Apply to Our Graduate SLP Program

Our next SLP Cohort begins August 2024

Applications to our graduate program are submitted and processed through CSDCAS (Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service) which is administered by CAPSCD (The Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders).

PLEASE NOTE: Our application does NOT include standardized testing. The GRE is NOT part of our application (effective June 2020).

For questions about the application platform and process, please contact sphrgrad@pdx.edu. 

Application Deadlines

December 15, 2023:

Deadline to SUBMIT your application via the CSDCAS system. You must click the SUBMIT button and pay your application fee by 8:59PM Pacific Standard Time (11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time) December 15, 2023. CSDCAS BLUE DEADLINE 

January 15, 2024:

In order to be included in our graduate application review process, submitted applications must be in VERIFIED status with all required components present by 8:59PM Pacific Standard Time (11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time) on January 15, 2024. (All application sections completed, transcripts fully verified by CSDCAS, Letters of Recommendation received by CSDCAS.)

In order for your application to be included in our selection process, you will:

1. Create a CSDCAS Account.

2. Complete the CSDCAS application Colleges Attended section.

3. Complete the CSDCAS application Evaluations section by providing email contact information for Letters of Recommendation.

4. Contact each school you've attended to have official transcripts sent directly to CSDCAS.

5. Enter coursework details into your CSDCAS application.

6. Check in with your Evaluators to ensure they are submitting your Letters of Recommendation directly through the CSDCAS system.

7. Complete all parts of the CSDCAS application, click the SUBMIT button on the Submit Application tab, and submit your application fee by the end of day December 15, 2023 8:59PM Pacific Standard Time (11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time).

8. Review your CSDCAS application status regularly to ensure:

• All official transcripts have been received and posted to your application.
• CSDCAS has received all of your Letters of Recommendation by January 15, 2024.
• Your application moves from RECEIVED status to COMPLETE status to VERIFIED status by January 15, 2024.

We will only include applications in our selection process that are SUBMITTED in the CSDCAS system by December 15, 2023 (8:59PM Pacific Standard Time/11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time) AND fully VERIFIED in the CSDCAS system by January 15, 2024 (8:59PM Pacific Standard Time/11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time).

BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION

Review application guidelines prior to applying. 

For issues with the application process, contact CSDCAS Customer Service at 617-612-2030 or at csdcasinfo@acsdcas.org

PSU Program Requirements

• General requirements for admission to graduate studies at Portland State University: Minimum admissions requirements
• Completion of a Bachelor's degree by the time of matriculation
• Undergraduate major in speech-language pathology, or equivalent prerequisite courses by the time of matriculation
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0/4.0

Prerequisite Coursework

Candidates for the master's degree graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology must have a background of undergraduate course credit in speech and hearing sciences and related disciplines. These prerequisites can be met by completing an undergraduate degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences at PSU or elsewhere. Individuals with a bachelor's degree in other disciplines may complete required prerequisite courses by enrolling in the Speech & Hearing Sciences Post-Baccalaureate program. Please work with your current institution's advisor(s) to determine if a course you are taking at that institution has similar content to our graduate program prerequisite courses. Course descriptions for prerequisite courses can be found in the PSU Course Bulletin. All prerequisites must have been completed within 7 years of beginning the graduate program. 

Candidates may apply to the master's program while in the process of completing their bachelor's degree or post-baccalaureate coursework. Note that completion of the prerequisite coursework does not guarantee admission into the graduate program. For specific course descriptions for classes at PSU that fulfill these requirements, please visit the PSU Course Bulletin. 

Prerequisite course requirements prior to starting the master's program:

Application Procedures

Transcripts

Carefully review the CSDCAS Transcript Requirements page.

1. You will first complete the COLLEGES ATTENDED section. You are required to report all institutions attended, including but not limited to:
   1. college courses taken in high school
   2. summer courses
   3. community college courses
   4. military institutions
   5. post-baccalaureate
   6. graduate work
   7. doctoral work
   8. study abroad
   9. foreign work
2. You will request original transcripts. TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED to be sent to CSDCAS from all U.S. and English-speaking Canadian institutions you have reported in the “Colleges Attended” section of your application. CSDCAS can NOT process your application without receiving all of your transcripts.
3. NOTE: Transcripts should be formally requested 10-12 weeks prior to January 15. 
4. INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS: Because GPA is part of our selection criteria, you may need to utilize a foreign evaluation service to ensure GPA is calculated. Closely review guidelines for non-U.S. transcript processing on the CSCDAS FAQ page.
   1. CSDCAS suggests transcripts should be requested at least 10-12 weeks before the deadline to allow for verification. Non-U.S. transcripts may require more time than this, so plan accordingly.
   2. Please note specific instructions about official documents and official translations on PSU's Graduate Admission page.
   3. English proficiency requirements are also described on the admissions page PSU's Graduate Admission page.

Personal Essay and Questions

1. In no more than 4,000 characters (including spaces and punctuation), you will provide an essay to help us understand how your interests, personal experiences and characteristics make you a good fit for the SPHR Master’s Program at PSU. Our objective is to get to know you better and assess your written communication abilities. A well written essay will reflect your personality.
   Please integrate at least 3 of the following topics into your cohesive essay:
   1. Your motivation for pursuing a career in Speech Language Pathology .
   2. How your personal characteristics and experiences make you well suited for the academic and clinical work in the field of speech language pathology.
   3. A goal that you set for yourself and how you achieved it. What motivated you to set and achieve your goal?
   4. Why you want to attend PSU in particular for your graduate education.
   5. What you believe you would contribute to the graduate program at PSU.
   6. Any other pertinent information about yourself that will inform the admissions committee about your ability to be successful as a student in the graduate program at PSU.
2. You will answer questions about your experiences and engagement in the following areas:
   1. Diversity
   2. Cultural Immersion
   3. Clinical Experiences
   4. Languages
   5. Significant Research Experiences
   6. Leadership

Letters of Recommendation

1. You will enter contact information for a minimum of THREE references, and you may enter up to a maximum of FIVE references.
2. Although not required, it is recommended that 2 of the 3 letters be written by faculty members and/or instructors who can speak to your academic abilities and potential success as a graduate student. These do not have to be faculty in Speech and Hearing Sciences.
3. All evaluations are submitted to CSDCAS electronically. The letters from recommenders must be received by January 15, 2023; it is the applicant's responsibility to ensure receipt of letters by checking your CSDCAS application status regularly. 

TOEFL scores

TOEFL: International applicants must submit the minimum required official score on the International Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the PSU Institutional TOEFL, or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

1. Submit TOEFL scores directly to Portland State University using Institution Code 4610-PORTLAND ST UNIV - Grad. Scores must be received no later than January 15.
2. All graduate students whose first language is not English must meet the English language proficiency requirement prior to enrolling in academic classes. Please note that this requirement applies to all students, including resident aliens and citizens.

Portland State University Application

1. If you are selected to join our program, you should complete the Portland State University Office of Admissions Graduate Application.
2. If you are selected to join our program, you will then need to send official transcripts directly to PSU's Office of Graduate Admissions.
3. DISREGARD the Admission Office's statement about the "departmental application" since your departmental application will be submitted through CSDCAS instead.

Our Selection Process

Applicants will be ranked for admission on the basis of academic potential for graduate studies in speech-language pathology. The admissions committee is faced with the difficult task of selecting a relatively small group of the most qualified applicants from a large pool of highly qualified applicants. Our procedure includes a holistic credential review process, which takes into account experience, skills, academic achievement, and professional recommendations. We do have a typical range of grades that applicants fall into. Graduate students typically have a minimum grade average of B for all upper-division undergraduate work. In coursework specific to speech and hearing sciences, GPAs have typically been around 3.75 (typically between 3.25 and 4.0). We do not use the GRE or other standardized test scores in our criteria for selection. 

The application provides a specific section to enter your experiences. Please use the instructions provided to complete this section thoroughly and accurately. The SPHR department strongly values experiences with diverse cultures and experiences, bilingualism, clinical experience, research experience and leadership, volunteerism, and seeks to promote the success of underrepresented populations in speech and hearing sciences. When providing information about your experiences, please provide enough information for faculty to evaluate those experiences as appropriate. Keep in mind that we are interested in the type of experience, the length of time with the experience, and the evidence and information that will let us evaluate the experience. For example, we might weigh research experience more heavily if the experience included leadership or independence in the research endeavor (such as thesis or publication). 

Application FAQs

I am currently a Portland State student. Do I need to submit a PSU transcript?

Yes. Official transcripts for all US institutions, including Portland State University, must be included in your CSDCAS application as well as your PSU supplemental application. CSDCAS requires transcripts from all institutions listed in the "Colleges Attended" section, regardless of degree or certificate.

What major code do I use for the PSU Office of Graduate Studies application?

The code for the Speech and Hearing Sciences program is SHSM.

Where do I send GRE Scores?

PSU Speech and Hearing Sciences will not use standardized tests in their selection process. GRE will neither be required as part of our CSDCAS nor university admissions application.

I am a current SPHR student, can I ask a Speech and Hearing Sciences professor at PSU to write a recommendation for me?

YES! The faculty in the Speech and Hearing Sciences Program at PSU can write letters of recommendation for applicants applying to the Speech and Hearing Sciences graduate program.

Who should I ask for recommendations?

The recommendation may be from college or university instructors, from employers, from supervisors or volunteer work, etc. Letters should not be from family members or friends. Students should seek recommendations from persons who can address the applicant's potential for success, academically and/or clinically, in the graduate program.

What should I write about in my Personal Essay?

Please discuss your interests in pursuing a graduate degree in speech-language pathology. Include a discussion of your background and the academic and personal strengths that you will bring to graduate studies and clinical practice. The personal statement is a critical part of the application packet. Applicants should ensure that the statement is well organized, succinct and without errors in grammar or spelling.

Please note: We value the ability to interact with culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Describe experiences that have prepared you to contribute to and value diversity in our discipline. We are interested in life experiences that may have changed your perspective on diversity. Examples may include cultural immersion (international or non-mainstream US), leadership or civic involvement with diverse populations, experience with underrepresented populations or overcoming adversity or hardship, including working while completing undergraduate studies.

When applying to the graduate program am I able to select any term to begin?

No. All prospective graduate students must begin Summer term. Our start date for incoming graduates will be early August.

Please also see CSDCAS FAQs.