Admission Process and Requirements

Admission to the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is on a competitive basis. Students who wish to be admitted to this program must apply to the Cratis D. Williams Graduate School.

A complete application includes:

• Application Form
• Three letters of recommendation (preferably from faculty members)
• Transcripts of all undergraduate coursework
• Scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• Letter of intent

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders conducts admission reviews twice each year:

• Fall admission (application deadline February 15)
• Spring admission (application deadline October 1)
• Thirty-four new students are admitted each year for Fall entry. Twenty-two spaces in the Fall are reserved for in-field students with sufficient coursework in speech-language pathology, and twelve spaces are reserved for out-of-field students with degrees in areas other than speech-language pathology.
• A smaller number of spaces (usually 10 to 12) are reserved for in-field students each year for Spring entry. 

Basic Criteria for Consideration:  Applicants must complete the necessary application process as required by the Graduate School and the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. All application materials must be received by the Graduate School no later than midnight on either October 1 or February 15. A completed application includes the following:

• Completed application form
• Resume
• Letter of intent
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official copies of all transcripts
• Official report of GRE scores

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all materials electronically. It is the applicant’s responsibility to verify with the Graduate School (828-262-2130) that all application materials have been received by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Other Criteria for All Applicants:  For students to be considered for admission, undergraduate and post baccalaureate transcripts should be included in the application. Students must present scores from the GRE, but no minimum score is required. In general, successful applicants have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and a minimum GRE score (verbal + quantitative) of 900. A one-page letter of intent must be included with the application. In the letter, students must comment on (1) their undergraduate course of study and performance, (2) their goals and aspirations for graduate study in the communication disorders program, and (3) if applicable, their post baccalaureate study and performance. Note that admission is on a competitive basis. Therefore, not all students who meet these minimum requirements will be offered admission.

Admission Status: Students will be notified at the time of admission if prerequisite coursework is needed.

In-Field: The Master's program typically requires five semesters to complete for students with bachelor's degrees in speech-language pathology. Applicants who have bachelor's degrees in other fields, and who also have at least 21 semester hours of the required prerequisite coursework in speech-language pathology are considered to be in-field (as though they have bachelor's degrees in the field). In-field students normally complete the degree in the typical five semester time frame.

Pre-Field: Applicants with bachelor's degrees in other fields, and who also have 15 to 20 semester hours of the required prerequisite coursework in speech-language pathology and audiology are considered to be pre-field. They may be offered admission as an in-field student with the condition that they complete the prerequisite undergraduate courses in speech-language pathology concurrent with or prior to their first semester of graduate study.

Out-of-Field: Applicants who have bachelor's degrees in other fields, and who have fewer than 15 semester hours of the required prerequisite coursework in speech-language pathology and audiology, are considered out-of-field. If admitted they will be required to complete an additional one to two semesters in order to fulfill the prerequisite undergraduate courses in speech-language pathology before enrolling in graduate level coursework.

Campus Visits. If you have additional questions about the graduate program, please contact us. Individual interviews are not granted due to the large numbers of applications to the program. Therefore, four dates are scheduled to meet with faculty and tour our clinical facilities. For the Spring 2012 semester, the following dates have been reserved: February 10, March 2 and March 23.fom 1:00 to 3:00. Prospective students will have the opportunity to ask questions and talk with current graduate students. We require reservations. Please contact Ms. Eveline Watts at 828-262-7182 or email her at: wattsem [at] appstate [dot] edu to arrange a visit.

If you are interested in a quality program that offers you the opportunity to work with an exceptional faculty and outstanding students from all regions of the United States, please consider submitting an application.

Learn more about assistantships and scholarships available to graduate students.