Graduate School Requirements for Speech Pathology

A speech pathologist must have a graduate degree from a school accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2009 there were 240 schools with CAA-accredited graduate programs. Most schools limit the number of students they accept each year. The University of Iowa program, which received a top ranking from "U.S. News & World Report," accepts only 25 candidates each year.
  1. Prerequisite Courses

    • Research graduate school prerequisites before you apply.

      While you don't need to have a specific undergraduate degree to enroll in a speech pathology graduate program, you must have taken courses required by the school and the program. Each school is different, so research the requirements before you begin the application process. Some programs will allow you to complete prerequisite courses after you enroll, but that will lengthen the time you spend in graduate school.

    Application Fee

    • Many schools now accept applications via an online portal.

      Many speech pathology graduate programs require you to submit your application materials online through portals such as the Communication Science Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS). Application fees start at $100. Plan ahead so you can meet application deadlines without having to rush.

    Undergraduate GPA

    • The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) reports that most graduate programs require a candidate to have a grade-point average of at least 3.0 to be considered eligible for enrollment.

    Graduate Record Exam

    • You must provide your scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) with your application. What do those scores need to be? This varies among schools, but the top-ranked University of Iowa recommends a minimum score of 450 on each section (verbal, quantitative and analytic).

    Personal Essay

    • Use the personal essay to sell yourself as a graduate student. Describe why you want to enroll in the program and your motivation to become a speech pathologist. The CSDCAS portal limits this essay to 5500 characters, so you must be concise.

    Letters of Recommendation

    • Most graduate schools ask for at least two letters of recommendation. Obtain letters from professors or mentors you worked with during your undergraduate studies. Good letters of recommendation give the admissions committee an insight into who you are as a potential graduate student.

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