EIU Master of Science in Communication Disorders and Sciences

Students who have a baccalaureate degree in a major other than CDS

• Students must complete required undergraduate CDS coursework prior to application to a graduate program for speech-language pathology.
  • Required courses include: Anatomy and Physiology of the Communication Mechanisms, Speech Science, Child Language Acquisition, Phonetics/Phonological Development, Audiology, and Clinical Methods/Clinical Observation. Aural Rehabilitation and Augmentative/Alternative Communication are also recommended at the undergraduate level prior to graduate school, but can be made up in graduate school if necessary. At least one course covering communication disorders is also recommended, but not required.
  • Additional required general education coursework includes: one biological sciences course, one social sciences course, one statistics course, and either a physics or chemistry course. 
  • Students can usually complete the undergraduate/leveling coursework within one year beginning in the fall term if the first baccalaureate degree is in a related field.
• Students must apply to the Graduate School to take undergraduate courses in CDS as a nondegree-seeking graduate student or a student pursuing a second bachelor's degree program.
  • Students applying to the Graduate School to take the undergraduate CDS coursework do not need to take the GRE exam. Application to the Graduate School to take the undergraduate coursework may be completed at any point during the year, up to a few weeks prior to beginning courses, but beginning coursework in the fall term is strongly recommended.
  • Students in the second bachelor's program may be eligible for financial aid. Students are advised to contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for information. Students with nondegree-seeking status are not typically eligible for financial aid.
• Students must have a 3.0 GPA to be admitted to the Graduate School. Minimum GPA requirements apply to take 3000 and 4000 level CDS courses.
• Acceptance into the master’s program following completion of undergraduate coursework is NOT guaranteed. Admission to the master's degree program for Speech-Language Pathology in Communication Disorders & Sciences is highly competitive and based on a number of factors including (but not limited to) GPA, letters of recommendation, clinical aptitude, and extracurricular experiences.
  • Tables are available showing average GPA of admitted students in recent years.