to the COVID pandemic).
The program obtained varied instructional tools, e.g., language transcription software and Voice analysis software was procured. Plumbers endoscopes were ordered to support students' hands-on learning in the areas of swallowing and voice disorders. Clinical tests were reviewed and updated. Inclusion of toys and other children's materials in the Speech and Hearing Center were reviewed by the Clinic Director to ensure adequacy, safety, diversity, and appropriateness.
A faculty member led a student research team that spoke to students in the Occupational Therapy about AAC. Another faculty member spoke to students in the Nursing and Physician Assistant programs regarding trach and vent issues.
The Program Director and Clinic Director brainstormed ideas to build outreach via the Speech & Hearing Center; ideas to be developed when COVID is no longer a pressing health issue.
An invited panelist group addressed topics associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Program applied to the SHNS for a graduate student worker for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Faculty actively participated in trainings for online learning (e.g., tests in Blackboard collaborate, Zoom classrooms).
Unfortunately, the 2020 medical missions were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
An individual who suffered a brain injury participated in a panel discussion hosted by the School of Health and Natural Science (Spring 2020 Interprofessional Education Event). All students had the opportunity to participate in this and other SHNS IPE events.
Professional development workshops were held in Fall 2019 and Spring 2020. Funds support the program's Communication Disorders scholarships.
The program partnered with a local branch of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) to support 2 student scholarships. Funds were prepared for 2 students to go the national HLAA conference (regrettably cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
Two students were awarded Communication Disorders scholarships.
An impressive 24 students had poster presentations accepted to the 2020 annual convention of the New York Speech, Language, and Hearing convention—highlighting the quality of the students' capstone research projects. The conference was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, accepted research was invited to the 2021 conference without the need for reapplication.
Three students were accepted to the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program.
2018 - 2019 Action Steps are available upon request
Graduate courses taken at other institutions prior to admission at Mercy College may, if pertinent to the plan of study, be credited to the graduate degree. Transfer credit is limited to six credits taken within the last five years in which the student has received a grade of B or above.
Transfer courses taken prior to admission will not be computed in the quality point average.
Complaints That Fall Outside the Realm of Due Process
The Communication Disorders Program is committed to meeting its mission as it relates to serving our students, potential students, staff, faculty, adjunct faculty, clinical faculty and the public consumer of physical therapy. To that end, we are committed to ensuring that exceptional complaints for which there is no established College, School or program policy or procedure are considered and resolved in a timely, fair, consistent and equitable manner. Additional information may be found in the College graduate catalog.
Procedure: Complaints should be addressed to the Program Director through the online form. If the program director is the subject of the complaint, the complaint should be addressed to the Dean, School of Health and Natural Science.
Academic Program Sequence Map
Download a copy of the sequence map for:
2021-2022 M.S. Communication Disorders
2020 - 2021 M.S. Communication Disorders
Application deadline is February 1, prior to the fall for which the student would begin the program.
Requirements for admission into the Master of Science Program in Communication Disorders (CD) include:
A Bachelor's degree (conferred by the end of spring term of the application process) with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.2. Applicants with a lower average may be considered for admission if their last two years of grades show steady improvement and meet the minimum GPA requirement.
Completion of all prerequisite courses by May of the year in which the applicant is applying
A minimum GPA of 3.2 within the required seven prerequisite courses. Only grades of "C" or better in the prerequisite courses will be accepted.
Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate programs attended
Students who have studied at institutions of higher education in other countries must present original transcripts and official translations as part of the admissions submission. Mercy College's Office of Admissions will make the final official evaluation of international transcripts; however, all students are required, at their own expense, to obtain an evaluation of their transcripts by a NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) certified evaluation agency (e.g., WES, SpanTran, ECE). Such evaluations should be sent by the agency directly to the Student Services Support Center at Mercy College. A complete list of NACES members can be found at www.naces.org. The criteria for accepting international degrees and credits are the same as that for degrees and credits from U.S. Colleges and universities.
Two letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant's capacity to successfully complete graduate study are required. Both letters of recommendation can be from professors in the Department of Communication Disorders, or one letter can be from a professor in the Department of Communications Disorders and one can be from an undergraduate clinical supervisor who has supervised the applicant planning, implementing and documenting speech/language therapy.
A two-page typewritten essay. The "Written Statement" is in response to the question, "All graduate students at Mercy College participate in research. Please think about an area of interest. Explain why this is of interest and include a rationale as to why you feel research in this area is important to the field of speech/language pathology." The statement is to be double-spaced in a font of 12 and no more than two type-written pages in length.
Oral Communication skills necessary to provide services to a wide range of clients
Adequate written communication skills
A current resume
Completion of online "Prerequisite Checklist"
Documents will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee of the CD Program
Applications will be reviewed and ranked according to GPA, essay, resume and letters of recommendation
Representatives of the CD Admissions Committee will interview highest ranked applicants before final acceptance decisions are made. Interview requirement may be waived for students in the undergraduate prerequisite CD programs.
Please note: if applicants are taking courses during the fall and spring semesters of the application process, it is very important that updated transcripts are submitted when final grades are available.
Any student interested in the Communications Disorder program must have at least four of the following seven prerequisite courses completed for their application to be evaluated. All remaining prerequisite course-work must be completed by the end of the spring term prior to fall admission to enroll in the graduate program:
Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Hearing Mechanism (CMDS 256 – 4 crs.)
Phonetics (CMDS 240 – 3 crs.)
Speech & Hearing Science (CMDS 270 – 3 crs.)
Introduction to Communication Disorders or Speech Pathology I (CMDS 258 – 3 crs.)
Introduction to Audiology (CMDS 257 – 3 crs.)
Normal Speech & Language Development (CMDS 264 – 3 rs.)
Linguistics (CMDS 355 – 3 crs.)
The following four courses are also recommended, but are not required in order to apply to the CD graduate program. Only grades of "C" or better in these courses will be accepted:
Statistics (BHSC 370 or MATH 122 – 3 crs.)*
Aural Rehabilitation (CMDS 340 – 3 crs.)*
Physical Science** (Chemistry or Physics only)
Biological Science** (Human Biology)
*Must be taken for undergraduate credit prior to or during first year of graduate study
**Required for ASHA Certification; must be completed by the end of the first year of graduate school
For more information, please contact the Admissions Office at 1-877-MERCY-GO or the Communication Disorders department at 914-674-7739. We also invite you to visit our website at www.mercy.edu.
Application & Next Steps