Grad Students At ASHAGraduate Programs in

Communication Disorders & Sciences

Options for the Master's Degree Programs in Speech-Language Pathology. Click here for information about visiting or applying to a graduate program.

 1) Traditional Master's Degree Program in Speech-Language Pathology

  • 2-year program
  • New class of approximately 30 students admitted each year
  • Students must have completed a bachelors degree in the major or all relevent undergraduate coursework* with a minimum 3.0 GPA prior to application/admission to the program
  • Begins in summer term
  • 4 semesters of coursework on-campus (summer 1, fall 1, spring 1, & summer 2)
  • 2 semesters of off-campus full-time 14-week internships in educational and medical placements (fall 2 & spring 2)
  • Graduate assistantships available on a competitve basis within the CDS department and in other departments on campus
  • Click here to learn more about the traditional Master's Degree Program in Speech-Language Pathology

 

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

  • 3-year program
  • New cohort of approximately 15 students admitted every 2-3 years. First cohort will begin summer 2012
  • Students must have completed a bachelors degree in the major or all relevent undergraduate coursework* with a minimum 3.0 GPA prior to application/admission to the program
    • On-line cohort program, students must be employed in the public schools as a speech-language pathology assistant/paraprofessional, or special education aide
  •  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)
  • Click here to learn more about the Distance Education Master's Degree Program in Speech-Language Pathology

 

3) Students who have a baccalaureate degree in a major other than CDS 

  •  Must complete required undergraduate CDS coursework prior to application to a graduate program for speech-language pathology.  In addition one biological sciences course, one physical sciences course, one social sciences course, and one math course must have been taken at EIU or elsewhere. 
    • Students usually complete the undergraduate coursework in a two-year sequence beginning in the fall term (which follows a typical program of courses for transfer students)
  • Students must apply to the Graduate School to take undergraduate courses in CDS as a nondegree-seeking graduate student or a student pursuing a second bachelor's degree program.
    • Students applying to the Graduate School to take the undergraduate CDS coursework do not need to take the GRE exam. Application to the Graduate School to take the undergraduate coursework may be completed at any point during the year, up to a few weeks prior to beginning courses. (Beginning coursework in the fall term is strongly recommended).
    • Students in the second bachelor's program may be eligible for financial aid. Students are advised to contact the Office of Financial Aid for information.
      • Students with nondegree-seeking status are not typically eligible for financial aid
  • Students must have a 3.0 GPA to be admitted to the Graduate School. Minimum GPA requirements apply to take 3000 and 4000 level CDS courses.
  • Acceptance into the master’s program following completion of undergraduate coursework is NOT guaranteed. Admission to the master's degree program for Speech-Language Pathology in Communication Disorders & Sciences is highly competitive and based on a number of factors including (but not limitted to) GPA, GRE, letters of recommendation, clinical aptitude, extracurricular experiences. 
    • Tables are available showing average GPA and GRE scores of admitted students in recent years by clicking here.

 

* Required Courses (required to apply)

Anatomy and Physiology of Communication Mechanisms, Speech Science, Child Language Acquisition, Phonetics and Phonological Development, Articulation/Phonological Assessment/Treatment, Child Language Disorders, Diagnosis and Treatment of Communication Disorders (Clinical Methods), Audiology

 Recommended Courses (must be made up in graduate school if not taken in undergrad program):

Neurology/Embryology of Communication Mechanisms, Aural Rehabilitation, Voice Disorders, American Sign Language, Augmentative and Alternative Communication