Help rebuild communication skills fundamental to life

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at the MGH Institute prepares you with the critical thinking and clinical excellence skills to work in any setting. In our comprehensive 69 credit program you will develop knowledge and skills in the breadth and depth of speech-language pathology, and have the opportunity to specialize in one of several areas of concentration.

The program’s extensive core curriculum and specialty electives are taught by a large faculty of nationally prominent researchers and clinical experts. Research in our labs spans broad areas of communication sciences and disorders including literacy, developmental language disorders, aphasia, autism, neurogenic disorders, dysphagia, voice, and motor speech among others. 
 

the word passion is below a woman high fiving a little boy

The program’s extensive core curriculum and specialty electives span both the educational and medical courses of study. Our rigorous six-semester program helps you develop deep knowledge and skills through our balanced curriculum requiring 69 credits. You may enroll in an area of interest that includes specialized electives, a dedicated practicum, and participation in a mentored learning project.

Total Core Required Credits: 60

(Core courses must be taken for letter grade.)

Total Elective Credits required: 9

 

View Curriculum Plans

You may enroll in an area of interest that includes specialized electives, a dedicated practicum, and participation in a mentored learning project. The concentrations we offer are:     

 

Total Core Required Credits: 65

(Core courses must be taken for letter grade.)

Total Elective Credits required: 7

Minimum credits required for graduation: 72

If students have already completed an undergraduate course in Aural Rehabilitation they must take 2 more credits of electives (9 instead of 7) to reach the total of 72 because they do not take CD 751 (Aural Rehabilitation).

Curriculum Plan

Total Core Required Credits: 66

(Core courses must be taken for letter grade.)

Total Elective Credits required: 6

Minimum credits required for graduation: 72

If students have already completed an undergraduate course in Aural Rehabilitation they must take 2 more credits of electives (8 instead of 6) to reach the total of 72 because they do not take CD 751 (Aural Rehabilitation).

Curriculum Plan

Total Core Required Credits: 67

(Core courses must be taken for letter grade.)

Total Elective Credits required: 5

Minimum credits required for graduation: 72

If students have already completed an undergraduate course in Aural Rehabilitation they must take 2 more credits of electives (7 instead of 5) to reach the total of 72 because they do not take CD 751 (Aural Rehabilitation).

Curriculum Plan

Total Core Required Credits: 65

(Core courses must be taken for letter grade.)

Total Elective Credits required: 7

Minimum credits required for graduation: 72

If students have already completed an undergraduate course in Aural Rehabilitation they must take 2 more credits of electives (9 instead of 7) to reach the total of 7 because they do not take CD 751 (Aural Rehabilitation).

Note: this concentration does not meet MA DESE requirements for licensure as a Reading Specialist.

Curriculum Plan

 

Total Core Required Credits: 70

(Core courses must be taken for letter grade.)

Total Elective Credits required: 2

Minimum credits required for graduation: 72

If students have already completed an undergraduate course in Aural Rehabilitation they must take 2 more credits of electives (4 instead of 2) to reach the total of 72 because they do not take CD 751 (Aural Rehabilitation).

Curriculum Plan

Total Core Required Credits: 65

(Core courses must be taken for letter grade.)

Total Elective Credits required: 7

Minimum credits required for graduation: 72

If students have already completed an undergraduate course in Aural Rehabilitation they must take 2 more credits of electives (9 instead of 7) to reach the total of 72 because they do not take CD 751 (Aural Rehabilitation).

Curriculum Plan

Total Core Required Credits: 64

(Core courses must be taken for letter grade.)

Total Elective Credits required: 8

Minimum credits required for graduation: 72

If students have already completed an undergraduate course in Aural Rehabilitation they must take 2 more credits of electives (10 instead of 8) to reach the total of 72 because they do not take CD 751 (Aural Rehabilitation).

Curriculum Plan

Clinical Experience

As a first-year student, you will begin your education with clinical rotations in our state-of-the-art, on-campus Speech, Language and Literacy Center. With our unique “clinical excellence curriculum” you will develop critical thinking, clinical problem-solving, and professional skills. Our approach provides a seamless bridge between the classroom and the clinic.

During your second year, you will receive opportunities for clinical placements over three to four semesters at more than 200 prominent hospitals, clinics, centers and schools in the Greater Boston area, including Southern NH, Cape Cod, central MA, and RI. As the only degree-granting affiliate of Mass General Brigham (MGB), the Institute gives you access to MGB's top hospitals and clinical sites.

Additional on-site learning opportunities include: working with adults in our on-campus Aphasia Center and participating in simulations using high-tech manikins in our Simulation Lab.

Employment, Praxis Pass, MTEL Pass, and Program Student Outcomes

Number and percentage of CSD graduates who have been employed in the profession within one year of graduation, including graduates who are either employed or are pursuing further education in the profession, over the past three years.

Academic Year

Number of Graduates

Percent of Graduates

2019-2020

59 100%
2020-2021 60 98%
2021-2022 61

100%

3-year average: 99%

Praxis examination pass rates for the previous three periods/testing cycles for graduates of the CSD program based on available ETS data.

Academic Year

Number of Students Taking Exam

Number of Students Passed

Pass Rate Percentage

2020-2021

53 53

100%

2021-2022

46 43

93.4%

2022-2023 45 44 98%

3-year average: 97%

 

MTEL-MS-SLP License*
 

Academic Year

IHP Pass Rate

IHP Scaled Score Mean

State Scaled Score Mean

2019-2020

100%

275.8 259.55

2020-2021

100%

267.2

259.3

2021-2022

100%

275 259.3

*Mean of reading and writing scores
 

MTEL Reading Specialist License

Academic Year

IHP Pass Rate

IHP Scaled Score Mean

State Scaled Score Mean

2019-2020

91%

260.5

252.1

2020-2021

100%

259.4

249.8

2021-2022

100%

267.5

448.4

3-year average: 97%

An average program completion rate for graduate students in the last 3 years in relation to program's published expectation for length of time for students to complete the degree, based on enrollment data.
 

Academic Year

Completed Within Expected Time Frame

Completed Later Than Expected Timeframe

Not Complete

Completion Rate

2020-2021

60 1 0

100%

2021-2022

61 1 1

99.3%

2022-2023 62 0 0 100%

3-year average: 99%

 

 

We offer scholarships to approximately one-third of each entering class, based on the strength of your application. The scholarships cover varying amounts of the total cost of tuition and fees for the two-year program, ranging from 25% to 100%. Most students receive financial aid of some kind, including loans. The program has several Graduate Assistantship (GA) positions available. These are part-time jobs on campus (about 6-10 hours/week) where students generally have the flexibility to schedule their own work hours in between classes. Information about how to apply for these opportunities is given to students the summer before matriculation.

 

Tuition & Fees

Financial Aid

Application Process

The Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders program at MGH Institute of Health Professions participates in the CSD Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS). All applicants are required to apply online through CSDCAS

Please note:

  1. When applying through CSDCAS, please do not list any non-US schools attended as part of a study abroad program.
  2. Although we have an application deadline of February 1, 2024, please try to get all application materials submitted to CSDCAS at least 3-4 weeks before the application deadline in order to allow time for CSDCAS processing.

*In order to be eligible for review, CSDCAS applications must be completed on or prior to the deadline. Please note: you should allow several weeks for all required documents to be received and processed by CSDCAS.

Items to submit directly to CSDCAS:

  • CSDCAS application with application fee
  • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
  • Three (3) recommendation letters
  • Statement of Intent
  • MGH Institute Custom Questions

MGH Institute of Health Professions does not require a supplemental application.

For program starting Fall 2024: The CSDCAS 2023-2024 Application Cycle opens July 14, 2023.

Deadline: February 1, 2024 

 

Apply Now

We do not begin to review applications until the application deadline, and we do not have rolling admissions. Decisions about admission are made after all applications are reviewed.

Each application is reviewed in its entirety independently by the faculty in the Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders (CSD). Recommendations are made by the Admissions Committee for the program, which includes most of the CSD faculty.

We complete the application review process by the end of February. You can expect to hear about the status of your application soon after that. Additionally, each year we host an Open House for all accepted students that occurs in late March or early April.

Degree

Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or recognized international equivalent.

 

Prerequisite Courses

Completion of the following 9 prerequisite courses at a fully accredited institution with a grade of C or better is required for admission. 

All of these courses are offered online by the MGH Institute. Learn more about our online prereqs . Please note that some of these courses were likely completed during your undergraduate education.

 

MGH Institute MS in Speech-Language Pathology Prerequisites  

Prerequisite courses do not need to be completed before applying to the program. However, all prerequisite courses must be satisfactorily completed prior to starting the program.

To inquire whether specific courses will satisfy our prerequisite requirements, please complete our CSD Prerequisite Inquiry Form. Please allow 10-15 business days for a reply.

 

TOEFL/ IELTS

The language of instruction and clinical education at the MGH Institute is English and a high level of proficiency in both written and spoken English is required.  Applicants who have not completed either an undergraduate or graduate program where English is the language of instruction must demonstrate English Language proficiency as part of your application to the MGH Institute of Health Professions.  If you have questions about the language requirements, please contact the Office of Admissions.

  • Applicants who are citizens of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Guyana, an Anglophone country of Africa, or an English-speaking country of the Caribbean are not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
  • Applicants who are candidates for graduation from an accredited degree-granting program in the United States or at an English-speaking school in one of the countries listed above are also not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Acceptance to the IHP will be contingent upon successful completion of this degree prior to matriculation. 

Please note that in some circumstances, demonstrating English language proficiency may be required by the academic program even if you are a citizen of a country in which the (or one of the) national language(s) is English. Decisions about the need for TOEFL or IELTS scores are at the discretion of the academic program to which you are applying in coordination with the department of OES.

The IHP accepts either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The test must have been taken within two years of the application deadline and official score reports are required. The minimum TOEFL (internet-based) score accepted is 89 and the minimum IELTS score accepted is 6.5.   

  • To forward your TOEFL score please contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS).  The MGH Institute of Health Professions code is 3513.
  • For IELTS, a Test Report Form may be mailed to MGH Institute of Health Professions and score information will be verified by the IHP directly. You may designate up to 5 schools to receive Test Report Forms at the time you register for the test.  To request additional Test Report Forms, contact your test center.

Please contact the Office of Admissions if you have any questions about the MGH Institute’s English Language requirements.  
 

Please refer to our program page in CSDCAS for information. All official transcripts should be sent directly to CSDCAS

Applicants that have earned a degree from a non-US institution are required to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation from one of the following NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) members: Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., SpanTran: The Evaluation Company, World Education Services (WES), or the Center for Educational Documentation. If you earned your bachelor's degree outside of the U.S. this credential evaluation must document minimum equivalency of a US baccalaureate degree or higher.

Statement of Intent

All applicants are asked to compose an essay that addresses the following:

Discuss your personal and professional experiences and leadership roles, your academic interests and objectives, and your career aspirations. Tell us about areas where you excel. Talk about times you have faced challenges, demonstrated resilience, and/or been an advocate for individuals who are marginalized.  What excites you most about becoming an SLP? Address how and why you feel the MGH Institute of Health Professions can help you achieve your academic and professional goals. Include any other information you believe is relevant. 

The statement of intent should be submitted directly to CSDCAS.

Diversity Statement (Optional)

All applicants are asked to compose an essay that addresses the following:

MGH Institute of Health Professions highly values having a diverse student population.  Diversity presents itself in many different social identities, such as: race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality or place of origin, ability, socioeconomic status, unique life or work experience, etc.  We invite you to reflect upon and share the ways your own social identities shape your relationship to your current educational or employment context, and to comment on how your own experience and perspectives might influence your experience in graduate school and the evolution of the field of Speech-Language Pathology.

The statement of intent should be submitted directly to CSDCAS.

Letters of Recommendation

Three recommendation letters are required for admission. Please refer to our program page in CSDCAS for more information. All recommendation letters should be submitted directly to CSDCAS.

Upcoming Admissions Events

#10

Ranked 10th in the country by U.S. News & World Report

98%

Of our graduates passed the PRAXIS exam on their first try

200+

Clinical sites available for clinical practicum

A woman working wearing a mask and headphones

Mission, Goals & Strategic Plan

We seek to advance knowledge about human communication differences and disorders and to prepare graduates for success in interprofessional practice settings. 

See Full Mission
two women on the couch look down at their laptops, one smiles one wears a mask

JEDI

The Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Office guides the MGH IHP in realizing its mission of being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. 

JEDI
Two people sitting in chairs smiling

IMPACT Practice Center

The Dr. Charles A. and Ann Sanders IMPACT Practice Center houses the Julie Atwood Speech, Language and Literacy Center (SLLC). The SLLC provides comprehensive assessment, therapy and specialty services to children and adults with communication and reading difficulties.

IMPACT Center

Learn from Speech-Language Pathology Experts

Our faculty, a majority of whom are practicing clinicians in leading hospitals and health care centers, integrate their research into the classroom and clinical settings to provide students with the most up-to-date information that will help them become better speech-language pathologists.

View Our Faculty
Marjorie Nicholas

Chair, Professor Communication Sciences and Disorders School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Tiffany wears black top and purple glasses

Director of the SAiL Literacy Lab Professor Communication Sciences and Disorders Research: SAiL Literacy Lab

words "council on academic accreditation" sit in a blue circle

The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in Speech-Language Pathology (residential) at the MGH Institute of Health Professions is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association,2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

And by the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education 

Experiences in Communication Sciences & Disorders

View All Stories