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CSD Degree Programs: Master of Health Science (MHS) and MHS/PhD Combination
MHS Program
The Master of Health Science (MHS) degree program prepares students for professional practice in speech-language pathology. The CSD MHS Program at MU is fairly small and selective. Students in this program receive a strong academic and clinical background in current theory and application in the field of communication disorders from faculty who are committed to excellence in teaching and who are involved in clinical and basic research.
MHS/PhD Combined Program
A combined MHS/PhD program is available for students whose goals include advanced study and research in Communication Science and Disorders (see also PhD information).
Students in our MHS and MHS/PhD programs benefit from:
- A very low student-faculty ratio
- Close supervision in the MU Speech and Hearing Clinic
- A challenging yet supportive learning environment
- The freedom to seek clinical outplacement experiences beyond the mid-Missouri region during their final semester in the program
- Easily-accessible CSD faculty and strong student-faculty relationships
Degree requirements
The MHS degree in CSD typically takes students two years to complete if their baccalaureate degree is in Communication Science and Disorders. If their undergraduate study was in another field, the degree program requires an additional three semesters of prerequisite coursework (link to list of prerequisite courses). The application deadline for this non-traditional sequence is October 15th, and students begin prerequisite coursework in the Spring Semester. Applicants do not have to complete any prerequisite coursework before applying to the MHS program. However, all students must have completed a baccalaureate degree in some field of study before beginning the MHS program in Communication Science and Disorders (add link to non traditional materials). For more information, contact the Department at mucsd@health.missouri.edu.
Candidates for the MHS degree must complete a minimum of 42 credit hours of graduate coursework plus at least 375 hours of clinical practicum that is supervised by clinical faculty certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA). In addition to the MU Speech and Hearing Clinic, the city of Columbia and surrounding communities in mid-Missouri provide a wide range of clinical practicum opportunities as well as a diverse client population.
Students also may pursue clinical practicum experiences in other geographical locations during their final semester in the program. Students frequently return to St. Louis or Kansas City to complete their final outplacements. However, the organization of our curriculum has allowed students to take advantage of opportunities as far away as California, Texas, or Colorado.
MHS graduate are required to meet all academic and clinical requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) awarded by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA). A passing score of 600 on the PRAXIS II Speech-Language Pathology examination is required for graduation from the MHS program in CSD. In addition to serving as the comprehensive examination for master candidates in CSD, the PRAXIS II is required for the Certificate of Clinical Competence, for Missouri professional licensure, and for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education speech-language pathologist student services certificate. For over 20 years, 100% of all graduates from MU’s CSD program have passed this national exam and our mean and median scores are significantly higher than the national averages. In addition, graduates of the program have enjoyed excellent job opportunities upon graduation, with many students receiving more than one job offer before finishing their masters program. For those students interested in research and/or further study towards the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, a thesis option is available.
The combined MHS/PhD program takes at least five years to complete for students entering the program with an undergraduate degree in CSD or at least six and a half years if a student’s undergraduate degree is in an outside area. The MHS/PhD application procedures are the same as the MHS application procedures. Applicants with a baccalaureate degree in a field other than Communication Science and Disorders should apply by the October 15th deadline to begin coursework in the Spring Semester.
For more information
The CSD department welcomes all visitors interested in meeting our faculty and students and touring our facilities. If you would like to visit, we recommend that you schedule an appointment by calling the Department office at 573-882-3873 or e-mailing us at mucsd@health.missouri.edu.
Application Procedures for the MHS Program
MU Speech and Hearing Clinic
List of graduate course offerings in CSD (.pdf)
Admission Requirements
MHS Handbook
Degree Programs in CSD
- BHS: Bachelor of Health Science
BHS Admission Requirements - MHS: Master of Health Science
MHS Admission Requirements
MHS: Non-traditional Track
Information for MHS International Students - MHS/PhD: Combined degree track
MHS/PhD Admission Requirements - PhD: Doctor of Philosophy
PhD Admission Requirements
Information for PhD International Students
Page last updated on: August 25, 2009
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