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Some of The Most Frequently Asked
Questions About Master's Level Study
What programs of study are available at the master's
level?
Students entering our master's program may be interested
in pursuing studies leading toward certification to
provide clinical services in speech-language pathology
or they may be interested in a non-clinical program
in the communication sciences. We invite you to look
at the enclosed materials about our faculty and identify
one or more whose area of specialization interests
you. Please feel free to contact those faculty members
directly if you would like more information from them.
What if I do not have an undergraduate major in
communication disorders?
Some students requesting entry into our clinical program
at the graduate level have an undergraduate major
that is not in speech-language pathology. We welcome
applications from such students because we feel they
bring with them valuable knowledge and experience
that can be directly applied to their education in
the profession of speech-language pathology and audiology.
Prerequisite students are expected to take specific
prerequisite courses before enrolling in some graduate
level courses in our department. If the student has
no previous courses in speech-language pathology and
audiology, then it will be necessary to take courses,
in such areas as anatomy and physiology of the speech
and hearing mechanism, phonetics, language development,
and speech and hearing science, that are prerequisites
to other courses that the student will take later.
These courses will be incorporated into the students
program. On the other hand, some students may decide
to take some or all of the prerequisite courses either
at Purdue University or elsewhere before applying
for graduate admission at Purdue. However, it is not
necessary to do so. When admitted as a prerequiste
student your program will take approximately one year
longer.
When are students expected to enter the master's
program?
Clinical master's level programs in speech-language
pathology begin in the fall semester, so applicants
to these programs are accepted for fall admission
only. Students applying for nonclinical programs may
be admitted for entry in other semesters.
What is the usual duration of study at the master's
level in your department?
The duration of study is approximately the same in
all master's level clinical programs throughout the
U.S. because they are so heavily influenced by professional
certification requirements. Students in speech-language
pathology who already have an adequate background
in communication disorders usually require two years
of full-time study, including summers, to complete
their programs. Students without an undergraduate
major in speech and hearing usually find that it is
necessary to enroll for an additional two to three
semesters of full-time graduate study, including a
summer session, to finish their speech-language pathology
studies. Students in the nonclinical programs, who
are not working to meet certification requirements,
may take fewer semesters to qualify for a master's
degree.
Can I attend your master's program on a part-time
basis?
It is assumed that students in this department will
be enrolled in graduate study on a full-time basis;
part-time study is not recommended. This is largely
due to the carefully planned sequences of courses
and clinical opportunities that lead to degree completion.
Is there a relationship between the student's own
speech and language skills and qualifications for clinical
work?
Enrollment in clinical practicum is contingent upon
demonstrated proficiency in the use of English speech
and language. All students are screened during the
initial semester of their graduate programs.
What are your cut-offs for grade point average (GPA)
and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores?
The Graduate School requires that applicants have
at least a B average in their undergraduate work,
and students are expected to maintain a B average
in their graduate studies. (The fact that an applicant
has a B average does not ensure admission, however.)
A 'B' average is required for graduation.
Although current GRE scores (test taken less than
3 years ago) are required of all applicants, no cut-off
scores have been established.
I am interested in knowing how many students apply
to your program and how many you admit. Just what are
my chances of being admitted?
The number of students applying varies from program
to program and from one year to the next, as does
the percentage of students who accept our offers of
admission. We wish that we could know this in advance,
but no one has been able to find a way to predict
these numbers. Your chances of being admitted depend
on the quality of your application in comparison to
other applications to the same program at the same
time and the number of spaces that will be available
in a given program. For the past few years, admission
to the clinical master's program in speech-language
pathology has been extremely competitive, much more
so than other master's programs. The numbers change
every year. We are proud of the outstanding students
we admit to our programs and hope that you will be
among them.
What if I am presently interested only in taking
a few courses but not applying for admission to a graduate
program?
This falls in the category of "postbaccalaureate" or "non-degree" study.
If your position requires you to take graduate courses for continuing education in order to update your teaching certificate or other related fields, fill out the standard Graduate School application form, checking postbaccalaureate under Enrollment Objective, and send a brief letter telling what course(s) you want to take along with your most recent transcripts. (Letters of recommendation and other materials required for admission to a graduate program are not required; you send us only these three items.) Following the receipt of these items, your application will be considered by the graduate committee. You must be notified of their approval before you register. Apply by March 15th for summer or fall enrollment and by October 1st for January enrollment. To take undergraduate courses as a postbaccalaureate student, you must apply through Admissions as a non-degree student but we recommend that you seek advice from our undergraduate advisor.
Note that admission for postbaccalaureate study is totally separate from admission to a graduate program. Being admitted for postbaccalaureate study does not ensure later admission to a graduate program.
Graduate School footnote:
Postbaccalaureate : those who wish to pursue graduate study without advanced degree objectives. Postbaccalaureate admission is not a form of probationary admission to a degree program. Postbaccalaureate registration in courses outside the admitting department may require the permission of the department offering the course. A maximum of twelve (12) credit hours earned in appropriate courses taken in postbaccalaureate status, may, with departmental approval , be applied to an advanced degree program at Purdue, should the postbaccalaureate student later be admitted to an advanced degree program.
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