Degree Programs
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Helping—it’s at the heart of all our students.
Everyone deserves the ability to communicate effectively. If you’d like to help people who have communication disorders, you’re in the right place.
Programs
This is where you’ll make it happen.
With a bachelor of science in communication sciences and disorders or a master of science in speech-language pathology, you’ll learn how to work with individuals who have communication impairments.
M.S. IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
This is the next step toward your future.
The graduate program in speech-language pathology at Purdue Fort Wayne will prepare you for a career as a speech-language pathologist across a range of clinical settings, including birth-to-three centers, public schools, acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and everything in between.
M.S. in Speech-language pathology Application and Requirements
Get the details here.
The information session about our M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology program took place in October 2023. This event included a program overview, information about our facilities, and a Q&A session with the Graduate Program Director, faculty, and current students. If you were unable to attend, please email [email protected] with any questions about our graduate program.
To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited university prior to the start of the graduate program
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 = A scale) from the most recently earned undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree or a 3.0 cumulative GPA for the most recent 60 (semester based) credit hours
- Successful completion of the prerequisite coursework as described in the Prerequisite Coursework section
- An admissions interview; applicants will be notified if they have been selected for an interview and more details will be provided at that time
If accepted, students must pass a background check prior to beginning the program.
Applicants must have completed coursework in biological sciences, physical sciences, behavioral/social sciences, and statistics that meet the requirements to be certified as a speech-language pathologist by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Additionally, applicants must have completed undergraduate coursework in Communication Sciences and Disorders sufficient to provide the prerequisite knowledge for graduate courses. All prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of C− or higher.
Prerequisites Required before Starting the Graduate Program
Applicants must have completed, or be scheduled to complete prior to the start of the program, coursework in the following content areas to be eligible for admission to the program:
- Phonetics
- Language development
- Speech anatomy and physiology
- Acoustics or speech science
- At least one course on speech and/or language disorders
Prerequisites Required before Starting the Graduate Program or to Be Completed during the Graduate Program
Applicants must also have completed, or be scheduled to complete prior to the start of the program, coursework in the following content areas to be eligible for admission to the program or have a deficiency in only one or two of these areas:
- Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology
- Audiological assessment
- Audiological rehabilitation
- Biological science (a course that is entirely or in part related to human or animal biology)
- Physical science (a course in chemistry or physics)
- Social/behavioral science (a course in psychology, sociology, anthropology, or public health)
- Statistics (a stand-alone course in statistics)
Students who have a deficiency in one or two of these prerequisites will be considered for admission but must meet that coursework deficiency no later than the end of spring of the first year of the graduate program, in addition to completing the typical graduate program curriculum. Accepted students are strongly encouraged to complete any deficiencies with summer courses prior to the start of the program.
Transcripts
Self-uploading a copy of your official transcripts directly to your Purdue University application can save you money on transcript fees and also ensure that your transcripts are received in time. To do this, request an official copy of your transcripts and then create a PDF version of that transcript to upload. Some universities add security features to electronic transcripts such that the file cannot be opened after a certain time has passed. Make sure that your uploaded copy is a standard PDF without these added security features. If you self-upload a copy of your transcripts make sure that they are copies of your official transcripts. Submitting an unofficial printout of classes and grades does not meet the transcript requirement. The CSDCAS application requires you to submit official transcripts directly to CSDCAS. The option to upload a copy of your official transcripts applies only to the Purdue University application.
Recommendation Letters
If you are a current student or have recently graduated, we strongly suggest that at least two letters are from faculty. When choosing who to ask to write your recommendation letters, keep in mind that these letters help tell us whether you will be successful in graduate school in both classes and clinical experiences. Ask people who know you well enough to provide information about your academic, professional, or clinical skills. References from personal friends or family members are discouraged. You can enter the contact information for your three recommenders into the CSDCAS before you submit your application. This will allow your recommenders plenty of time to complete the recommendation prior to the application deadline. A link to the recommendation system will be sent directly to each of your recommenders.
Personal Essay
As part of the CSDCAS application you will submit a list and description of your experiences and achievements. The personal essay is a way for the admissions committee to get to know you above and beyond what we can learn from this list of experiences and achievements and your transcripts.
Prerequisite Coursework
For the prerequisite requirements, there does not need to be a one-to-one correspondence between the prerequisite content and undergraduate courses. Depending on the curriculum used at the applicant’s university, a single course might meet more than one of the prerequisite content area or a combination of several courses might meet one content area requirement. However, in most cases one 3-credit semester-long course is needed to fulfill each prerequisite. The most frequent exception to this guideline is if a university teaches a combined audiological assessment and rehabilitation course. If that course substantially covers both assessment and treatment it can meet the prerequisite requirement for both audiological assessment and rehabilitation.
Purdue University Graduate School Application
Purdue University allows you to apply to more than one of the Purdue campuses using the same Purdue University application without needing to pay an additional application fee. Within the Purdue University system, Purdue Fort Wayne (PFW) and Purdue West Lafayette (PWL) have graduate programs in speech-language pathology. If you would like to apply to more than one of these programs, you will need to indicate on your application which programs are your first and second choices. Program officials can see which program you ranked as your first choice. You must submit a separate CSDCAS application for each program you apply to.
Completing Your Applications
Both the CSDCAS and Purdue University Graduate School applications are available in July each year for admission to the program the following summer. You can create accounts in each system early in the process to ensure you are aware of requirements.
GRE Scores
In prior years, the GRE was required for admission to our program. GRE scores are no longer required or requested.
Christopher M. Grindrod, PhD
Graduate Program Director
[email protected]
260-481-6455
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Classroom Clinic Building, Room 117
2101 East Coliseum Boulevard
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805
Applicants must apply to the program by submitting both a Purdue University Graduate School application and a Centralized Application Service for Communication Science & Disorder Programs (CSDCAS) application. The application deadline is January 15. The admissions committee reviews all applications received by the deadline so submitting your application early will not increase your chances of being admitted. Admissions decisions are based on a holistic review of each applicant’s materials. We look forward to reading your application.
Purdue University Graduate School Application
- On the application, identify Purdue Fort Wayne as the campus you are applying to. You can apply to multiple Purdue campuses with the same Purdue University application, but you must submit a separate CSDCAS application for each program. If you apply to more than one Purdue campus, you will need to indicate which program is your first choice. Review committees can see that information during the admissions process.
- Submit transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended. Details on submitting transcripts as part of the Purdue University application are provided on the Graduate School website. You can submit transcripts in two ways.
- Upload a copy of your official transcripts directly to your Purdue University application. If you are accepted, you will be required to submit official transcripts directly from each university later.
- Send official transcripts directly from each university you’ve attended to the Purdue Fort Wayne Office of Graduate Studies at [email protected].
- International applicants whose native language is not English need to submit proof of English proficiency. Details about documenting English proficiency are provided on the Purdue University website.
- Recommenders do not need to submit references to Purdue University, only through CSDCAS.
- You do not need to include a personal statement in your Purdue University application, only on CSDCAS.
CSDCAS Application
- Request that official transcripts from all US institutions attended be sent to CSDCAS.
- Submit a personal essay of 500 words or less describing your interest in graduate study in speech-language pathology, your reasons for wanting to study at Purdue University Fort Wayne, and your professional plans and career goals. You also may explain any special circumstances relevant to your background and elaborate on your special abilities, awards, achievements, scholarly publications, and/or professional history.
- Submit three letters of recommendation via the CSDCAS recommender portal.
- International applicants need to request that official evaluations of transcripts from all foreign institutions be sent to CSDCAS in one of the following ways.
- Use the World Education Services (WES) link in the Academic History section of the application to order your official WES evaluation.
- Use the Download Evaluation Request Form in the Academic History section of the application to request an evaluation from an evaluation service other than WES.
To begin in summer: January 15
The Master of Science (M.S.) residential education program in speech-language pathology at Purdue Fort Wayne is a Candidate for Accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. Candidacy is a “preaccreditation” status with the CAA, awarded to developing or emerging programs for a maximum period of five years.
The information session about our M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology program took place in October 2023. This event included a program overview, information about our facilities, and a Q&A session with the Graduate Program Director, faculty, and current students. If you were unable to attend, please email [email protected] with any questions about our graduate program.
Applicants must apply to the program by submitting both a Purdue University Graduate School application and a Centralized Application Service for Communication Science & Disorder Programs (CSDCAS) application. The application deadline is January 15. The admissions committee reviews all applications received by the deadline so submitting your application early will not increase your chances of being admitted. Admissions decisions are based on a holistic review of each applicant’s materials. We look forward to reading your application.
To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited university prior to the start of the graduate program
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 = A scale) from the most recently earned undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree or a 3.0 cumulative GPA for the most recent 60 (semester based) credit hours
- Successful completion of the prerequisite coursework as described in the Prerequisite Coursework section
- An admissions interview; applicants will be notified if they have been selected for an interview and more details will be provided at that time
If accepted, students must pass a background check prior to beginning the program.
Purdue University Graduate School Application
- On the application, identify Purdue Fort Wayne as the campus you are applying to. You can apply to multiple Purdue campuses with the same Purdue University application, but you must submit a separate CSDCAS application for each program. If you apply to more than one Purdue campus, you will need to indicate which program is your first choice. Review committees can see that information during the admissions process.
- Submit transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended. Details on submitting transcripts as part of the Purdue University application are provided on the Graduate School website. You can submit transcripts in two ways.
- Upload a copy of your official transcripts directly to your Purdue University application. If you are accepted, you will be required to submit official transcripts directly from each university later.
- Send official transcripts directly from each university you’ve attended to the Purdue Fort Wayne Office of Graduate Studies at [email protected].
- International applicants whose native language is not English need to submit proof of English proficiency. Details about documenting English proficiency are provided on the Purdue University website.
- Recommenders do not need to submit references to Purdue University, only through CSDCAS.
- You do not need to include a personal statement in your Purdue University application, only on CSDCAS.
CSDCAS Application
- Request that official transcripts from all US institutions attended be sent to CSDCAS.
- Submit a personal essay of 500 words or less describing your interest in graduate study in speech-language pathology, your reasons for wanting to study at Purdue University Fort Wayne, and your professional plans and career goals. You also may explain any special circumstances relevant to your background and elaborate on your special abilities, awards, achievements, scholarly publications, and/or professional history.
- Submit three letters of recommendation via the CSDCAS recommender portal.
- International applicants need to request that official evaluations of transcripts from all foreign institutions be sent to CSDCAS in one of the following ways.
- Use the World Education Services (WES) link in the Academic History section of the application to order your official WES evaluation.
- Use the Download Evaluation Request Form in the Academic History section of the application to request an evaluation from an evaluation service other than WES.
Applicants must have completed coursework in biological sciences, physical sciences, behavioral/social sciences, and statistics that meet the requirements to be certified as a speech-language pathologist by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Additionally, applicants must have completed undergraduate coursework in Communication Sciences and Disorders sufficient to provide the prerequisite knowledge for graduate courses. All prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of C− or higher.
Prerequisites Required before Starting the Graduate Program
Applicants must have completed, or be scheduled to complete prior to the start of the program, coursework in the following content areas to be eligible for admission to the program:
- Phonetics
- Language development
- Speech anatomy and physiology
- Acoustics or speech science
- At least one course on speech and/or language disorders
Prerequisites Required before Starting the Graduate Program or to Be Completed during the Graduate Program
Applicants must also have completed, or be scheduled to complete prior to the start of the program, coursework in the following content areas to be eligible for admission to the program or have a deficiency in only one or two of these areas:
- Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology
- Audiological assessment
- Audiological rehabilitation
- Biological science (a course that is entirely or in part related to human or animal biology)
- Physical science (a course in chemistry or physics)
- Social/behavioral science (a course in psychology, sociology, anthropology, or public health)
- Statistics (a stand-alone course in statistics)
Students who have a deficiency in one or two of these prerequisites will be considered for admission but must meet that coursework deficiency no later than the end of spring of the first year of the graduate program, in addition to completing the typical graduate program curriculum. Accepted students are strongly encouraged to complete any deficiencies with summer courses prior to the start of the program.
To begin in summer: January 15
Transcripts
Self-uploading a copy of your official transcripts directly to your Purdue University application can save you money on transcript fees and also ensure that your transcripts are received in time. To do this, request an official copy of your transcripts and then create a PDF version of that transcript to upload. Some universities add security features to electronic transcripts such that the file cannot be opened after a certain time has passed. Make sure that your uploaded copy is a standard PDF without these added security features. If you self-upload a copy of your transcripts make sure that they are copies of your official transcripts. Submitting an unofficial printout of classes and grades does not meet the transcript requirement. The CSDCAS application requires you to submit official transcripts directly to CSDCAS. The option to upload a copy of your official transcripts applies only to the Purdue University application.
Recommendation Letters
If you are a current student or have recently graduated, we strongly suggest that at least two letters are from faculty. When choosing who to ask to write your recommendation letters, keep in mind that these letters help tell us whether you will be successful in graduate school in both classes and clinical experiences. Ask people who know you well enough to provide information about your academic, professional, or clinical skills. References from personal friends or family members are discouraged. You can enter the contact information for your three recommenders into the CSDCAS before you submit your application. This will allow your recommenders plenty of time to complete the recommendation prior to the application deadline. A link to the recommendation system will be sent directly to each of your recommenders.
Personal Essay
As part of the CSDCAS application you will submit a list and description of your experiences and achievements. The personal essay is a way for the admissions committee to get to know you above and beyond what we can learn from this list of experiences and achievements and your transcripts.
Prerequisite Coursework
For the prerequisite requirements, there does not need to be a one-to-one correspondence between the prerequisite content and undergraduate courses. Depending on the curriculum used at the applicant’s university, a single course might meet more than one of the prerequisite content area or a combination of several courses might meet one content area requirement. However, in most cases one 3-credit semester-long course is needed to fulfill each prerequisite. The most frequent exception to this guideline is if a university teaches a combined audiological assessment and rehabilitation course. If that course substantially covers both assessment and treatment it can meet the prerequisite requirement for both audiological assessment and rehabilitation.
Purdue University Graduate School Application
Purdue University allows you to apply to more than one of the Purdue campuses using the same Purdue University application without needing to pay an additional application fee. Within the Purdue University system, Purdue Fort Wayne (PFW) and Purdue West Lafayette (PWL) have graduate programs in speech-language pathology. If you would like to apply to more than one of these programs, you will need to indicate on your application which programs are your first and second choices. Program officials can see which program you ranked as your first choice. You must submit a separate CSDCAS application for each program you apply to.
Completing Your Applications
Both the CSDCAS and Purdue University Graduate School applications are available in July each year for admission to the program the following summer. You can create accounts in each system early in the process to ensure you are aware of requirements.
GRE Scores
In prior years, the GRE was required for admission to our program. GRE scores are no longer required or requested.
The Master of Science (M.S.) residential education program in speech-language pathology at Purdue Fort Wayne is a Candidate for Accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. Candidacy is a “preaccreditation” status with the CAA, awarded to developing or emerging programs for a maximum period of five years.
Christopher M. Grindrod, PhD
Graduate Program Director
[email protected]
260-481-6455
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Classroom Clinic Building, Room 117
2101 East Coliseum Boulevard
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805
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