Speech Language Pathology
Overview
The Master’s Degree in Speech-language Pathology (MS in SLP) is a two-year degree program (six semesters with a summer start). This degree consists of 40 academic credit hours, 18 clinical credit hours, and the completion of one of the following degree options: comprehensive exams, an independent study, or master’s thesis. Graduates from our program are qualified for professional positions in all educational and healthcare settings.
Experience as graduate student clinician is a vital and critical component of our programs. On campus, students gain many of their clinical skills at the Eckelmann-Taylor Speech and Hearing Clinic. Located in the same building as our classrooms, the clinic offers a wide range of speech-language pathology and audiology services to clients of every age and provide our students with an excellent foundation of clinical knowledge and skills. Speech-language pathology services include but are not limited to the following:
- Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC)
- Aphasia
- Autism Treatment
- Speech Sound Disorders
- Gender-Affirming Communication Services
Students typically participate in four semesters of on-campus clinical coursework, which starts in the first fall semester. In the spring semester, they become eligible for part-time off-campus clinical experiences with our community partnerships such as local daycare centers, hospitals, private and public schools, and nursing homes.
In the student’s final semester, they will complete two, ten-week internship experiences (one in an educational setting and one in a non-educational setting). Upon graduation, students will have clinical skills required to practice as beginning professionals in the post-graduate Clinical Fellowship.
Point of Pride
Students in the Master's Program of Speech-Language Pathology have achieved a three-year average pass rate of 100% on the PRAXIS exam.
Graduate Advisor
Heidi Verticchio
(309) 438-3266
Rachel Cooper 207
Schedule a Visit
Discover what life as an Illinois State graduate student is like.
How to Apply
University Admission Requirements
A student applying to a master's program must:
- have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so within one academic year
- if accepted, present official transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. Transcripts can be emailed from the university to Admissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Office of Admissions, 201 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 2200, Normal, IL 61790-2200
International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions.
Additional Program Admission Requirements
A student applying to this program must have:
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 hours of coursework
- Submit three professional letters of recommendations (CSDCAS)
- Essay (CSDCAS)
- Video Clip (CSDCAS)
CSDCAS Application
A student applying to this program must complete an application through Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS), submit all required documentation to this platform, and pay the CSDCAS payment.
Note: this application opens each year on August 1.
- Request that official transcripts from all institutions attended be sent to CSDCAS
- Complete all required sections in CSDCAS, including:
- Uploading a resume
- Responding to all ISU specific questions/prompts
- Requesting 3 professional letters of recommendation
- After you submit your CSDCAS application, you will receive an email from Illinois State about 24 hours after you submit your CSDCAS application with the next steps. Once you do, create your Illinois State University (ILSTU) account from the instructions to review your application status.
Application Deadline
Summer Term - Application deadline is January 15th (10:59PM CST)
Applications must be completed and verified by this date/time which means applicants should have submitted the CSDCAS application and sent all transcripts to CSDCAS at least two weeks prior to this date to ensure adequate time for verification to occur.
Graduate Assistantships
The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an assistantship a student must, generally,
- be admitted unconditionally as a degree-seeking student into a graduate academic program, or have a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours if in an integrated degree program
- be in good-standing
- be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters, or at least 6 hours during the summer session).
Benefits
Graduate assistants receive
- monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage
- a waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
- a waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment
Costs & Funding
See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from contiguous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.
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