Students develop the knowledge and skills essential for competent, evidence-based practice in the field of communication disorders.
Communication Disorders
Program Overview
The nationally accredited program provides students opportunities to work closely with faculty members who are distinguished scholars, mentors and master clinicians in various aspects of the field of communication disorders. Faculty-student ratios provide individualized attention, effective clinical mentoring and academic excellence. Graduates are highly competitive nationally in today’s workforce.
Course Work
The Department of Communication Disorders offers two master’s degrees. The master of science in communication disorders (M.S.C.D.) requires 63 credit hours to complete, consisting of coursework in the major, elective options, and a clinical practicum each semester. The master of arts (M.A.) degree requires 66 credit hours to complete, including coursework in the major, a thesis, and a clinical practicum each semester. Students in the M.S.C.D. program may choose from elective options in neurogenics, voice and swallowing (NVS), bilingual, autism spectrum disorders, and versatility in practice.
| Degree | Hours | Thesis Option | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Degree M.A. | Hours 66 | Thesis Option Thesis | Location Round Rock |
Degree M.S.C.D | Hours 63 | Thesis Option Non-Thesis | Location Round Rock |
Program Details
Nationally recognized for leadership, the program has an exceptional pass rate on the required Praxis exam and very strong employment outcomes. Curricular offerings include an overseas study abroad.
Program Mission
The Department of Communication Disorders is committed to innovative instruction, expansion of knowledge and community-based collaboration to create a vibrant and supportive learning community that engages and inspires students, faculty, staff, and clients. Rigorous academic and clinical training that is grounded in evidence-based practice prepares students to serve individuals with communication disorders and their families in an ethical and culturally competent manner.
Career Options
Graduates are prepared to enter today’s workforce or Ph.D. programs. Speech-language pathology graduates are highly prepared to succeed in private practice, healthcare, and school-based settings, providing services to individuals of all ages.
Program Faculty
Academic faculty conduct research in bilingualism, speech motor control, mild cognitive impairment, fluency, and child language development and disorders among other areas. They have won national awards and have been funded with external and internal grants. They publish in well-known national and international journals and frequently present at national and state conferences, providing strong mentoring for graduate students who wish to present and publish as well.
Contact us for general questions about your application, funding opportunities, and more. If you have specific questions after reviewing the program details, contact the program's graduate advisor.
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Application Deadlines
| DEADLINES | U.S. CITIZEN | INTERNATIONAL |
|---|---|---|
DEADLINES Fall - Priority | U.S. CITIZEN February 1 | INTERNATIONAL February 1 |
DEADLINES Fall - Standard | U.S. CITIZEN August 1* | INTERNATIONAL June 1* |
*Applications for Fall 2026 are now closed.
Priority Deadline: Ensures full consideration for admission and eligibility for certain funding opportunities, including scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships, and guarantees that your application will be considered in the initial review.
Standard Deadline: Represents the last day a complete application can be submitted, but does not guarantee admission consideration. After the priority deadline, applications are reviewed on a rolling, space-available basis until the program is full, at which point, applications will close.
For important information regarding deadlines and decision timelines, review the Graduate Admission Policies page.
Admission Requirements
The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Further details on individual requirements can be found on our admission policy page. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international webpages.
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Application
- completed online application
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Application Fee
- $55 nonrefundable application fee, OR
- $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
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Transcripts & GPA
- Baccalaureate degree in communication disorders from a regionally accredited university. A competitive leveling program is available if you do not have the required degree. (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
- A copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted. If you have not yet graduated with your bachelor's degree, you must submit a transcript with fall grades.
- A 3.0 overall GPA or a 3.0 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses).
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in your undergraduate communication disorders courses.
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Test Scores
GRE
- GRE not required
Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores
Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.
- official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
- official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
- official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
- official Duolingo scores required with a 110 overall
- official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall
This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.
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Documents
- prerequisite course form
- resume/CV
- statement of purpose addressing the following questions:
- What areas of speech pathology practice or research interest you most and why?
- Why are you applying to the Communication Disorders graduate program at Texas State University?
- Briefly describe any life experiences, situations, and/or research interests that distinguish you as an applicant.
- three forms of recommendation