Applying to the Master's Program

The master's program in Communication Sciences and Disorders strives to prepare well-rounded clinicians who will work as speech-language pathologists in a variety of settings.

Admission to our program at Penn State University Park is competitive. Applicants will be reviewed holistically. Criteria considered includes: personal statement, letters of recommendation, academic achievement, work history, volunteer and leadership engagement, and research experiences.

Application timeline

Accepted student profile

Students accepted into the master's program have:

• A cumulative grade-point average (GPA) in their undergraduate coursework of well above a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• A strong, well-written personal statement of academic, research, and vocational interests
• Outstanding letters of recommendation documenting their performance and their potential as a future clinician

Admissions requirements

Penn State Fox Graduate School requirements

The Penn State Fox Graduate School outlines requirements for graduate admission including academic eligibility requirements and English language proficiency. Please review the requirements for graduate admission before applying.

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders requirements

All students admitted to the program will begin in the fall semester. The CSD graduate program is designed for full-time students and does not admit part-time or nondegree students. 

Students admitted to the program, must have: 

• A cumulative GPA, GPA in the major, and/or last 60 credits GPA greater than 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
• 25 clinical observation hours completed prior to enrollment as a master's student

International students must demonstrate proficiency of the English language as required by the Fox Graduate School

Required coursework

A series of prerequisite coursework is required by our national accreditation body. Students may count a course toward only one prerequisite requirement. All prerequisite courses must be at least 3-credits unless stated otherwise. 

A qualified applicant who is missing only one or two of the required courses may still be admitted to the program. These students will have to complete the prerequisite coursework within their graduate degree program, which in some cases, may extend the program time. Applicants will be notified of missing prerequisites prior to the start of graduate study.

Students who require all of the prerequisite coursework may be considered for admission as a three-year student. These students will spend the first year of the program completing prerequisite coursework before joining the next cohort for two years of graduate study. Spots are limited for 3-year admission.   

Application components

A complete application includes the following:

1. A verified CSDCAS application
   1. Low income or McNair Scholar students may be eligible for a fee waiver through the CSDCAS Fee Assistance Program
2. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended
   1. Transcripts must include fall semester coursework for students completing their undergraduate degree. Official transcripts are submitted directly to CSDCAS.
3. Three letters of recommendation indicating excellent potential for graduate studies
4. Resume detailing educational, work, and volunteer experiences
5. Strong, well-written personal statement of academic, research, and vocational interests (see guidelines below)
6. Applicants who are not native English speakers must submit TOEFL scores electronically using CSDCAS ETS code C122

If choosing to submit, official GRE scores should be submitted using the CSDCAS ETS code 4131. GRE scores are not reviewed as part of the application and are not required for consideration for admission.

CSDCAS Customer Service is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET by calling 617-612-2030 or emailing support@csdcas.myliaison.com.

Personal statement

Your personal statement should be no more than two pages, single-spaced, using at least 11 point font, and .75" margins.

To the extent permitted by the current development of your plans, the personal statement should include the following:

• Your long-term professional or academic goals
• The position you hope to obtain after your graduate work is completed, and your preference among alternative types of positions
• The specialized interests you intend to pursue in such a position
• The age group you plan to work with or study
• Your reasons for selecting the plans you have described
• What you consider to be your strengths
• What you consider to be your challenges
• How attending graduate school in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University Park campus will meet your goals
• Anything you wish to say that might be relevant to your application, personal needs, and planned area of graduate study

Application decisions

The CSDCAS application deadline for fall admission is February 1.

Students are typically notified of a decision by mid-March and have until April 15 to make a commitment.

Accepted students who choose to enroll at Penn State will need to submit the Penn State Fox Graduate School application, including a $65 non-refundable application fee. Instructions will be provided with your acceptance letter – please do not complete this application until you have received a letter of acceptance.