Application Pathways for the M.S. in Speech Language Pathology

The Department of Speech Language Pathology believes in supporting students at all levels of entry into the profession. There are three pathways for entrance to the program. 

The first pathway, the Standard Application Pathway, allows applicants to apply directly to the graduate program regardless of whether they have completed any prior coursework at Saint Mary’s College. If you have never taken courses at Saint Mary’s, this is the pathway for you! We look forward to reading your application and getting to know you.

The 4+1 B.A. + M.S. Pathway is a combined five-year program during which students earn both the B.A. and M.S. degrees. If you are a Saint Mary’s prospective or current undergraduate student majoring in SLP and would like an accelerated path to earning the M.S. degree, read about the 4+1 pathway and how to combine your B.A. and M.S. degrees both at Saint Mary’s! 

The Bridge to M.S. in Speech Language Pathology Pathway is appropriate for students who do not have an undergraduate background in speech-language pathology. Students interested in this pathway first enroll at Saint Mary’s in the undergraduate prerequisite coursework needed for future graduate study. If you are a current Bridge student at Saint Mary’s, read about how to transition from the Bridge program to the M.S. program. 

Application Requirements for the Graduate Program in Speech Language Pathology via the Standard Application Pathway

Any applicant can apply to the graduate program using the standard application process. All application materials and application fee must be submitted via CSDCAS no later than January 15 for admission to the following fall semester. The requirements to be considered for admission to the graduate program in speech language pathology for those students applying via the standard pathway are:

• Submission of a completed CSDCAS application and application fee. No supplemental application or additional application fee is required.
• Official transcripts from every college or university attended.
• All applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to beginning the graduate program. Although there is no minimum GPA requirement, competitive applicants typically have earned at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
• A personal essay addressing your reasons for pursuing an advanced degree in speech language pathology, your professional objectives, and how Saint Mary’s aligns with your person and professional goals.
• The experiences, guided clinical experiences, achievements, and conferences attended sections of the Supporting Information section of the CSDCAS application.
• Three recommendation letters. If you are a current student or recent graduate, we strongly suggest that at least two of your references be from faculty. All references should be professional in nature such as from faculty, supervisors from paid or volunteer positions, or other professional contacts. Personal references from relatives or friends are generally not helpful in the admission process.
• Completion of the prerequisite coursework described below. It is most common for applicants to have completed one three-credit semester course in each area; however, it is also possible for a given content area to be covered by a combination of multiple courses. In some cases, a review of syllabi might be requested. A grade of C or higher is required for coursework to meet the prerequisite requirement. Each course must be completed before you begin the graduate program. Please note any in progress or planned coursework when you enter your coursework into CSDCAS.
  • Anatomy & Physiology of Speech and Hearing: Content focused on anatomy and physiology related to respiration, phonation, articulation, the nervous system, and hearing. General anatomy and physiology courses usually do not meet this requirement.
  • Phonetics: Content focused on phonetic transcription using the International Phonetic Alphabet and articulatory characteristics of sounds. Typically, this content is met by a 3-credit semester long course entirely focused on phonetics.
  • Child Language Development: Content focused on language development in children who have typical communication skills.
  • Speech & Hearing Sciences: Content focused on hearing science and the science of speech production. Courses in this area are often called Acoustics or Speech & Hearing Sciences. Some undergraduate programs offer one course on Speech Science and a separate course on Hearing Science; in those cases, please list both courses in your CSDCAS application.
  • Introduction to Audiology: Content focused on hearing disorders and the assessment of hearing.
  • Aural Re/habilitation: Content focused on the habilitation or rehabilitation of hearing disorders.
  • Biological Sciences: A course related to the study and characterization of living organisms and the investigation of the science behind living things. Most biology courses meet this requirement. Coursework in CSD does not meet this requirement. This course must meet the ASHA CFCC SLP Standards for Certification.
  • Physical Sciences: A course in chemistry or physics. Coursework in CSD does not meet this requirement. This course must meet the ASHA CFCC SLP Standards for Certification.
  • Statistics: A stand-alone course in statistics. Coursework focused on entirely or predominantly on research methods does not meet this requirement. This course must meet the ASHA CFCC SLP Standards for Certification.
  • Social Sciences & Behavioral Sciences: A course related to the systematic analysis and investigation of human and/or animal behavior through observation and/or experimentation. A range of courses may meet this requirement including but not limited to coursework in psychology, anthropology, ethnic/cultural studies. This course must meet the ASHA CFCC SLP Standards for Certification.

Applicants who attended foreign and French-Canadian schools must also follow the CSDCAS guidelines for submitting documentation for foreign transcript evaluation/s. Applicants who earned an undergraduate degree from a university where English was not the primary language of instruction must also follow CSDCAS guidelines for submitting official TOEFL or IELTS scores.