COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS

An undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders is not a prerequisite for admission, but students must successfully complete requisite pre-graduate course work. Students should provide official transcripts documenting the completion of the prerequisites to be enrolled in the graduate program.

Post-baccalaureate certificate:
This is an online specialized course sequence that typically can be completed in one year, allowing a student with a bachelor's degree in another field to prepare for application to a master's degree program in speech-language pathology. Learn more about this program »

The following prerequisites are courses that if not completed prior to entry into the graduate program can be completed at the graduate level in addition to the required master’s program courses. A student cannot have more than three credits of prerequisites needed in any one semester. Adding prerequisites to the full-time master’s program will likely require students to incur additional fees for overload credits and may extend time to degree.

• Physics/Chemistry — Physical science must be met through chemistry or physics only. Coursework in physical sciences cannot be related to speech language pathology, audiology, or communication sciences.
• Biology — The study and characterization of living organisms and the investigation of the science behind living things. Coursework in biological sciences cannot be related to speech-language pathology, audiology, or communication sciences.
• Social Science — The systematic analysis and investigation of human and animal behavior. Coursework in social sciences cannot be related to speech language pathology, audiology, or communication sciences.
• Statistics — A stand-alone course in statistics is required. Research methodology courses in communication sciences and disorders may not be used to satisfy this requirement.
• Education/Diversity — A course designed to prepare students to understand school settings with diverse populations with attention directed to major educational issues, the experiences of students from diverse backgrounds, and the role of the teacher in a pluralistic society.
• Anatomy and Physiology of Speech & Non-Speech Functions — A course that provides foundational understanding of the anatomy and physiology for speech and non-speech functions such as respiration, phonation, articulation, expression, and swallowing.
• Speech and Language Development — A course that covers the process and sequence of speech and language development in children from birth to school-age and discusses the theories of language acquisition and the role of cognition, culture, context, and caregivers.
• Language Disorders in Children — A course designed to provide students with an overview of language disorders in children, from birth to adolescence. This course will include the nature of developmental language impairments, causes of language impairments, and other issues involved in assessment and intervention for children with language disorders.
• Hearing and Speech Science — A study of the anatomy and physiology of the auditory system, physical acoustics, speech production, sound perception, and basic hearing and speech instrumentation.
• Phonetics — A course that provides a basic understanding of phonetics and phonology from articulatory and physiological perspectives and trains students to use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
• Neural Bases of Cognition, Communication, & Swallow — A course that provides a basic understanding of the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology underlying cognition, communication, and swallowing (both typical and atypical processes).
• Introduction to Clinical Practicum/Clinical Observation — An introduction to the tasks and related competencies associated with clinical practice in speech-language pathology and developed an understanding of treatment principles and clinical practice procedures. Obtain 25 guided observation hours.
• Hearing Health & Assessment/Audiometry — A course designed to provide foundational knowledge of the audiology profession, typical characteristics and etiologies of the auditory system, standard hearing assessments and interpretation, and hearing conservation practices.

For more information, visit ASHA’s Prerequisite Course Content Areas Related to SLP Certification Standards.

The program wants students to be aware that multiple external sites (i.e., practicum sites, schools, clinics, etc.) require documentation (vaccines, TB skin test, criminal background check, etc) that the university does not require to enroll as a student. These are required placements. Therefore, you may be required to submit proof of vaccination, etc. If you do not, you may not be able to participate due to the sites’ requirements. Without the required placements, you will not be able to complete the program. UWW cannot exempt a student from a requirement another organization may have. We cannot guarantee that a student without requested placement documentation will be able to complete the program because the program requires three external clinical placements. Our program cannot dictate the requirements for participation at external locations.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is committed to inclusion and belonging as universal human rights in every aspect of our institution. Our commitment drives continued growth and development as an institution widely recognized for inclusive excellence and equity-minded, high-impact educational practices and experiences. We create equitable, accessible learning and working environments for all people by enriching the quality of daily life and preparing them to serve the university, the community, the State of Wisconsin, and the world. - UW-Whitewater's Statement on Inclusivity

Students will be serving a diverse community in our campus and external clinics. All clinical practicum are required to complete the program. You can find a list of our current campus clinic services and partnerships at our clinic webpage.

Applications are accepted exclusively through the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS).

Preparation for materials for submission includes the following:

• Official academic transcripts that include fall grades should be mailed to: CSDCAS Verification Department, P.O. Box 9113, Watertown, MA 02471
• Three letters of recommendation attesting to your ability to perform at a graduate level
• Answers to three short essay questions:
  1. In 250 words or less, describe with specific examples your unique skills, interactions, and experience(s) that will support your academic and clinical success
  2. In 250 words or less, describe the strategies you utilize to overcome a barrier or challenge
  3. In 250 words or less, describe a course in your academic career and how you would apply what you learned to clinical situations
• A list of all pending relevant coursework (i.e., any COMDIS courses to be completed in upcoming spring or summer terms)
• CSDCAS application (activities section) may require information on relevant professional and volunteer activities, experience with foreign languages, and undergraduate research

*Note that the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for applying to the program.

*For students who qualify, application fee assistance may be available.

Questions concerning the electronic application process, including receipt of materials and verification status, should be directed to the CSDCAS by phone at 617-612-2030, by e-mail at csdcasinfo@csdcas.org, or by fax at 617-612-2051.

Criteria for application to be reviewed

1. Applications are only accepted electronically through the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS).
2. The application deadline is February 1. Applications must be verified by 10:59 p.m. Central Time on the deadline date. Applications can only be verified once all payments, transcripts, and letters of evaluation have been received by CSDCAS. After your application is considered complete, it can take up to 10 business days for your application to be verified. To ensure your application is verified on time, try to complete your application at least four weeks before the deadline.
3. All applications that are verified by the deadline are reviewed.

Review Process
Each application is assigned to two reviewers from the department review committee who will independently conduct a holistic review of all the candidate’s submitted materials. This review takes into consideration applicants' experiences, attributes, academic metrics, and references as well as the value an applicant may contribute to learning and practice.

Candidate Notifications
Students will receive one of three emails from the program by March:

• Accepted: The acceptance invitation is only valid until April 15 or until the cohort is filled, whichever is sooner. Once this deadline has passed, we can invite additional students to the program if the cohort is not filled and we determine our own decision deadlines for these invitations.
• Waitlisted: In no way does being on the waitlist mean that a student is not well suited for the program. See our graduate program applicant characteristics for more details. Candidates receiving a waitlist notification need to complete a survey indicating if they wish to remain on the waitlist. Once the April 15 deadline has passed, candidates who indicated they wanted to remain on the waitlist will be invited, in order, until the cohort is filled. We do not disclose the order of the waitlist because it is always changing. Acceptance letters have gone out as late as mid July. It all depends on when we fill our cohort and if those that accepted the invitation fully commit to the program. Candidates receiving a waitlist letter need to complete a survey indicating if they wish to remain on the waitlist.
• Declined: Students who receive a decline letter will receive no further notification from the department for the current application cycle.
• Department Graduate Assistantships (GA position)
  • The department typically offers two 1-year only, 14 hour/week graduate assistantships to students in the incoming cohort.
  • The top non-UWW and UWW student will receive an invitation to apply for the department GA positions. The department GA positions are by invitation only.
  • There are other GA positions on campus and students are encouraged to apply for consideration.
• Out of State Excellence Awards
  • Typically the graduate school provides excellence awards that the department offers to the top out of state students who have received an acceptance letter but not yet committed to the program.
  • Out of state students offered this award can receive a tuition credit for 4 full-time semesters (excluding summer) as long as they maintain good standing (GPA of 3.5 or higher). The credit cannot reduce out-of-state tuition below the cost of in-state-tuition.