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Communication Sciences and Disorders Online Graduate Program

Subtitle

Get Your Master's Degree With a More Flexible Schedule

Intro

Choosing the right graduate program is an important step in preparing for a career in speech-language pathology. We know that many of you have life situations that prevent you from moving to a campus to study full-time. That's why we developed our three-year, part-time online program with the same rigorous curriculum as our residential program and taught by the same faculty. It's our same high-quality education, just a more flexible schedule. Our state-of-the-art graduate program is rigorous and innovative and requires a short residency each summer.

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Important Dates

Program Overview

This is a part-time online program with students admitted as a cohort and beginning in June.
All coursework is completed online over a three-year period with required residency periods of one week each summer.
All students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and successfully complete a comprehensive examination prior to graduation.
Successful completion of our ASHA-accredited part-time online graduate program culminates in a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
We also prepare students to meet requirements for ASHA certification and state licenses. Students are encouraged to contact the appropriate licensing agency in the state where they will seek licensure prior to beginning an academic program.
UW-Eau Claire is a member of SARA, but that does not provide reciprocity for licensing requirements.

More detailed information can be found by selecting the accordions below.

Academic and Clinical Requirements

This is a part-time graduate program.
Coursework is completed online over a three-year period.
All students are expected to register for 2-6 credits each term.
Students earn a total of 54 graduate credits: 40 credits of coursework and 14 credits of clinical practicum.
You must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 to remain in good standing.
All students must successfully complete a comprehensive examination prior to graduation.
Students are admitted as a cohort and must move through the program together.
You are required to attend a one-week residency on-campus each summer of your program. Residency weeks are filled with teambuilding, hands-on equipment time, activities, face-to-face competencies, and measurement of competencies with faculty.
New cohorts will begin the program in residency on our campus the first full week in June. Your second and third residency weeks will be scheduled the end of July / beginning of August, respectively.
Some students may need to add other credits in order to meet credential and/or licensure standards. These additional courses may include human or animal biology, chemistry or physics, child/human development, statistics, neurology, sign language, assessment and treatment for voice, articulation/phonology, child language, hearing disorders (aural rehabilitation), and guided clinical observation (during which you earn 25 observation hours). Students with such deficiencies may apply to the graduate program but must understand that additional coursework will be required before beginning the program or during the course of the program.
For additional information, please refer the documents below and the current CSD Online Graduate Program Handbook (below).
Residency Requirements
Academic Requirements
Clinical Requirements
Program Overview Chart
Credentialing and licensing information

Admission Philosophy

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire knows that communication is a fundamental human right. In the UWEC, CSD program, we work to create equitable access to communication across the broad range of people we serve. Further, we strive to recruit and retain graduate students who reflect the demographics of the populations we serve, across a variety of backgrounds and identities. We believe an ideal candidate for our graduate program is one who has foundational knowledge that they transfer into their grad studies. They should show initiative and self-directed behaviors while still seeking mentorship and embracing supervision and feedback. They should approach problems systematically, with good insight into their own strengths and means to compensate for relative areas of challenge. They can seek out appropriate resources from peers, faculty, and their own developed set of systematically organized resources. They bring forward, nurture, and acknowledge their own diverse experiences and those of others, and understand the importance of these diverse experiences as critical to the therapeutic process and fundamental to effective human interactions. They interact and communicate across a wide range of peers, staff and clients, and families in a way that supports the intervention process and promotes an effective working relationship.

At UWEC, we value rich experiences and lifelong learning. Our application process considers experience, personal attributes, and key academic metrics. We expect our graduate students to become excellent SLPs, collaborative leaders, and wise and humble citizens of the world. Given the admissions philosophy of the UWEC program, the following information is provided to guide prospective candidates in the application process

Admission Criteria

Minimum Criteria to Apply

Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university.
A minimum GPA of 3.25 in CSD coursework.
A minimum of 30 CSD semester credits or a bachelor's degree in CSD must be earned by the beginning of your graduate program (see post-baccalaureate sequence link below).
- These credits must include college-level coursework in each of the following five areas:
  - Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Hearing Mechanism
  - Speech & Hearing Science
  - Normal Communication/Language Development
  - Phonetics
  - Audiology
- The 30 minimum credits must also include at least 3 of the following 6 courses or courses that are equivalent
  NOTE: overview or “survey” disorders courses, or courses designed exclusively for SLPA training are not accepted:
  - Speech-Sound Disorders
  - Child Language Disorders
  - Voice & Resonance Disorders
  - Aural Rehabilitation
  - Clinical Methods/Procedures (with 25 hours of guided observation)
  - Neurology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism
- Additional CSD coursework required for our graduate program:
  - Sign Language

Additional Information

The required prerequisite coursework for our program totals 38 credits. Although only 30 are required for admission to the graduate program, if not completed prior to entry into the graduate program, the remaining courses must be taken during graduate school.
Appropriate disorders courses must cover content in both assessment and intervention. Determination of course equivalency to the required courses listed above is made by the department chairperson and graduate program coordinator.
NOTE: Disorders coursework designed specifically for an SLP assistant program may not be sufficient.

Post-Baccalaureate Sequence

Essential functions

Application Instructions and Checklist

Application Instructions

All application materials are due to CSDCAS by November 1, 2025 (including
letters of recommendation and transcripts). Applications that are incomplete after
this date will not be reviewed. It is your responsibility to meet this deadline. It is
STRONGLY recommended that the applicant submit their portion of the
application and pay their CSDCAS fee, along with completing the UWEC general
grad school application before November 1 (though that is not required). Submitting before November 1 allows the review process to begin. Your letters of recommendation and transcripts can then meet up with your application on or before November 1 for the file review to be completed. Specifically, follow these steps:

Complete all steps in the CSDCAS application. Please submit your application as soon as you have completed your sections. Letters of recommendation and transcripts may arrive after you click "submit" (and pay your fee) and will be added to your application as they are received. [NOTE: In addition to entering all completed coursework from your transcripts in your CSDCAS application, you must also list any planned or in-progress coursework. Failure to do this will cause your application to appear incomplete and suggest you have deficiencies that will penalize your candidacy.]
Once your CSDCAS application is fully complete (i.e., you have submitted your application, paid your CSDCAS fee, and letters of recommendation and transcripts are received), you will receive an email from UWEC which will direct you to create an account with the University and pay your $56 UWEC Grad School application fee. Failure to follow-through with this step will cause your CSDCAS application to halt.
Students interested in applying for a graduate assistantship: Complete an online application. The personal essay and letters of
recommendation submitted to CSDCAS will be used to support your assistantship application.
If invited, complete the video chat interview: Interviews are scheduled mid-December and take place in early January.

IMPORTANT: Do not mail any application materials, transcripts, or letters of recommendation to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire or the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. All materials are submitted with your CSDCAS application. Not following this direction may result in an incomplete application that will not be reviewed.

Application Checklist

An additional tool to help you keep track of the application process is the Application Checklist. It is attached below for your reference. Use this checklist to make sure you have completed all of the steps in the application process. The checklist includes links to all of the websites and documents you need in order to complete your application.
Application Checklist - Online

Questions:
If you have any questions or concerns about the application process, please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator

Application Evaluation Criteria

Application Evaluation Criteria - Our Holistic Review Promise

A faculty committee will evaluate your application holistically. We use our application materials to measure candidates across the following collection of attributes:

Academic excellence
Communication skills across various contexts, language, dialects
Problem-solving and critical thinking
Self-awareness and understanding of self
Cognitive and affective empathy
Sensitivity and respect for all
Effective response to feedback
Leadership abilities
Resilience in the presence of challenge or conflict

How Your Application Will Be Evaluated

Three letters of recommendation.
You should choose letter writers who know you well and can speak to how your academic skills, any research experience, personal characteristics, and/or life experiences align you with being a strong match for a rigorous, online graduate program and (ultimately) becoming an SLP. At least one letter of recommendation needs to be from a faculty member who knows you academically within communication sciences and disorders. We will evaluate letters from individuals in other academic programs and letters from non-academic sources such as supervisors at your place of employment. These letter writers should be sure to highlight your exceptional personal characteristics and life, clinical, academic, community, and/or leadership experiences. Please note, do not utilize letters of recommendation from relatives or close friends. Only three letters will be reviewed.
Your written response.
You will be asked to address three specific prompts in one essay. We are looking for your responses related to all of the following:
- Prompt #1—Personal Response
  Prepare your personal response by writing on three or four of the attributes in the list below. Use specific examples (e.g., lived experiences, personal traits, accomplishments, etc.) to illustrate how these will support your success within our graduate program and the field of speech-language pathology.
  - Communication skills across various contexts, language, dialects
  - Problem-solving and critical thinking
  - Self-awareness and understanding of self
  - Cognitive and affective empathy
  - Sensitivity and respect for all
  - Effective response to feedback
  - Leadership abilities
  - Interest and ability to accurately acknowledge relevant weaknesses and interest in cultivating/improving these areas
  - Resilience in the presence of conflict or challenge
- Prompt #2—Communication as a Human Right
  In 1948 the United Nations declared communication as a fundamental human right. Follow this link and scroll down to find the UWEC, CSD statement on communication as a fundamental human right. Choose one or two elements from the website language that resonates with you. Write about how you envision moving forward to be a graduate student and (later) a speech-language pathologist who embraces these selected concepts.
- Prompt #3—Clinical Application Response
  You are assigned to work with Sammy who is eight years old and has errors on the /r/, /l/, and /s/ sounds in all contexts. Sammy’s parent is confrontational with you during the initial session, letting you know that they are confused by the approach and frustrated with you letting Sammy play games during the session. Discuss how you will respond to the parent to build collaboration and elicit participation.
Your CSD GPA.
You can review the published information on GPA averages for our recently admitted cohort. Your written response (described above) is a place where you can explain any discrepancies between your GPA and your knowledge, skills, dispositions, and experiences that you believe make you an excellent match for our graduate program and for becoming an SLP.

Additional Information

Successful completion of our ASHA-accredited part-time online graduate program culminates in a Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. We prepare students to meet requirements for ASHA certification and the state SLP license. Students are encouraged to contact the appropriate licensing agency in the state where they will seek licensure prior to beginning an academic program with UWEC. UW-Eau Claire is a member of SARA (see UW-Eau Claire CSD webpage linked below for details), but that does not provide reciprocity for licensing requirements.

All coursework is completed online over a three-year period with required residency periods of one week each of three summers. This is a part-time program with students admitted as a cohort beginning each June and finishing together three years later. Full-time studies are not permitted until the final semester where a full-time externship is expected. All students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and successfully complete a comprehensive examination the semester prior to graduation.

We cannot accept international students at this time. This program does not meet the regulatory requirement for issuance of an I-20 or DS-2019; F and J visas cannot be issued for this program.

Funding Opportunities

Students from underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities are encouraged to apply for the Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowship. The deadline for application is usually in December. Information can be found at this following link. Information about applying for department funding is available in mid-March and will be sent to all students who have been admitted or are on the waitlist.

Compare to Most Recently Admitted Cohort

What Does the Program Cost?

Tuition and fees for the first year are estimated at $715 per credit, pending Board of Regents approval. This may increase as much a 5% per year. The UW System Board of Regents sets tuition rates each summer for the following year.
Tuition is charged as a flat-rate per-credit fee.
Required textbooks and other required course materials/supplies (varies from course-to-course).
Registration with the program's CALIPSO management system ($125 one-time fee, paid by each student directly).
Travel expenses for the required residency periods (preferred travel method to and from Eau Claire, lodging, meals and any other personal travel related expenses).
Liaison supervision costs, when applicable (will vary from site-to-site).
Payment for annual criminal background checks, arranged by the student according to instructions from the College of Education & Human Sciences
Immunization or TB testing costs if applicable.
Technology required.
Additional information on program costs and financial opportunities for graduate students can be found on the Graduate Tuition + Fees page.

Financial Aid and Graduate Scholarships

Financial Aid

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire offers financial assistance to graduate students. Part-time graduate students are typically eligible for loans only.
The "Financial Aid Year" consists of terms Fall/Spring/Summer. If you are accepted to the program and plan to apply for financial assistance, you will need to have filed a FAFSA for both the summer of the academic year you begin the program plus the following year. For example, students admitted for Summer 2023 will need to have filed a FAFSA for the academic year 2022-2023 (to be eligible for Summer 2023 aid) plus a FAFSA for the following 2023-24 academic year (to be eligible for Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and/or Summer 2024).
Once you begin the graduate program, financial aid will apply to graduate-level classes only; costs for any remaining pre-requisite classes taken at the undergraduate level will not be included in your financial aid award. Contact the financial aid office at finaid@uwec.edu to discuss options for financial aid in semesters when you must take additional undergraduate/pre-requisite coursework.
Admitted students are advised to contact the Office of Financial Aid directly at finaid@uwec.edu (recommended), or call 715-836-3373, regarding potential adjustments for travel expenses and Winterim classes.

Graduate Scholarships

Applicants who have been invited into our graduate cohort and accept admission will be eligible to apply for several CSD scholarships that are available to our first-year graduate students. Additional CSD scholarships and Foundation Fellowships are also available for the second/third year of your program. More information about financial aid for graduate students is available on our Financial Opportunities for Graduate Students site: Financial Opportunities for Graduate Students.
Opportunities include:
- UWEC Graduate Student Foundation Fellowships
- Graduate Assistantships
- Advanced Opportunity Program (AOP) Grants
- Tuition Remission or Reduced Tuition

Is the Program Accredited?

The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in speech-language pathology residential and distance education at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700, and is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Wisconsin is a SARA state (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is a SARA-approved institution.

"The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state." http://nc-sara.org/

Important Notice to Students: If you are considering an online academic program that leads to a professional license, it is highly recommended you contact the appropriate licensing agency in the state where you plan to apply for your license before beginning your academic program. SARA does not provide reciprocity for state professional licensing requirements. Academic programs and individual graduates must meet standards set by that state's licensure requirements in order for a graduate to be eligible for a license.

The SARA provision for this requirement can be found on pg. 10 herein: http://nc-sara.org/content/faqs

The Communication Sciences & Disorders graduate program at UW‐Eau Claire prepares students for licensure in the state of Wisconsin. Students work collaboratively with the program director during their program to be certain they will complete ready for licensure in all other states.

Technical Requirements

Students seeking enrollment in the UWEC CSD online graduate program will need the following technical requirements to participate in the program:

Access to Microsoft Office 2013 or 2016:
- Throughout the course, Microsoft Office Suite applications including PowerPoint and Word will be utilized; thus Microsoft Office 2013 or 2016 is required.
- Full, free access to the Microsoft Office suite of software is available to all students from the UWEC, Office 365 application.
Internet Connection:
- An Internet service provider is required.
- If available in your area, a satellite, DSL, or cable modem connection is recommended.
- NOTE: Use of a dial-up Internet connection will not support some of the online grad program applications and is highly discouraged.
Video Playback Capability:
- The ability to able to playback videos throughout the course is important.
- Examples of video playback software include VLC Player, iTunes, Windows Media Player, and Quicktime, all of which can be downloaded from the Internet for free.
Video Conferencing Software:
- The ability to video conference with the faculty and classmates will be required at times during the online graduate program.
- Software like Skype, Google Chat, or ooVoo can be downloaded for free from the Internet and will meet this requirement.
Screen Capture Software:
- Online graduate students will be required to create screencast productions at different points and to satisfy different requirements and competencies throughout their program.
- Free, online applications will be sufficient for this purpose. Options include: Kaltura Capturespace, iSpring Free, Screencastomatic, and Educreations (for iPad).
USB Headset/Microphone:
- In order to properly record voiceovers and to participate in video conferencing, a high-quality USB headset/mic is required.
Mobile Device Usage:
- All CSD online graduate students will need access to a mobile device for generating and sharing certain specific course/clinical work/requirements.
- Many mobile devices like a smartphone, iPad, Kindle Fire, or Microsoft Surface may meet the needs of the technical requirements for the program.
- Check with the Graduate Coordinator to see if your device (or one you can access) will suffice.
Scanner or Mobile Device App for Scanning:
- Many times during the academic and clinical experiences, students will be required to scan and upload or email items.
- Convenient access to scanning is critical.

Reapplying to Online Graduate Program

For applicants reapplying to our online graduate program:

Complete an application at Communication Science and Disorders Centralized Application Services (CDSCAS): Communication Science and Disorders Centralized Application Services (CSDCAS) beginning July 15, 2024. Follow the instructions on the CDSCAS website for re-applicants. The deadline for receipt of all materials is November 1, 2024, 10:59pm CST. It is your responsibility to meet the deadline requirements. Contact CSDCAS customer service with questions and problems: 617-612-2030 or CSDCASinfo@CSDCAS.org.
Follow instructions on the CSDCAS site for submission of three (3) letters of recommendation. At least one must come from CSD instructors or supervisors. Previously submitted letters of recommendation will not be transferred to your CSDCAS application.
Follow instructions on the CSDCAS site for submission of a personal essay. You will be asked to address specific prompts. Your previously submitted personal essay will not be transferred to your CSDCAS application.
In addition to entering all completed coursework from your transcripts, we require that applicants list all planned and in-progress coursework so we can help you plan your graduate program.
Send all official transcripts to: CSDCAS Verification Department | PO Box 9113 | Watertown, MA 02471.
Your previously submitted official transcripts will not be transferred to your CSDCAS application.

[Note: Applicant will not have to pay the $56 application fee for the UWEC Grad School application if reapplying within one year of the initial application.]

Can International Student Apply?

Discrimination and Harassment Policies and Reporting

It is the policy of the UW-Eau Claire to maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, and retaliation for all students and employees. This policy applies to all programs and activities, and employment practices and operations including the conduct of all students and employees arising out of their employment, educational or academic status, as well as to the conduct of all guests, visitors, vendors, contractors, subcontractors and others who do business with UW-Eau Claire.

Further information can be found by visiting the policies site.

Online Graduate Student Achievement Data