Financial Assistance for CSD Graduate Programs
The CSD graduate program usually awards fellowships, traineeships, and assistantships at the beginning of fall semester. These awards typically pay for tuition and/or provide that student with a monthly stipend, depending on the type of financial assistance. Tuition at Penn State varies for Pennsylvania and out-of-state graduate students. CSD graduate programs are located on the University Park campus. Tuition rates are subject to change and can be viewed at tuition.psu.edu.
Funding for Ph.D. students
Half-time graduate assistantships based on merit are awarded to full-time Ph.D. students during the first three years of their program, contingent on satisfactory performance. If a student is under-performing in their assistantship, processes will be followed as outlined in the Graduate School Policies.
Funding for Doctoral Studies in AAC
The Penn State AAC Doctoral Leadership Project provides funding support (full tuition and a monthly fellowship stipend) for students who are interested in doctoral studies in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Education (grant #H325D170024), is designed to prepare doctoral students for future careers as researchers, university faculty, and leaders in AAC in order to improve outcomes for children with complex communication needs. The curriculum combines academic learning, mentored research experiences in AAC, mentored teaching experiences, and leadership training.
For further information about the Penn State AAC Doctoral Leadership Project, please contact Janice Light, Ph.D.
Funding for Master's students
The department receives a limited number of assistantships from the College of Health and Human Development. The number of assistantships provided by the college is not consistent from one year to the next, and Ph.D. students are given priority. Funding through departmental assistantships will be available for M.S. students if there are assistantships remaining. There is no application process for this funding; all admitted students are automatically considered.
Funding for Master's Study in AAC
The Departments of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Special Education at Penn State provide funding opportunities for MS students interested in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Funding support (full tuition and a monthly stipend) is available through the AAC Collaboration Project, a preservice personnel preparation grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education (grant #H325K170130). The goal of the AAC Collaboration grant is to prepare master's-level speech-language pathologists and special educators in the specialized competencies required to provide high-quality services to infants, children, and youth who require AAC, especially those from diverse backgrounds. The AAC Collaboration curriculum combines academic learning, research experiences in AAC, practicum experiences, and state-of-the-art assistive technology labs. For further information on the AAC Collaboration Project, contact Jessica Caron in Communication Sciences and Disorders or David McNaughton in Special Education.
Research Assistantships for Graduate Students in CSD
A small number of research assistantships may also be available for graduate students on several federally-funded research grants in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Contact the graduate program for current information.
