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, their professional goals or interests and scheduling.
Does the Speech-Language Pathology Program offer graduate assistantships or scholarships?
A limited number of student worker positions are available for Speech-Language Pathology students within our department and with some of 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.
We try to offer student worker positions at the time that admission offers are made; however, some some may be offered after an admissions offer is accepted. Scholarships are available to students in the UAMS College of Health Professions. Some scholarships are open to all CHP students while others are specific to Speech-Language Pathology students. Information about available scholarships and how to apply 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 five to seven hours per week of direct contact with clients during their on-campus practicum rotations. However, the number of clients a clinician is assigned depends on their experience and the type of client or services they are providing (e.g., individual vs. group intervention).
What makes your Speech-Language Pathology Program stand out from other programs?
Our Speech-Language Pathology Program is unique in Arkansas in the following ways:
- Our faculty members provide both clinical and classroom teaching to help bridge the gap between knowledge and practice.
- All students participate in hands-on learning through supervised clinical practice during all five semesters to provide a rich, immersive learning environment.
- Our in-house clinic provides a wide array of clinical services to the community to provide first-year students with experience across the lifespan.
- Our clinic offers a number of unique clinical group experiences which allows students to engage in peer teaching and learning while being exposed to wider range of clients.
- Our program partners with other UAMS units and a number of schools, hospitals, clinics, practices and agencies to provide diverse clinical experiences in Little Rock and the surrounding area.
- All students receive mentored research experience by choosing between an independent research project or a traditional thesis.