Graduate

Admission Requirements

Admission criteria for the Residential and Suncoast Tracks are identical, except that for the Suncoast Track, students must be directly employed fulltime as a bachelor-level Speech language Pathologist by one of the Suncoast Consortium School Districts. For a list of the public school districts within the Suncoast Consortium, please click here. Contracted employees are not eligible. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders to apply to the Suncoast Track and meet the requirements set forth to work as a SLP/SLPA. Students should be aware that there is an additional technology fee for distance courses. Once accepted into the program of study, students are required to continue working full time in a collaborating school district while enrolled in the program.

Please note, some school districts may require that a student apply and be admitted to the Suncoast Master's program prior to official hiring. In this case, students may apply for the Suncoast Master's program and employment with their school district must begin prior to beginning coursework in the fall. Additionally, the school district Speech and Language Coordinator will need to write a letter stating that the district will provide a mentor to support the applicant during all practica scheduled to occur in the public school system (a total of 4 practica). 

All applicants (Residential and Suncoast) must meet general University requirements (see Graduate Admissions) and have completed the following set of pre‐requisite courses at an accredited institution, which are also required for state licensure and national certification in speech‐language pathology. USF Course Codes are given for reference.

    • Introduction to Language Development and Disorders (SPA 3004)
    • Introduction to Speech Science (SPA 3011)
    • Introduction to Hearing Sciences (SPA 3030)
    • Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism (SPA 3101)
    • Applied Phonetics in Communication Disorders (SPA 3112)
    • Introduction to Disorders of Hearing (SPA 3310)
    • Neuroanatomy (SPA 4104)

Additional requirements for the Suncoast Track can be viewed here.

If you have an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders:

Completed coursework should be in the basic speech, language, and hearing sciences. No practicum experience is required. The admissions committee will review your transcript to ensure that all of the pre-requisite coursework listed above has been completed. Please take special note of the requirement for a course in Neuroanatomy prior to entry in the graduate program. This course may be completed at USF during the summer prior to Fall admission. Completion of this course is required for ASHA certification.

If you come from a non-CSD background:

The pre-requisite coursework does not need to be completed by the application deadline. However, in order to apply for the graduate program, the applicant must demonstrate that he/she will have completed this coursework prior to matriculation into the graduate program in the Fall semester.

GPA of 3.2 or above for all completed coursework after the first 60 hours.

Minimum GRE scores:

  • Verbal score at the 52nd percentile (approximately 151) OR a score at the 52nd percentile (approximately a 4) on the Writing section.
  • Quantitative score at the 32nd percentile (approximately 149).

****GRE will be waived starting Fall 2024.***

Essential Functions

Essential functions are those cognitive, physical, and behavioral skills and attributes that are necessary for satisfactory mastery of the speech-language pathology curriculum and the professional attributes required of all students at graduation. View the list of essential functions.