The Master of Science degree in Communicative Disorders (speech-language pathology) at the University of Louisville is a well-established program that provides its students with comprehensive academic coursework and robust clinical experiences. Communicative Disorders is a Division within the Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Disorders and is housed in the School of Medicine on the Health Sciences Center campus The program offers graduate admission opportunities to students with (Core Program) and without (Preparatory Program) undergraduate degrees in speech-language pathology. Our Core Program is for students that hold an undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology or those that have completed a leveling year of prerequisite coursework. Our Preparatory Program is for students that hold an undergraduate degree in a field outside of speech-language pathology. 

Successful applicants to either program must meet the following requirements.

• The applicant must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 (mean GPA for our most recently admitted Core Program was 3.75 and 3.45 for our Preparatory Program).
• The applicant must provide three (3) letters of recommendation; any combination of academic or personal--no family.
• The applicant must provide a comprehensive resume.  
• The applicant must provide a personal statement/essay of less than 1,000 words. 
• A formal interview may be required of some applicants. The interview will focus on each applicant's interpersonal/communication skills, resilience, compassion, ethics, and cultural competence.

Please reach out with questions by clicking HERE.

Application Process

Applications can be completed and submitted through the CSDCAS Portal. Your completed application and all materials (list above) are due by 2/1/2025. Application materials received after the listed deadline will not be considered. 

• A separate application to UofL's Graduate School IS NOT required.
• A $40.00 fee to UofL's Graduate School IS required and will be communicated to each applicant via email once the application is processed in CSDCAS.

ASHA (CFCC) Requirements

To obtain certification of clinical competency, candidates must fulfill all ASHA requirements which mandate amount and type of academic coursework, supervised clinical observation and practicum hours, passing all knowledge and skills competencies, a national examination, and a clinical fellowship experience following the successful completion of the requirements.

ASHA and CFCC also requires that students have completed one undergraduate course in each of the areas of biological sciences, physical sciences, math-based statistics, and behavioral/social sciences.

Knowledge and Skills (KASA) Assessment

By the time of graduation, students enrolled in the Section of Speech-Language Pathology are required to show competencies consistent with those of a beginning professional. Students' knowledge (coursework) and skills (practicum) competencies are entered/tracked via CALIPSO. Faculty members work with students in obtaining and documenting these competencies.

State Licensure

Each state determines its own requirements for licensure. Links to information about each state, its licensure requirements and speech-language associations are available on the ASHA website on their States Overview page. Students will fulfill the state licensure academic requirements upon graduation.