Master of Science in Communicative Disorders (CDS)

In addition, the following coursework is required in order to meet ASHA Standard IV-A: The applicant must have demonstrated knowledge of the biological sciences, physical sciences, statistics, and the social/behavioral sciences.

In order to meet the current ASHA standards you must have completed a basic undergraduate course in each of the following areas earning a grade of "C" or better:

• Biological Science - Biological Science encompasses the study and characterization of living organisms and the investigation of the science behind living things. Broad areas of acceptable coursework in biological science includes: anatomy, biophysics, cell and molecular biology, computational biology, ecology and evolution, environmental biology, forensic biology, genetics, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biosciences, natural science, neurobiology, physiology and zoology.
• Physical Science - Acceptable courses in physical sciences should include physics or chemistry. Physical Science deals with matter, energy, motion, and force. A broad survey of physics principles to enable students to appreciate the role of physics in everyday experiences in today's society and technology. Chemistry coursework can include selected concepts and topics designed to give students an appreciation for how chemistry impacts everyday life, especially energy and the environment; the study of substances.
• Social/Behavioral Science - The systematic analysis and investigation of human and animal behavior through controlled and naturalistic observation and disciplined scientific experimentation. These areas of study attempt to accomplish legitimate, objective conclusions through rigorous formulations and observation. Acceptable courses in social/behavioral sciences can include psychology, sociology, anthropology, ethnic and cultural studies, archeology, economics, gender and sexuality studies, political science, psychobiology, or criminology and cognitive science.
• Statistics - Statistics is "the science of learning from data, and of measuring, controlling, and communicating uncertainty; and it thereby provides the navigation essential for controlling the course of scientific and societal advances." The course can be through the math department (elementary statistics, introduction to statistics) or it can be a statistics course in the behavioral sciences (i.e. psychology, sociology, etc.)

These courses may be lower or upper division courses (they may be from a community college or a four-year college). The courses must qualify for credit toward a college degree (i.e., college extension classes do not count), but may be taken after graduating from college. There is no minimum or maximum number of semester or quarter units for any course.

Applicants must have completed all 4 of the required courses in order for their application to be reviewed. Applications without the minimum required ASHA coursework will be deemed incomplete and will not be reviewed for admission purposes.