EIU Master of Science in Communication Disorders and Sciences

Application Information for the Master’s Degree Program in Speech-Language Pathology

Thank you for considering EIU for your graduate studies in speech-language pathology. Please review our homepage for more information about the graduate program and visit days. Click HERE for information about past applicants and admitted students. For additional application information or questions, contact Dr. Mulvey at namulvey@eiu.edu or 217-581-7448.

General Requirements and Recommendations for Applying to the Graduate Program

1. G.P.A.: Applicants must have a minimum of 3.0 major and cumulative g.p.a. to apply.
2. Required Coursework: Applicants must have completed (or plan to complete in the spring term) the following courses: Anatomy and Physiology of Communication Mechanisms, Speech Science, Child Language Acquisition, Phonetics/Phonological Development, Audiology, and a Clinical Methods Course/Clinical Observation.
3. Recommended Coursework: Applicants are encouraged to complete Aural Rehabilitation and Augmentative and Alternative Communication prior to enrollment, but these courses can be taken in graduate school if not taken in undergrad program.
4. Preferred coursework: Applicants are also encouraged to take courses in evaluating and treating communication disorders such as Articulation/Phonological Disorders, Child Language Disorders, and/or Assessment/Evaluation in Communication Disorders, but these are not required to apply.

Information about applying to EIU’s SLP graduate program through CSDCAS

• Send ALL your transcripts (dual credit, junior college, study abroad, any universities) to CSDCAS in the fall. We recommended requesting transcripts prior to Thanksgiving to allow colleges/universities time to process your request.
• You do not have to list prerequisites taken for EIU in CSDCAS; we will review your transcripts.
• EIU’s CSDCAS deadline for the student’s portion of the application to be complete is Jan. 6, 2025, (transcripts received, application submitted, and fee paid). All transcripts and your application must be received at CSDCAS by Jan. 6 so they can begin the verification process of checking the information you supplied.
• When completing your application, please include courses you are currently enrolled in during the fall term and courses you plan to take in the spring.
• Letters of recommendation can be submitted to CSDCAS for EIU until Jan. 10, 2025. Three letters of recommendation are required and should address clinical aptitude, professionalism, and academic performance. Letters should come from faculty (professors, supervisors, advisors) or other speech-language pathologists for whom you have worked or volunteered. We recommend at least two of your letters be written by faculty.
• You will also answer three required questions about examples of initiative, critical thinking, and empathy in CSDCAS:

EIU's graduate program is challenging. EIU faculty are focused on mentoring students in coursework and clinical experiences but have high expectations for initiative, critical thinking, problem solving, and clinical empathy.

• Give an example of your initiative or leadership.
• The graduate program at EIU requires students to evaluate and integrate information to develop strong critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills essential for a master's-level SLP. Please describe a situation (from class, clinic, or a real-life situation) where you utilized critical thinking skills.
• It is important for SLPs to understand their clients' needs, perspectives, and priorities. Describe an instance when you have worked with a child or special needs individual and developed empathy for their feelings or situation.

• The custom essay question is submitted in the CSDCAS documents tab and should answer this prompt: Please compose a personal statement regarding your desire to attend the graduate program in CDS at EIU and your personal goals of becoming a speech-language pathologist. There is no length requirement other than the character limit imposed by CSDCAS.
• Read all of CSDCAS's FAQ sections-- they contain helpful and necessary information. Contact CSDCAS directly with questions about that application. Hours: Monday - Friday (9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern Time), CSDCAS P.O. Box 9113 Watertown, MA 02471, Telephone: 617-612-2030 if in U.S., Fax: 617-612-2051 if in U.S., E-Mail: csdcasinfo@csdcas.org
• All applicants must also apply to the Graduate School at EIU. This includes a brief online application and a $30 fee. The link for applying to the graduate school through MyEIU is found at this website. You are NOT required to send transcripts or GRE scores to EIU to apply -- we look at transcripts in CSDCAS. Mark summer as your application term - not fall. Contact EIU's graduate school with questions 217-581-2220.
• If you wish to be considered for a graduate assistantship from EIU, you also need to submit the application online through your MyEIU portal by Jan. 6, 2025. For more information about graduate assistantships, please click here. Contact EIU's graduate school with questions at 217-581-2220.

Information about Application Review and Admissions

Application review begins in early January and continues through early March. Applications that are NOT complete and verified by CSDCAS by Jan. 10 will NOT be reviewed. You will be contacted via email about the status of your file when we begin the application review process in January. Decision emails are sent to students in early March. At the beginning of April, we contact students on our waitlist by email to ask if they are still interested in a possible admission to EIU if a spot becomes available in April. Students on the waitlist who receive admission offers are typically contacted in the middle of April via phone call or email. When all spots are full, students remaining on the waitlist are sent emails in late April.