Admission Requirements

Program in Communication Sciences and Disorders

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered for admission to the graduate program in Communication Sciences and Disorders:

1. Undergraduate Prerequisites

What undergraduate course work do I need in order to apply?

Applicants to the master's degree program in speech-language pathology are expected to have completed prerequisite course work in normal speech, language and hearing functions, normal development, and speech-language and hearing disorders, as well as biological and physical sciences, behavioral and social sciences, and mathematics. The combined sequence of undergraduate and graduate course work meets the ASHA requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology.

Things to Consider (PDF): A pamphlet to help you with the process of choosing and applying to a graduate program in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

What if my undergraduate degree is in something else, like psychology or dance?

The Communication Sciences and Disorders program offers a post-baccalaureate plan option (Word doc), which is a pre-requisite to the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. This option is designed for individuals who have an undergraduate degree in an area of study different from communication disorders. It is a 36 semester hour program which provides individuals with the required academic background to apply for graduate degree programs in speech-language pathology that are accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Post-Baccalaureate Plan Admissions Requirements (PDF).

Completion of the University of Arkansas Post Baccalaureate Course Option in Communication Sciences and Disorders does not guarantee acceptance into graduate programs in speech-language pathology or audiology.

If you have further questions about the Post- Baccalaureate Plan, please contact:
Fran Hagstrom, Ph.D.
Department Head Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy (CDOT)
fhagstr@uark.edu or 479-575-4910

2. Admission to the Graduate Program

To apply to the Graduate Program in Communication Sciences and Disorders, apply through the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Science and Disorders online portal. The deadline for CAPCSD applications to be submitted is Jan. 15 of each year. Applicants will be notified by April 1 and are asked to accept their offers by April 15 of each year. Upon acceptance, students will apply to the Graduate School at the University of Arkansas. Students are not required to apply to the Graduate School until they have accepted their offer to attend the graduate program.

3. Grade-Point Average

How good of a grade-point average do I need to apply for graduate study?

Applicants for graduate school must have earned an overall GPA of 3.00 in undergraduate course work.

4. Graduate Record Examination

What score on the GRE are you looking for?

The Graduate Record Exam is required for application to the program. To send your scores to Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service, use the code: 7579. To send to the University of Arkansas Graduate School, use code: 6866 (after acceptance to the graduate program). You must send scores to both CSDCAS and the U of A Graduate School.

5. Letters of Recommendation

Can mom and dad write a letter of recommendation?

Applicant must submit three letters of recommendation through the CSDCAS portal. These should be from people competent to judge the applicant's potential for graduate studies. CSDCAS will electronically contact the individuals you list as those completing recommendations. Therefore, ask these individuals prior to listing their names on CSDCAS.

If I meet the minimum requirements am I automatically accepted?

Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program, since the number of qualified applicants often exceeds the number of program openings.

If you have further questions about the graduate program, please contact CDIS Program Director Rachel Glade, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT
rglade@uark.edu
479-575-3575