Communication Science and Disorders MSc

We recommend that you review the following information completely before beginning your application for admission..All applications for the MA/MS SLP degree must be submitted through the Communication Science & Disorders Centralized Application Service known as CSDCAS at the following portal: https://portal.csdcas.org. Specific application instructions and requirements are found below.

Requirements for the MA/MS Speech-Language Pathology Degree:

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.

• Applicants who do NOT have a degree in CSD will need to satisfactorily complete the prerequisite course work listed below.

• A minimum overall and prerequisite GPA of 3.0 is required. Although a GPA of 3.3 or higher is strongly recommended. A grade below C- in a prerequisite course is not acceptable and should be repeated. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for admission may be considered if strong supporting evidence of their ability to complete a graduate program is provided.

• Ability to satisfactorily perform all of the technical standards required for this profession.

• Graduate Record Examination scores (GRE-general). Central Application Service, Institutional Code 6130. We do not designate a minimum score or percentile rank on the GRE. However, historically the average of students offered admission post an average percentile ranking of 49 (verbal & quantitative). The minimal preferred score for the written portion is 3.5. The GRE MUST be within the past 5 years.

Admission Data - Class of 2014

The Pitt Freshman Guarantee

Entering freshmen may qualify for a guarantee into the graduate programs in speech-language pathology and audiology. Qualifying students will meet the following criteria: SAT scores of 1300 or an ACT test result of 29 or better.

Guaranteed students must maintain a quality point average (QPA) of 3.5 or better and meet all graduate admission requirements. For consideration, indicate an intended field of study in Pre-communication Science on your application when applying to Pitt as a freshman (at regional Pitt campuses, choose corresponding codes).

Students enrolled in the communication science and disorders program may qualify for an early review and decision process for admission into the graduate programs in speech-language pathology (MA/MS) and audiology (AuD).

Eligible students must have a minimum overall undergraduate QPA of 3.3, minimum QPA of 3.3 in the major courses, and must meet all other admission criteria for the graduate programs.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS AND TRANSCRIPTS

The program\xc2\x92s foreign (international) transcript policies do NOT apply to study abroad coursework that is itemized on a U.S. college or university transcript. Study abroad is processed in the same way as U.S. coursework.

We only accept a 4 year or US bachelor degree or those international degrees that are equivalent as determined by one of our approved review agencies listed below.

Program requires non-native speakers to submit TOEFL scores? Applicants must submit their official TOEFL scores to the University of Pittsburgh (Institution Code: 2927). Applicants from Quebec Province are required to submit TOEFL scores, otherwise Canadian applicants are exempt from the TOEFL requirement.

Program policy on foreign coursework English translation required for original foreign transcripts.Foreign transcript evaluation must be completed by International Consultants of Delaware,(www.icdeval.com), Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc ( www.ece.org) or Joseph Silny & Associates ( http://jsilny.com). We do not accept evaluation by WES. Applicants from Canada are required to submit an academic credential application unless they have attended an IB diploma school.
Program policy for submission of non-U.S. (foreign/international) coursework: Send foreign transcript evaluation to:
CSDCAS Verification Department
P.O. Box 9113
Watertown, MA 02471 Your application for admission will not be reviewed until your credential review is received by CSDCAS.

Applicants without a bachelors degree in CSD

Applicants with a bachelor\xc2\x92s degree not in communication science and disorders will be expected to successfully complete the courses listed below. This could add up to one year to their plan of study. These applicants may wish to contact Dr. Janice Vance (jvance@pitt.edu). for further information on post-baccalaureate prerequisites for the MA/MS SLP. Permission to waive any of these requirements, based on comparable course work and satisfactory performance, will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Prerequisite Course Work:

• Nature of Language / Introduction to Linguistics
• Language Development
• Transcription Phonetics
• Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing with lab
• Speech and Hearing Science with lab
• Principles of Clinical Assessment and Treatment in Communication Disorders
• A college level course in each of the following:
• Biological Science
• Physical Science
• Child development
• Social/behavioral science
• Statistics

ASHA Requirements

Please note that, in order to be eligible for clinical certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, you must meet the standards specified by the Association\xc2\x92s Council for Clinical Certification. This includes satisfactory completion of at least one three-credit course in each of the following areas prior to starting the graduate program: Biological Sciences (Human Biology, Anatomy & Physiology), Physical Sciences (Physics, Chemistry), Behavioral Sciences (Sociology, Psychology), Statistics, Child Development (Developmental Psychology, Human Growth & Development).