Welcome

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Degree Requirement
  • A Bachelor’s degree (BS) in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) or
  • Successful completion of a Post-Baccalaureate program.
• Minimum GPA
  • A 3.25 grade point average (GPA) overall.
  • GPA is reviewed in the following configuration:
    • CSD core coursework GPA: 3.25
    • Overall GPA: 3.25 or cumulative GPA of 3.25 for the last 60 credits.
• Letters of Recommendation
  • Three letters from academic instructors and/or supervisors:
    • Two from within the Communication Disorders major
    • One from an external evaluator
  • Letters should attest to the applicant’s ability to work in teams, diversity experiences, and community service.
• Statement of Purpose
  • Prompt: Describe your experiences that align with our program mission.
• Graduate Program UG Coursework Worksheet
  • Must be completed and submitted with your application.

Application Guidelines

• Priority Deadline: Applications received by January 15 will receive priority consideration.
• Transcript Requirement:
  • At time of application, if courses are in-progress, ssubmit official transcript with fall courses showing in-progress.
  • After fall grades are posted, submit unofficial transcript to graduate@minotstateu.edu by January 15. This ensures the admission committee has a complete academic record for evaluation. Please plan accordingly to avoid delays in the consideration of your application
• Late Applications: Applications received after January 15 will be reviewed based on seat availability.
• Priority Consideration:
  • North Dakota students
  • Applicants who completed an undergraduate degree or post-baccalaureate program at Minot State University.
• Ranking Criteria: Qualified students will be rank-ordered based on:
  • Overall GPA
  • CSD GPA
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose

Special Circumstances

• Under rare circumstances, with substantial evidence that an applicant’s undergraduate record does not accurately represent their abilities and promise, the faculty may recommend—and the Department Chairperson may approve—acceptance of applicants who do not meet the stated minimum requirements.
• Applicants may be admitted on a provisional-probational basis. This admission will be considered the single allowable semester of probation.

Final Transcript Requirement

If admitted, your final official transcript with all grades and/or degree posted must be on file with the Graduate School by the start of your first semester.

Upon Acceptance

Students must complete the following requirements:

• Criminal Background Check
  • Residential students will complete this during their first semester.
  • Distance students will coordinate with their clinical placement sites to meet this requirement.
• CPR/AED/First Aid Certification
• Health Protection Requirements
  • These requirements ensure readiness for clinical experiences and compliance with placement site standards.

Students accepted into either the residential or distance program must meet ASHA requirements in:

• Biological sciences
• Chemistry or physics
• Statistics (not research methods)
• Social/behavioral sciences
• Diversity

If these requirements have not been completed prior to admission, they must be fulfilled during the graduate program before the degree can be posted.

If a student enters the program on a full-time basis and has met ASHA requirements, it is possible to complete the degree in five semesters. Students will be on campus for four semesters and will complete an external practicum in their fifth semester.

Graduate Catalog

The academic catalog is updated yearly and subject to change.

Program Mission

The Mission of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is to provide entry-level Speech-Language Pathology professionals who meet the needs of the state and region by:

1. Providing students with high-quality educational and clinical experiences
2. Encouraging active engagement through a variety of community service and clinical experiences
3. Delivering integrated experiences that allow students the opportunity to connect theory with practice, work in teams, respect the diversity of today's world, and understand connections between research, evidence-based practice, and the therapeutic environment.

Goals of the Graduate Program in Speech-Language Pathology

1. To provide course offerings and clinical experiences reflecting pertinent and current content preparing students for personal growth and professional competence as a beginning practitioner in the field of speech-language pathology.
2. To offer information and experiences in factors that foster students’ abilities to serve a diverse clientele considering cultural and social variables as well as language exposure/acquisition on clients/patients and their families.
3. To facilitate student understanding of communication, cognitive, hearing, speech, language, literacy, and swallowing development and disorders across the life span.
4. To create intellectual excitement, curiosity, and student involvement in community service and inter-professional activities as well as encourage application of research evidence into everyday clinical practice.