Welcome to the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at McGill University. The School's mission is to train highly-qualified professionals in Speech-Language Pathology and to foster the development of leading researchers in the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders.
We offer a student-centred learning environment with small class sizes and personalized mentoring that encourages independence and innovation. We value diverse perspectives in our School and welcome qualified individuals from a variety of academic backgrounds and from different parts of the world.
Clinical competency and research independence are emphasized through our research-based curriculum and clinical training program, combined with faculty mentorship. Our clinical Master’s degree program in Speech-Language Pathology is composed of 29 courses taught by internationally recognized researchers and clinicians. In addition, students participate in more than 10 unique practicum activities in the assessment and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders. Research students have access to our state-of-the-art facilities for projects ranging from infant speech perception to the neural bases of speech, language and emotion.
Graduate degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders open up rewarding and profitable career possibilities in clinical practice, industry, and academia. Graduates of our programs are well-prepared for highly skilled positions in health care and academia, as well as for leadership careers in the basic sciences of communication.
We are fortunate to be situated in the very heart of Montreal, which is a fascinating, multilingual, and multicultural city--one where language and communication are never taken for granted!
I invite you to learn more about our educational programs, academic personnel, recent scientific discoveries, and how we are making a difference in the community.
Susan Rvachew, PhD
Associate Dean and Director, SCSD
History of the School
The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders (until 1993 known as the School of Human Communication Disorders) is one of several Schools offering health professions training in the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University. Between 1970-2014, the School was located in the historic residence of "Beatty Hall".
The School began its operation in September 1963 as part of the Division of Audiology and Speech Pathology of the Institute of Otolaryngology at the Royal Victoria Hospital. It was one of the first university departments in Canada to offer graduate training in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Originally, the School had a two-year professional program which led to the M.Sc. (Applied) degree; for the first few years, this provided joint qualification in Audiology and Speech Pathology. However, it was decided that specialization within one or the other area was necessary and independent M.Sc. (Applied) degree programs in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology were developed soon after. In 1976, an additional M.Sc. (Applied) program was established in Auditory-Oral Rehabilitation and Education (AORE).
In the early 1990s, the School strategically focused its resources on the strengths it had developed in Speech-Language Pathology; this meant the closing of the AORE program (in 1992) followed by the Audiology program (in 1994). Over the years, the student population of the School has grown from 4 to more than 80 students and the full-time academic staff from 2 to 14 faculty members.
In addition to 50+ years of providing professional training in Speech-Language Pathology, the SCSD prides itself in creating opportunities for advanced research training in Communication Sciences and Disorders. The SCSD was the first department in Canada to offer a Ph.D. degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders; this program remains an integral part of the mission and identity of the School to this day. The success of the PhD program ensures that there will be well-qualified researchers, scholars, and clinician-scientists in Canada to train future generations of scholars in our field.
As the mission and outreach activities of the School continued to expand, in 2014 the School was moved into newly renovated teaching and research facilities located at 2001 McGill College avenue (8th floor). Each spring, the School welcomes prospective students and members of the public to visit the facilities and to learn more about our activities at our annual Open House event.
