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

• Admission Requirements

  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 (or "leveling courses") 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.

  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 & Hearing Science: SPAUD-212 Speech & 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

• Application Process and Deadlines

  Candidates apply for admission to the MA in speech-language pathology program using CSDCAS, the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service. Candidates apply online through the CSDCAS portal and submit official transcripts, recommendations, and other related information directly to CSDCAS. That information is then shared with Calvin and other institutions you have chosen during the application process.

  Application Deadlines

  Residential/On Campus mode: Applications for Fall 2024 start date are due January 15, 2024.

  Distance Education/Online mode: Applications for Fall 2024 start date are due May 15, 2024, with rolling admissions. Although our distance education mode has a rolling application deadline, applicants will not start to receive decision letters until after February 1, 2024. 
   

  CSDCAS Customer Service Team

  CSDCAS has a team dedicated to helping applicants with the application process. The CSDCAS customer service team can be reached Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET at (617) 612-2030 or csdcasinfo@csdcas.org. When contacting CSDCAS by email, include your full name, CSDCAS ID number and a detailed question.

  Helpful CSDCAS links:

  • CSDCAS Student Page
  • Applicant Help Center
  • CSDCAS Fee Waiver Program
• Official College Transcripts

  Official transcripts from each college/university attended must be mailed directly to CSDCAS at this address:

  CSDCAS Transcript Processing Center
  P.O. Box 9113
  Watertown, MA 02471

  Once received by CSDCAS, the transcript verification process may take up to 4 weeks.

  In the CSDCAS application, you will have the option of entering your coursework in the application yourself or using the Professional Transcript Entry service. Plan accordingly - this process can take up to 10 business days.

• Three Recommendations

  Candidates must submit three recommendations (references) directly to CSDCAS. At least one of the recommendations must be from a college/university professor who instructed you in your communication sciences curriculum. The other recommendations could be from university/college professors, an academic advisor, an advisor of extracurricular activities, coach or a work supervisor or manager.

   

• Personal Essay

  Please upload your personal essay directly to CSDCAS. Answer these two questions (250 words max per question): 

  1. What makes you a strong candidate for our graduate program in speech-language pathology? To answer this question, discuss how your experiences, education, background, and identity have prepared you to succeed in a rigorous graduate program and clinical profession. Provide specific examples in your response. 
  2. Tell us about your abilities and experiences interacting with people from all walks of life, levels of ability, and cultural and economic backgrounds. Include a description of how you would approach working with people who are different from you.

   

• Background Check and Drug Screening

  When applying for admission to the Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology program, candidates are asked whether they have ever been found guilty of a misdemeanor or felony that was not expunged or sealed. Candidates with a criminal record that has not been expunged or sealed are not eligible for enrollment in the SLP program at Calvin University. All students who enroll in the SLP program are required to complete both a civilian and a federal background check through the Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation (BCI&I) on an annual basis. Forms and details will be provided to all students who qualify for admission to the program. Although students with an expunged record may be eligible for enrollment in Calvin's SLP program, an expunged or sealed record may impact a student's eligibility for clinical placement or future employment in certain work settings. Eligibility for a professional license varies by state and may be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the professional licensing board.