Program Overview

Introduction to the Communication Disorders Program

The Department of Communication Disorders at New Mexico State University offers undergraduate and graduate programs in Communication Disorders. The undergraduate program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree, while the graduate program leads to a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology.

Undergraduate Program

The undergraduate program in Communication Disorders is a pre-professional program that prepares students for graduate work in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology. To complete the Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders, students must successfully complete a minimum of 120 credits, including:

• A minimum of 48 upper division credits
• A minimum of 9 credits from an approved list of electives Students who complete the Bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders may pursue a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology, a doctoral degree in Audiology, or complete additional supervised clinical hours to become a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLP-A) or Apprentice of Speech Language Pathology (ASL).

Graduate Program

The Department of Communication Disorders offers a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology that meets the educational requirements for certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and state licensure in all states within the U.S. The program typically takes two years to complete for students with an undergraduate major in Communication Disorders, including the summer between the two years. Students without a background in Communication Disorders may require an additional year of leveling coursework. To complete the program, students must meet the program's academic and clinical competency criteria, which are aligned with the requirements of state and national certifying bodies for licensure and clinical certification.

Accreditation

The Master of Arts (M.A.) education program in speech-language pathology at New Mexico State University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.

Degree Options

The Department of Communication Disorders offers the following degree options:

• Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders
• Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders (Online)
• Master of Arts in Communication Disorders with a specialization in Speech-Language Pathology