How many students are admitted to the Speech-Language Pathology Program and how many apply?
Each year we admit approximately 24 students to the Speech-Language Pathology Program. The number of applicants to the program varies each year.
What prerequisite courses are required for a student with a bachelor’s degree in a different field to apply for admission?
Please see our Admission Requirements page for details about the coursework for admission to the Speech-Language Pathology Program.
How is the application weighted regarding GPAs, letters of intent, letters of recommendation, clinical experience, etc.?
Grade-point averages in communication sciences and disorder courses are the most heavily weighted factor during the admission process for the Speech-Language Pathology Program. The personal essay, letters of recommendation and clinical / life experiences are all considered when making decisions regarding admission to the program.
Is the Speech-Language Pathology Program clinical or research-based?
We implement evidence-based practices for all clinical experiences in the Speech-Language Pathology Program. Students have the opportunity and are encouraged to participate in research activities in the department.
Is the Speech-Language Pathology Program more focused in one area over the other? (e.g., more focus on school-based than medical speech-language pathology)
Our Speech-Language Pathology Program offers a variety of clinical experiences and provides students with a well-rounded education with the goal to prepare them to enter the field across the scope of practice.
Does the Speech-Language Pathology Program offer a medical and educational externship?
The Speech-Language Pathology Program does offer medical and educational externships.
Do students have a say in selecting clinical practicum experiences or are they placed randomly?
Students in the Speech-Language Pathology Program are assigned to clinical practica based on their needs, their previous experiences, their previous coursework and scheduling.
Does the Speech-Language Pathology Program offer graduate assistantships or scholarships?
A limited number of student worker positions are available in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology and with our clinical partners.
If you are interested in being considered for a graduate student worker position, please indicate in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application System your interest in applying for a position.
Decisions about awards are not made until after an admissions offer is accepted.
Scholarships available to students in the UAMS College of Health Professions can be found on our Financial Assistance website.
Approximately how many clients are assigned to graduate students each semester?
Clinicians in the Speech-Language Pathology Program are assigned one to three clients for their on-campus practicum. However, the number of clients a clinician is assigned depends on their experience, coursework, and whether or not they also have an off-campus practicum assignment.
What makes your Speech-Language Pathology Program stand out from other programs?
The research resources of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences set our Speech-Language Pathology Program apart from other programs. Additional support for this program comes through other cooperating clinics and agencies within the Little Rock urban area.
The program is accredited through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Council for Academic Accreditation in speech-language pathology and is also accredited by ASHA as a continuing education sponsor.
Our Speech-Language Pathology Program is unique in Arkansas in the following ways:
- The faculty provides both clinical and classroom teaching;
- All students may choose between an independent research project or a traditional thesis