Distance Education Master's Degree Program in Speech-Language Pathology

  • 3-year program for speech assistants employed in the school setting  3 six-week summer terms of clinic and coursework on campus at EIU (summer 1, summer 2, & summer 3)

    • 4 semesters of coursework taken on-line while maintaining employment as a speech assistant/paraprofessional or aide in the school setting. Receive credit for supervised clinical experiences in the school setting (fall 1, spring 1, fall 2, spring 2)
    • 2 semesters of off-campus full-time 14-week internships in educational and medical placements (fall 3 & spring 3)
  • New cohort of approximately 15 students admitted every 2-3 years. First cohort will begin summer 2012, Application Deadine January 1st.

 

Application Information

The Distance Graduate Speech-Language Pathology Cohort Program is administered by the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, the EIU School of Continuing Education and the EIU Graduate School. The information below outlines the requirements and application process. Admission into this ASHA accredited graduate program in speech-language pathology will be on a competitive basis. Preference will be given to Illinois residents.

 Applicants must have completed:

  • A bachelor’s degree in communication disorders with minimum of 3.0 GPA.
  • 25 clock hours of clinical observation under an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist.
  •  Prerequisite courses prior to admission to the program. Successful completion of prerequisite courses does not guarantee admission.
    • All applicants must complete an undergraduate course in each of the following areas:   biological science, physical science, math, social science. These are often included in the undergraduate curriculum, and may be available on-line or at local community colleges.
    • All applicants must complete major courses in language disorders, phonological disorders, anatomy of the speech & hearing mechanisms, speech science, phonetics, language acquisition, and phonetics/phonological development.

 

  • On-line distance cohort program requirement-- students must be employed in the public schools as a speech-language pathology assistant/paraprofessional, or special education aide

 

APPLICATION MATERIALS

The following THREE sets of material must be completed for consideration for the Graduate Speech-Language Pathology Cohort Program. The deadline for submission of all materials is January 1 in order to be considered for admission. The CSD Centralized Application Service recommends having all material submitted 30 days prior to application deadline (December 1) so they have time to process the in formation. Additionally, it is strongly recommended that all materials are submitted to EIU (graduate school and department) at least two weeks in advance of the deadline (December 15). (Some offices at EIU are closed or have limitted staffing between Christmas and New Years- it may be difficult to obtain answers to last minute questions if applicants are submitting information right before the deadline.) The cohort program begins in the SUMMER term. SUMMER must be marked on all application forms.

1)      The following application materials must be submitted through the CSD Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS) at https://portal.csdcas.org .  CSDCAS recommends having your materials to them 4-6 weeks in advance of the deadline to allow time for verification.  Materials to be submitted to CSDCAS include but are not limited to:

  • All official academic transcripts (print out a transcript request form from CDSCAS for each school attended)
    • Enter all courses that you took throughout your undergraduate program
  • Three letters of recommendation that address clinical aptitude, professionalism, and academic performance.

  • Custom essay question: Please compose a personal statement regarding your desire to attend the graduate program in CDS at EIU, and your personal goals of becoming a speech-language pathologist.

    There is no length requirement
    • Evaluated for content and writing ability
  • Application fee

 2)      Application is made to the Graduate School at Eastern Illinois University by submitting the following materials:

  • Another set of official academic transcripts must be sent to EIU (Mailed to: The Graduate School, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Ave, Charleston, IL 61920. (217) 581-2220)                         
    • Documentation of minimum GPA of 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) as required by CDS program
  • GRE scores
    • No minimum score required
    • ETS College Code for EIU: 1199

3)                  Application is made to the Distance Graduate Speech-Language Pathology Program within the CDS Department at EIU by submitting the following 3 forms to:

Department of Communication Disorders & Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Ave, Charleston, IL 61920 

Click here to download application instructions and required 3 forms below

  • Completed School District Agreement form.
  • Completed Clinical Supervisor Agreement form
  • Completed Student Agreement form

 

Questions about visiting the department or applying to program should be directed to the CDS Graduate Program Coordinator, Dr. Rebecca Throneburg.  She can be contacted at:  rmthroneburg@eiu.edu  or (217) 581-7447.