Preparing you to deliver high-quality clinical services in speech-language pathology.
The Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders, both the thesis and non-thesis tracks, will provide you with the competencies required for independent professional employment in clinical speech-language pathology services.
Jobs are readily available in Maine, throughout the US, and the Canadian provinces, especially the Maritimes. Graduates with an MA degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders find positions as speech-language pathologists in schools, hospitals, and other service agencies, as well as in private practice.
The full-time program extends over a two-year period (five semesters) for traditional students and six to seven semesters for students who may require prerequisite coursework. You have the option of a thesis or non-thesis track for your degree, with research opportunities available to you regardless of your choice of track.
While there are many options nationally for your graduate education, the University of Maine boasts the only graduate speech-language pathology program in the state of Maine, and one of only three in northern New England. The department is proud to prepare you as a generalist, competent to work in any setting with any client, to serve all of the communities across the state and beyond.
In the classroom, we offer experiential learning opportunities that will enable you to master content and apply skills within a structured setting. Our faculty encourage the growth of collaboration, self-reflection, critical thinking, and professional writing skills through case studies and other interactive activities.
You will begin developing a caseload in our on-campus clinic from the very first semester, with clients of all ages and varying communication needs. Later, you will expand your learning to any of a wide variety of off-campus placements across New England and Canada, thanks to the community and alumni connections of the department. Our clinical supervisors work hard to understand students’ professional goals and secure external clinical placements that align with their skills and preferences.
Our research labs provide ample opportunity for you to engage in mentored or self-directed projects that will further develop your skills as a clinician and as an independent researcher. We hope students’ experiences with research in their masters program enable them to make vital contributions to the field over the course of their career.
The Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders extends over a two-year period for regular, full-time students, and starts in September of each year. If you are required to take certain prerequisite courses, this timeframe can be up to 6 or 7 semesters. The program will prepare you to be eligible for licensure within the State of Maine. Visit the UMS State Authorization & Licensure page to learn more about the licensure requirements in other states and territories.
This M.A. program meets the current academic and clinical requirements for clinical certification in Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). As a matter of policy, we require those students admitted to the program to meet these certification standards..
Clinical practicum is an integral part of your graduate program. Your practicum experiences are designed to give you the opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired in your coursework to the development of your clinical skills. For a standard program of study, students will start serving their first clients in our on-campus clinic the first semester of graduate school.
Typically, treatment services begin the second week of the semester. Students receive ample guidance in preparing for and starting their first session, with continued support throughout their graduate program.
Each graduate student is expected to complete at least five semesters of clinical practicum in speech and language pathology. Experienced clinicians and a faculty-student ratio with considerable individual attention ensures a high-quality practicum experience. In addition to weekly observations of the student’s practicum, the supervisor and student have one-hour meetings each week to discuss the various aspects of the student’s clinical work.
Practicum experiences are provided under the auspices of the University’s Conley Speech, Language and Hearing Center, which offers on-campus and outreach services to a variety of individuals with language, speech and hearing disorders. Additional clinical placements are in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, public and private schools, and community speech and hearing centers.
Please note: Students who work during their graduate program are advised to work 10 hours per week or less. Students who work greater than 10 hours per week (e.g., assistantship, outside employment) might need to extend their program by up to one year to ensure they gain their clinical hours.
All application materials must be submitted through CSDCAS in order for your application to be considered complete.
In addition to the CSDCAS application, applicants are also required to complete the UMaine Graduate School Applicant Tracking Form. This form is submitted separately from CSDCAS and is the only item not included in the CSDCAS process.
For more information on the application process, please visit the Communication Sciences & Disorders Graduate Admissions page.
Degrees offered: MA
Program Format: On Campus
Application deadline: January 15 (Fall only)
Test Required: None
Contact: Jessica Riccardi
Contact Email: jessica.riccardi@maine.edu
Program Website: Communication Sciences and Disorders
