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  • Kumiko T. Boike, Ph.D., CCC-A
  • Rosalea Cameron, M.S., M.Cl.Sc., CCC-SLP
  • Mark Cantor, MS, CCC-SLP
  • Kathy L. Chapman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
  • Erinn Finke, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
  • Mary Foye, MS, CCC-SLP
  • Janet Goldstein, M.S., CCC-SLP
  • Brooke Hammond, AuD, CCC-A
  • Eric Hunter, Ph.D.
  • Julia Lidgard, MS, CCC-SLP
  • Susan Naidu, Ph.D., CCC-A
  • Sean M. Redmond, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
  • Nelson Roy Ph.D., CCC-SLP
  • Hilary Silberman, MS, CCC-SLP
  • Bruce L. Smith, Ph.D.
  • Julie L. Wambaugh, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
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  • Angelina Harder
  • Leslie Calvert
  • Ellen Carter
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Graduate Admissions FAQs

What is the deadline for applying to the graduate programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders and what materials must be submitted?

The departmental deadline for applying to any of the graduate programs is February 1. Applications submitted after this date will still be considered, but admissions decisions for late applicants may be more competitive depending on the number of applications received prior to the deadline. A Letter of Intent (1-2 pages), your GRE scores, 3 letters of recommendation, and a sample of your scholarly writing (e. g., paper for a class, master's thesis, published article, etc.) should be sent directly to the Department. In addition, if English is not your native language, you will need to have scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Test of Spoken English (TSE) sent to the Department as well. (NOTE: The official graduate school application form and transcripts from any university you have attended should be sent to the Graduate School, where they must be received by January 1.)

How many students apply and are accepted each year?

The average number of applications for the Master's program in speech-language pathology for the past several years has been approximately 80. About 60% of those who apply are admitted. The average number of students matriculating in each of the past several years for the M.S. Program in Speech and Language Pathology has been approximately 25.  At the Ph.D. level there are generally 3-4 applicants, and 1-2 students enter the program each year. The average number of applications for the AuD program is 16-18, and about 10 are accepted each year.

What are the average Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for students admitted to the program?

The average GRE score for master's students admitted in recent years is approximately 1000 (sum of the verbal and quantitative sections only).  Applicants with GRE scores lower than about 900 (verbal + quantitative) typically need to have a strong cumulative GPA (approx. 3.4 or higher) to be admitted.  For doctoral applicants, GRE scores are generally somewhat higher than for master’s applicants.

What is the average grade point average for students admitted to the program?

The average cumulative undergraduate GPA of applicants admitted to the master’s program for the past several years has been approximately 3.4 (on a 4.0 scale).  A student’s GPA during the most recent 2 years of school is also considered, which averages approximately 3.5 for successful applicants.  Generally students with cumulative GPAs lower than 3.0 are admitted only if they have particularly strong GRE scores and/or other significant credentials. Both undergraduate and graduate GPAs are important in admission decisions for Ph.D. students, both of which should be about 3.5 or higher.

Are factors other than GRE scores and GPA important in admissions decisions?

In addition to GPA and GRE scores, letters of recommendation and one’s personal statement are considered in making admissions decisions for both M.S. and Ph.D. students.  Letters of recommendation preferably should be from academic individuals who can assess a candidate’s ability to be successful in graduate studies.

What kind of financial aid is available to graduate students?

A limited number of scholarships and fellowships are available to graduate students with outstanding academic credentials.  Decisions concerning such awards are made primarily on the basis of previous academic performance and scores from the Graduate Record Examination.  Partial tuition scholarships are available for some second-year M.S. students. For master’s students interested in pursuing a career in the public schools, grants are available through the Department and/or the College of Education. Individual faculty may also employ students as research assistants on grants; however, these opportunities vary from semester to semester. Tuition support and/or a monthly stipend are available to most doctoral students, in the form of scholarships, teaching assistantships, or research assistantships.

What are my chances of getting a scholarship or fellowship?

Only a few Masters or AuD students admitted to the program are awarded financial aid in their first year.  Once here, however, some students are able to obtain positions as assistants for faculty who have research grants.  Most masters’ students can also obtain federally supported student loans (arranged through the Graduate School Financial Aid Office) to pay for their educational and living expenses. Ph.D. students are typically admitted with 50% tuition coverage and/or a monthly stipend.

If I am accepted to the graduate program in Speech and Language Pathology, is it possible for me to attend part-time?

In general, only full-time, daytime students are admitted to the Masters, AuD, and Ph.D. programs. 

Is it possible to begin my graduate studies in a semester other than Fall?

M.S., AuD, and Ph.D. students typically begin in Fall Semester. Under special circumstances M.S. or Ph.D. students may be admitted at other times; however, starting in a semester other than Fall can complicate and/or lengthen one’s program of study. AuD students may only start in fall due to the required course sequence.

Can I be admitted to the M.S., AuD, or Ph.D. program without an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders?

Quite a few students who do not have a background in communication sciences and disorders are admitted to the master's program each year.  Approximately 25-30% of the students who begin the M.S. or AuD program each fall come in with backgrounds such as education, psychology, linguistics, English, a foreign language, etc.  For students entering the M.S. or AuD program without a background in communication sciences and disorders, there are a number of prerequisite courses that must be taken before progressing into the advanced course offerings and clinical work for the Master’s degree.  This generally lengthens the student’s time spent in the master’s program by approximately one academic year.  Although most students entering the Ph.D. program have an undergraduate and/or graduate degree in Speech and Language Pathology/Sciences, students with backgrounds in psychology, linguistics, engineering, etc. are also admitted.

Is it necessary to have a Master’s Degree to apply to the Ph.D. program?

The majority of Ph.D. students have Master’s Degrees, but it is possible to be admitted to the Ph.D. program directly from undergraduate studies. The course of study in such instances typically entails approximately one extra year.  The Ph.D. degree is not intended for clinical training, however.  Individuals wanting to become clinically-certified, should apply to the master’s program.

How long does it take to earn a Master’s Degree, AuD, or a Ph.D.?

Students with an extensive background in Speech and Language Pathology typically require 2 years (including summers) to complete the master’s degree; students entering the master’s program with little or no specific background in the field generally require about 3 years of study.  The AuD program requires four years of full-time study and clinical externships. Students entering the Ph.D. program with a master’s degree typically require a minimum of 3-4 years to complete the Ph.D. program.