Application Process

Centralized Application to the Graduate Program

Applications to the Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders will be administered through the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service for Clinical Education in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology. The web-based CSDCAS service for students has been created so prospective applicants may apply to multiple schools from one centralized program. The University of Arkansas Master of Science degree program requires a minimum of five academic semesters to complete, including continuous enrollment in one summer during the sequence of studies. If undergraduate deficiencies are assessed at the time of admission, additional time may be required to finish the M.S. degree. For a detailed list of requirements, please review the Graduate Catalog.

In order to apply for the master's degree program in Communication Sciences and Disorders, prospective applicants should log in at the CSDCAS portal. This link will allow you to make an application for the program and monitor your application's status. As part of this process you will need to supply the following:

  1. Official transcript(s) from each college from which you received course credit even if past course work appears on a later transcript. Please see instructions in CSDCAS for how to request transcripts and where to have them sent.
  2. Letters of recommendation — Please submit three academic or professional references within the CSDCAS portal.
  3. Upload a CV/resume. Be sure to include the sections outlined in this example (PDF). We will be using your CV/resume to consider your scholarly activities and community engagement — including volunteerism, leadership and employment.
  4. Submit responses to these two writing prompts — length should not exceed 2,000 characters:
    1. First writing prompt: What motivated you to apply to the speech-language pathology graduate program at University of Arkansas? Be sure to include how your values and strengths align with the program and university’s mission and vision.
    2. Second writing prompt: SLPs must have an understanding of person-centered and family-centered care. Why is person-centered and family-centered care important in the field of speech-language pathology? Support your response with at least 1 scholarly reference. Describe how your lived experience thus far has prepared you to provide person-centered and/or family-centered care in the future.
    3. Submit a 2-minute video responding to the scenario found in the CSDCAS application. Please make sure the video will be accessible to the faculty reviewers.
      • Video Prompt: please describe how you would approach this situation. In your response, connect your approach to a relevant past experience or challenge (personal, professional, or academic), noting similarities or differences and what you learned.

Stipulations — Please Make Sure to Follow These Guidelines

  • The Centralized Program Application must be completed by Jan. 15.
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered in the admissions process.
  • Upon acceptance to the graduate program, students must apply and send official transcripts to the U of A Graduate School.
  • Students are not required to apply to the Graduate School until they have confirmed their acceptance to the graduate program.

The Graduate Program in Communication Sciences and Disorders adheres to the Graduate School's policy for proof of English proficiency. A passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if your native language is not English, or your undergraduate instruction was not in English, is required.

The Graduate Program in Communication Sciences and Disorders adheres to the university’s policy on disability and is committed to providing an accessible environment and education for faculty, staff and students. To learn more about accessibility or to request accommodations, visit the Center for Educational Access.

Current University of Arkansas students applying to the Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSDI) graduate program are encouraged to explore Pre-Health Resources (SharePoint) for helpful information and guidance. For additional questions, please contact the assistant director for Pre-Professional Advising and Graduate School Readiness in the College of Education and Health Professions at 479-575-4203 or bcss@uark.edu.

Notification of Admission Decision

Applicants will be notified by email of admission decisions in CSDCAS on or before April 15. Students on the wait list will be notified of openings or the need to re-apply after April 15.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have questions about my application, what do I do?

  • When beginning the pre-application process for the U of A, please contact gradinfo@uark.edu for additional information about recruitment and to learn more about why the university is an excellent choice for graduate study.
  • If the issue is with the CSDCAS application itself, make sure your application is complete on CSDCAS. You can also contact them by email at support@csdcas.myliaison.com or by phone at 617-612-2030.
  • For all questions related to the Graduate School application, from submission to matriculation including application status, required materials and any other inquiries regarding the application process, please contact gradapp@uark.edu.

I have a “student onboarding hold” that I am unable to remove, what do I do?

Make sure you have “accepted” our offer in Workday. If you have already done this, email gradapp@uark.edu to see if they can assist with this hold and the status of your application.

Do I need to apply to the U of A Graduate School even though I already accepted the offer from the CSDI Master Program?

Yes! You will still need to apply for the U of A Graduate School. Once you have applied to the Graduate School, you can check on the status of your application on their website. If you have already completed your application through CSDCAS, there is no need to upload your resume, statement of purpose and writing sample a second time to the U of A Graduate School application portal.

I cannot register for fall semester courses even though I did all the above, what do I do?

U of A Tuition and Fees Information

Questions and additional information: 479-575-4893