Degrees Offered

• Master of Science
• Certificate

Specializations

• Master’s: None
• Certificate: Bilingual English-Spanish

Program Description

The speech-language pathology program, leading to the master of science degree, is offered through the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology and is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CAA-ASHA). The program is directed at preparing students for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). For students interested in licensure as a public school speech-language clinician, the program meets the requirements of the Department of Public Instruction of the state of Wisconsin (DPI-Wis.) for licensure as a speech-language pathologist.

The graduate curriculum in speech-language pathology offers advanced course work in the prevention, identification, evaluation and treatment of speech, language and hearing disorders in both children and adults. The master of science program in speech-language pathology typically takes two years (four terms and one summer session) to complete.

A bilingual English-Spanish certificate (BIES) is offered only through the master’s degree program. This certificate program prepares speech-language pathologists who are proficient in Spanish to evaluate and treat communication disorders in individuals who speak Spanish or are bilingual (Spanish-English). Candidates for the BIES must be accepted to the master of science program in speech-language pathology as well as complete an application to the BIES program and meet language proficiency requirements established by the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

Visit the Department Web Page for more detailed program information.

Application Requirements

• Read all application instructions prior to beginning an application
• A completed application form and fee online.
• Official transcripts from all current and previous colleges/universities except Marquette.
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic and clinical work..
• GRE scores (General Test only). Waived for applicants to the accelerated bachelor's-master's degree program.
• A personal statement of career interests and goals.
• For international applicants only: an overall minimum TOEFL score of 100 or other acceptable proof of English proficiency.
• For BIES applicants only: a statement of purpose which must address Spanish proficiency, Spanish course work completed, any study abroad, and reasons for pursuing the BIES along with how it will influence the applicant’s future.

Application Deadline

January 15 for the following fall term. Students admitted to the speech-language pathology program are not permitted to defer their admission.

The deadline to notify the SPLA department that you accept the offer of admission for the fall term is April 15. For the spring term, you must reply by December 15.

Financial Aid

Tuition scholarships and graduate assistantships are merit based. Since we have virtually no way of assessing clinical merit, it means that we look almost exclusively at academic merit. The more competitive your grades and GRE scores, the more likely you will receive financial assistance.

If there is evidence of research experience or aptitude in your application (for example, you worked in a research lab as an undergraduate, you wrote an undergraduate research thesis, you took research design or statistics classes as an undergraduate), this would be looked upon favorably.

Private scholarships may also be available. U.S. citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to apply for need-based federal aid (loans) to help fund their educational expenses as well.