CSD Master's Application

We are pleased to announce that GRE scores are not required and should not be submitted for applicants pursuing a Master of Arts degree from our program.

In July 2020, the faculty and staff of the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders unanimously affirmed the Departmental Response to Racism and Inequity. Among the anti-racist and abolitionist measures presented in the document was the commitment to eliminate the GRE as an application requirement, given its inherent biases. We have been able to take swift action toward more equitable review of applicants to our program. GRE scores will not be requested or accepted for applicants seeking admission after Fall of 2021.

Steps to Apply

The 5 steps of the application process are listed below. Please review all steps before you begin the application process.

Step 1: Initiate the Online MSU Graduate School Application

Start the Online MSU Graduate School Application and provide general information to the Graduate School at MSU. This information will include identifying information, post-high school institutions, TOEFL scores (if applicable), criminal background, etc.

Note that there is a $65 application fee for domestic students and a $75 application fee for international students and can be paid with credit card, check (U.S. Funds) or money order. When you have completed this step, you will receive an email, confirming the receipt of your application information.

Important Information for Individuals Reapplying to the Program: Applicants must submit a completely new application with updated documents every year, as each annual application cycle progresses independently. Materials cannot be forwarded from previous years by the department. This includes the requirement to mail one official transcript from each university or college attended (see Step 3 below).

The application deadline for the academic year is 11:59pm, January 15th. Please note that our MA program admits a single cohort annually in the fall semester. Applicants must carefully select the appropriate fall semester in the submission process.

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Step 2: Add CSD-Required Content to Your Application

Please Note: No hardcopies of the following will be accepted.

• Personal statement (maximum of 800 words): Please describe your qualities and skills that will contribute to your success in graduate school and in professional practice. We want to learn more about you as an individual. Briefly describe life experiences that have brought you to this pivotal point in your life. Highlight your personal interests, characteristics, and achievements, as well your unique social, economic, cultural, familial, educational, or other experiences, and emphasize how these will help you succeed and thrive in this difficult but rewarding professional training experience. Upload this statement as a PDF.
• Academic Statement (two parts):

  • Part 1 – Academic Statement: Despite diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, the speech-language pathology (SLP) profession in the U.S. remains predominantly White, female, middle-class, and monolingual in American English, in contrast to the increasingly culturally and linguistically diverse communities it serves. Many DEI initiatives focus on intercultural exposure and individual inclusion but often overlook systemic barriers affecting marginalized students and clients.
    
    In your statement, please respond to the following prompts in approximately 250-300 words for each.
    
    a) Identify and describe a specific way in which institutional racism or other systemic barriers impact healthcare or education. Please cite your sources.
    
    b) Discuss how the current speech-language pathology profession may unintentionally perpetuate systemic barriers and disparities in speech, language, and hearing education and service delivery. Please cite your sources.
    
    c) Reflect on what you see as your personal responsibilities and potential actions as an SLP graduate student and professional in addressing longstanding disparities and promoting equity within the profession. Please be specific and provide concrete examples.

  • Part 2 – Prerequisite Review Form: Use one of the two forms which best matches your background - Prerequisite Coursework Review Form - MSU Undergraduate or the Prerequisite Coursework Review Form - Alternative Undergraduate Institution. The first form is for MSU graduates who have taken MSU CSD undergraduate courses, where the second is for all other applicants. Within these forms, you will enter the coursework information that satisfies prerequisite training for our M.A. program and coursework/standards required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Once complete, upload the correct document to the portal. Please add any clarification of information in the form underneath your narrative Academic Statement. You may choose Academic Statement as a choice to load part two in the system. It will not override the first PDF.
• Name and email addresses for three (3) letters of recommendation: The names you provide should be persons who are familiar with your academic and professional work and who are willing to assess your aptitude for graduate work. Of these three names, ideally it is suggested that you provide two academic faculty from an institution you attended and someone who supervised you in a professional environment. Once you have listed your recommenders and their email addresses, the system will automatically generate an email to your recommenders explaining the process to submit their letters electronically (no hardcopies accepted).
• Review and Submit Payment: Students will receive an email from Michigan State University confirming the application has been submitted. After payment is processed students will be able to log in to the student portal to review their application status updates, by going to https://explore.msu.edu/apply/. Choose the Returning Users: Log In link. 
• Résumé (1-page limit): Include all activities that account for your time while and since earning a bachelor’s degree (e.g., employment, military service, travel). Be sure to include the type of activity, name of employer, city/state, and dates. List the most recent activity first. Also include all relevant communication sciences and disorders professional or volunteer experiences, along with locations and dates. MSU Career Network Services contains tools for creating resumes. This can be uploaded after submission application and payment as a PDF. 

Step 3: Send the Documents Listed Below Directly to the CSD Department:

• One official transcript from each university or college attended. Mailed directly from the university/college to:

  • Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Academic Programs
    Michigan State University
    1026 Red Cedar Road
    Room 109, Oyer Speech and Hearing Building
    East Lansing, MI 48824
  • Please Note: No copies of transcripts will be accepted; only original transcripts sent directly from the university/college to the mailing address above. 
  • Electronic transcripts are accepted from the National Clearing House and Parchment to comdis@msu.edu. 
  • MSU applicants follow register instructions: https://reg.msu.edu/transcripts/transcript.aspx 
  • Transcripts will also be required to be sent after your final courses are completed and Degree is confer. These FINAL TRANSCRIPTS have to be sent via PAPER only from your University directly to MSU. Electronic transcripts are consider copies not originals. 

  ^{For review of your application, you can send electronic transcripts from parchment or from National Clearing house. For admission into the program, once the application has been reviewed and you have accepted the offer to attend MSU, we require a paper transcript sent from the university to MSU. However, if your school does not send paper transcripts, then an electronic one will be accepted.}

• For International Applicants ONLY-Statement of Financial Proof: For International graduate students who bring no dependents, financial proof is required for U.S. $39,000. If you plan to attend summer school, proof is required for an additional U.S. $13,150 for tuition and fees, books and miscellaneous expenses. Please submit the financial statement with your application materials. For further information please visit the website Statement of Financial Proof or contact the Office of Admissions.

Step 4: Provide Additional Electronic Documents:

Request that ETS Send the Documents Listed Below to the University in an electronic format:

• For International Applicants ONLY: Please visit https://grad.msu.edu/internationalapplicants for most up to date information. 
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Computer version a minimum average of 237 with no sub-scores below 21 required. Internet-based test an average of 93 minimum with no sub-scores below 21. When submitting scores please use the university code of 1465 and department code of 83 and submit directly to the Office of Admissions, 250 Administration Bldg. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.

Step 5: Track the Status of Your Application Online Using the Admissions Portal

The Admissions Portal allows applicants to track documents submitted. We strive to update the system regularly but during high volume times, we ask for your patience. https://explore.msu.edu/apply/ Choose the Returning Users: Log In link. 

For frequently asked questions, see our FAQ page.

Please Direct Any Additional Questions or Concerns To:

Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders
comdis@msu.edu
Michigan State University
1026 Red Cedar Road
Oyer Speech and Hearing Building
East Lansing, MI 48824