MA Admissions

Admission to the Calvin MA in Speech-Language Pathology program for Post-Baccalaureate Students

Our MA program equips students with the essential academic knowledge, clinical skills, and reflective practices necessary to be intentional advocates for individuals who have communicative disorders; to know, appreciate, and respect cultural and linguistic traditions in a diverse world; and to become successful leaders specifically within the profession of speech-language pathology and more generally in society.

Prospective graduate applicants with a bachelor's degree in speech pathology and audiology or a bachelor's degree in another discipline along with prerequisite coursework may apply to the Speech Pathology MA program. Preference for our residential MA is given to Calvin undergraduate students in the bachelors-to-masters degree program; however, a limited number of seats may be available for post-baccalaureate students. Please note that simply meeting the criteria is not a guarantee of admission. As is the case with most graduate programs in speech pathology, admission is highly competitive.

**For more information and admissions to the distance-ed mode of the speech-language pathology graduate program, please see details at the following link, https://online.calvin.edu/programs/master-of-speech-language-pathology

Am I Eligible to Apply?

You may apply to our MA program if you meet the following requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited undergraduate college or university.
  1. If you have a degree a non-Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) major, you need to complete the necessary prerequisites PRIOR to applying to our MA program (see below).
  2. Prerequisite CSD courses must have been completed within the last seven years.
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. If you took a significant number of post-bacc credits in CSD, we will also consider your post-bacc GPA.
• GRE scores are not required.

International applicants are welcome to apply. For those students who have not completed a previous degree in the United States, please submit either the TOEFL or IELTS score. The minimum TOEFL score for regular admission is 550 (213 on the computerized version or 80 on the internet-based test). TOEFL code number for Calvin is #1095. The IELTS results are also accepted by the university with a minimum score of 6.5. The IELTS code number for Calvin is #1095.

How to Apply to the MA program as a Post-Baccalaureate Student

Calvin utilizes the Centralized Application Service for Communication Science & Disorders Programs (CSDCAS). All of the application materials should be submitted via CSDCAS except for Calvin's supplemental information form.

Applicants must submit the following items online at CSDCAS:

• The basic CSDCAS application form, including official transcripts from every college or university attended; if currently attending college, most recently completed semester grades must be included. Transcripts must be updated after completion of any courses that were in progress or taken after your original application was submitted. See CSDCAS Academic Update for more information.
• Three letters of recommendation: Choose persons familiar with your academic and/or professional abilities that will address your potential for success in the speech-language pathology graduate program. Strong applicants will have at least one academic recommendation.
• Personal Statement: In a maximum of 500 words, respond to these two prompts:
  1. Describe your professional goals
  2. Describe 3 strengths and 3 challenges related to your place in a graduate program

Applicants must also submit Calvin's supplemental information form: https://admissions.calvin.edu/register/speechpathgrad

Application Deadlines

Applications must be completed via CSDCAS (e-submitted, payment received, transcripts received) at least four weeks in advance of the deadline to ensure the application is verified on time. Applications not verified by the deadline will not be eligible for that admissions cycle.

• Residential Mode, MA in Speech-Language Pathology, Fall Start: CSDCAS verified application no later than January 15 for entry the following fall semester.
• Distance Education Mode, MA in Speech-Language Pathology, Fall Start: CSDCAS verified application no later than May 15 for entry in the fall semester.
• Distance Education Mode, MA in Speech-Language Pathology, Spring Start: CSDCAS verified application no later than November 15 for entry the following spring semester.

Enrollment in the MA program is also contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check, fingerprint check, and drug screen.

Prerequisite CSD Coursework

Applicants are expected to have completed all required undergraduate prerequisite courses before enrolling in the graduate program.  Applicants who are not able to complete those prerequisites in time are welcome to apply the following year. See below for course content and corresponding Calvin University course listings, where applicable.

• Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech, Language, and Hearing Mechanism: SPAUD-210 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism
• Phonetics: SPAUD-216 Phonetics
• Speech Science: SPAUD-217 Speech Science
• Hearing Science: SPAUD-218 Hearing Science
• Child Language Development: SPAUD-311 Child Language Development
• Evaluation Procedures in Audiology: SPAUD-344 Audiology
• Aural Rehabilitation: SPAUD-345 Aural Rehabilitation
• Biological Sciences course
• Physical Sciences, must be a Physics or Chemistry course
• Statistics course
• Social Sciences or Behavioral Sciences course

For more information on SLP course content requirements, see ASHA: Prerequisite Course Content Areas Related to SLP Certification Standards

**For more information and admissions to the distance-ed mode of the speech-language pathology graduate program, please see details at the following link, https://online.calvin.edu/programs/master-of-speech-language-pathology