Admission Requirements for the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Program

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Program has the following requirements for consideration for admission to the program:

• Meets all admission requirements general to the UAMS College of Health Professions
• A bachelor’s degree from an institutionally accredited post-secondary academic institution (or equivalent foreign degree as evaluated by Education Credential Evaluators or World Education Services)
• Successful completion of specific coursework
• Meets specific technical standards
• A personal essay
• A resume or curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation

Criteria

Admission to the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Program is competitive and based on the following criteria:

• Grade-point average in Communication Sciences and Disorders courses
• Overall undergraduate GPA (for those who will have a Bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders)
• Post-baccalaureate GPA plus senior undergraduate GPA (for those who had a bachelor’s degree in another major and took leveling courses after graduation)
• Three letters of recommendation (at least two must be from instructors of Communication Sciences and Disorders coursework)
• Personal Essay and Resume
• Answers to the general application questions
• Test of English as a Foreign Language scores (if applicable)

Competitive Attributes

A competitive applicant for the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Program should possess the following attributes:

• An overall GPA or post-baccalaureate plus senior GPA of greater than a 3.0
• Grade-point average in Communication Sciences and Disorders courses greater than a 3.4
• Recommendation letters that strongly recommend the applicant
• Writing recommendations ratings of greater than a 4 (on a 5-point scale)
• Answers to the application questions that are specific, creative and well written.
• Additional life experiences including:
  • speaking multiple languages
  • experience working with diverse groups and marginalized populations
  • leadership experiences
  • research experiences
  • volunteer endeavors
  • employment in a related field.

Special Considerations

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Program does not have any special considerations it uses when making admissions decisions. The program is committed to admitting, supporting, and graduating qualified candidates with diverse life experiences.

Applicants to the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Program must have earned at least a bachelor’s degree from an institutionally accredited post-secondary academic institution (or equivalent foreign degree as evaluated by Education Credential Evaluators or World Education Services).

If the bachelor’s degree is not in communication sciences and disorders, the applicant will also be required to take additional coursework.

The required coursework varies based on the applicant’s previous degree.

For All Applicants

In addition to the Communication Sciences and Disorders course requirements listed below, there are two additional requirements.

• Twenty-five hours of guided clinical observation are required.
• Additional coursework required for certification: Specific general coursework is required to be certified as a speech-language pathologist and by some states to begin working as a speech-language pathologist. We require that these four courses be completed prior to enrolling in the Speech-Language Pathology Program. These include an undergraduate course in each of the following areas:
  • Biological sciences
  • Physical sciences
  • Social / behavioral sciences
  • Statistics

If in doubt about the suitability of the prerequisite courses, please contact the College of Health Professions Admissions Office at CHPAdmissions@UAMS.edu or 501-686-5730.

Applicants with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders or Speech-Language Pathology

Applicants whose bachelor’s degree is in communication sciences and disorders or speech-language pathology, will not need to complete any additional communication sciences and disorders coursework to meet the prerequisite requirements.

If coursework is being completed during the fall semester before the application deadline, your submitted transcript must include posted grades for that semester (i.e., wait until grades are posted for the fall semester before submitting your transcript). 

Applicants with a Degree in Other Majors

Students with an undergraduate degrees that is not in communication sciences and disorders or speech-language pathology must complete some foundational coursework before beginning the program.

Five specific communication sciences and disorders courses are required before starting the program:

• Language acquisition
• Phonetics
• Speech and hearing science
• Clinical methods
• Anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing

Additional communication sciences and disorders coursework is considered beneficial and will strengthen your application. At the time of application, you must have at least 12 credit hours of communication sciences and disorders coursework already completed with grades shown on your submitted transcript. 

Additional Coursework Required for Certification

In addition to the requirements listed above, specific general coursework is required to be certified as a speech-language pathologist and by some states to begin working as a speech-language pathologist. We recommend that these courses be completed prior to enrolling in the Speech-Language Pathology Program. These include an undergraduate course in each of the following areas:

• Biological sciences
• Physical sciences
• Social sciences / behavioral sciences
• Statistics

If in doubt about the suitability of the prerequisite courses, please contact the College of Health Professions Admissions Office.

In order to be admitted to the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Program, applicants must possess certain physical, cognitive and behavioral abilities necessary to complete the curriculum. These requirements exist to ensure that students are able to effectively acquire the knowledge and skills needed to become competent and successful speech-language pathologists. Please visit the Technical Standards page for details.

Prospective students applying to the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Program will be required to compose a letter to the Speech-Language Pathology Admissions Committee detailing the following:

• Why do you want to be a speech-language pathologist?
• Tell us your motivations, inspirations and challenges you have overcome.
• What are your long-term and short-term goals?

The essay must be one page long and written using a 12-point font.

Prospective students applying to the Speech-Language Pathology Program will be required to submit a personal resume that details their extracurricular activities, including but not limited to the following:

• Community service
• Relevant work experience
• Research and clinical interests
• Awards and scholarships

The resume or CV must be one page long and written using a 12-point font.

Three letters of recommendation are required when applying to the Speech-Language Pathology Program. Among these, at least two should be from academic faculty members who are well-acquainted with the applicant’s coursework in the major.