EIU Master of Science in Communication Disorders and Science

Application Information for the Master’s Degree in 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 question, 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:  Aural Rehabilitation, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (can be taken in graduate school if not taken in undergrad program) 
4. Preferred coursework: Courses in evaluating and treating communication disorders such as Articulation/Phonological Disorders, Child Language Disorders, Assessment/Evaluation in Communication Disorders, Clinical Methods in Communication Disorders.

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 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 January 2, 2024 (transcripts received, application submitted, and fee paid). 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. All transcripts and your application must be received at CSDCAS by January 2 so they can begin the verification process of checking the information you supplied.
• Letters of recommendation can be submitted to CSDCAS for EIU until January 5, 2024. Three letters of recommendation that address clinical aptitude, professionalism, and academic performance from faculty (professors, supervisors, advisors) or other speech-language pathologists where you have worked or volunteered.
• You will answer 3 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 (9:00 am – 5:00 pm 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 by January 5. For more information about graduate assistantships, please click here. Please note: If you do not receive a confirmation email upon completing this form, it did not properly go through (which will happen if all items on the form are not complete). Contact EIU’s graduate school with questions 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 January 5 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.