Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders

Master's program

Applying to the Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders Program

Note: This is the degree program for applicants who are seeking to pursue speech-language pathology.

Admissions Information and Data

  • See the University of Florida Graduate School website for detailed information about admission criteria at the University of Florida.
  • Admission to our program is competitive.
    • We receive several hundred applications per year and offer admission to less than 25% of all applicants.
    • Grade Point Average (GPA):  Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree must have an upper division GPA of at least 3.0 (See the UF Graduate School website  for specific details). In recent years, most applicants who have been offered admission have had upper division GPAs in the 3.7 to 4.0 range.
    • GRE scores are NO LONGER required for admissions to the M.A. program.
  • For additional information about our program, please see our entry in the EdFind database on the website of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (www.asha.org).

Application Deadline

  • The application deadline for admission consideration is January 15.
    • All application materials should be submitted by January 15. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
    • View additional information about dates for admissions decisions and deadlines to reply to offers of admission.

Completing the Application for Admission: A 2-step process

Step 1: Complete our program’s CSDCAS application 

  • CSDCAS stands for Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service. 
  • Access our program’s CSDCAS application.
    • Each year, our application portal in CSDCAS system opens in mid-to-late summer and closes on January 15.
  • Once you access the CSDCAS application system, complete all sections of the application. You can save your work and continue at a later time.
  • Applicants must provide CSDCAS with official academic transcripts for all college coursework. See the CSDCAS website for additional instructions.
    • All official transcripts MUST be sent to CSDCAS at the following address: CSDCAS Verification Department, P.O. Box 9113, Watertown, MA 02471
  • Three (3) recommendation letters are required. The recommendation letters must be submitted directly to CSDCAS (see instructions in CSDCAS).
  • Upload required program documents to CSDCAS:
    • An essay (400 to 500 words) addressing one of the following two topics:
      1. Describe a personal challenge that you have faced and what lessons you have learned from it.
      2. Share your proudest personal achievement that reveals who you are and what struggles you went through to achieve it.
    • A CV or resume (1 page is recommended; 2 page maximum)
  • For general questions about completing the CSDCAS application, please contact their Customer Service Department (Monday – Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST) by phone (617) 612-2030 or email csdcasinfo@csdcas.org.
  • Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application materials on CSDCAS in advance of the January 15 deadline.

Step 2: Complete the University of Florida’s Graduate School Application.

Applicants also must complete the UF graduate school’s application. Avoid delays in processing your application by completing the following fields as follows:

  • “Academic information – Location” field, enter Main Campus – Gainesville
  • “Program of Study” field, search for and then enter Communication Sciences and Disorders
  • “Term of Enrollment” field, select Fall 2023 (all newly admitted students to our MA program must begin in the fall semester)
  • “Additional Information: Program Specialization” field, enter Speech-Language Pathology
  • “Department contact name” field, enter Karen Hegland.
  • “Activities” – The UF application requires a response on the Activities page. Because you will be entering all of your activities into the CSDCAS application, there is no need to re-enter all of your activities into the UF application. Instead, just enter one activity on the Activities page of the UF application, and then advance to the next page.
  • Statement of Purpose, Resume, or Recommendation Letters portions of the UF application: You will submit these materials through the CSDCAS application. The UF application should let you advance beyond these portions of the application without uploading anything. (If not, upload any documents that are required using the same materials you uploaded for the CSDCAS application.)
  • GRE: The GRE is NOT required for admissions to the M.A. program for speech-language pathology at UF.

UF Graduate Admissions FAQ: https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/

Official Academic Transcripts: You must submit your official academic transcripts to both CSDCAS and UF. Order the transcripts well in advance of the application deadline, so they will arrive on time.

Application Fee: There is a $30.00 fee for UF’s graduate application. This fee is separate from the fee associated with the CSDCAS application.

  • For the UF portion of the application, send all official academic transcripts to the following address:

Office of Admissions
University of Florida
201 Criser Hall
PO Box 114000
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000

International applicants should carefully review webpages at the UF Graduate School for additional information and requirements pertaining to admissions procedures, documentation of English language proficiency, visa processing, and other matters. International applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications to UF well in advance of the January 15 deadline.

Prerequisites

Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree in a major other than Communication Sciences and Disorders, must demonstrate successful completion of coursework that addresses the following areas:

  • Phonetics (including phonetic transcription)
  • Speech and hearing science
  • Anatomy and physiology of speech, language, and hearing systems, including neural bases of communication
  • Language development
  • Introductory concepts related to speech and language disorders
  • Introductory concepts related to audiometry and audiologic rehabilitation

This coursework can be completed through post-baccalaureate courses. Applicants should submit transcripts of post-baccalaureate coursework with their application.

Additional information and resources: