A QUICK GUIDE TO UTD

AND GETTING INTO

GRADUATE SCHOOL

BOB STILLMAN
ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR GRADUATE STUDIES:
SCHOOL OF BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN SCIENCES
PROGRAM HEAD:
PROGRAMS IN COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS

WHY?

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE REQUIRES A

MASTERS FOR SLP or Au.D. FOR AUDIOLOGY.

WHETHER
AM I READY FOR 2 MORE YEARS IN SCHOOL? (4 FOR THE
Au.D.)
DO I HAVE THE ACADEMIC RECORD?
IS THIS THE RIGHT FIELD FOR ME?
CAN I AFFORD IT?
CAN I BE A PART-TIME STUDENT AND WORK FULL TIME?
CAN I BE A FULL-TIME STUDENT AND WORK PART-TIME?

IS IT WORTH IT?
CAN I FIND A JOB WHEN I GRADUATE?
WHERE CAN I WORK?
WHAT ARE SALARIES?
WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?

WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND ASK

ABOUT IN A GRADUATE PROGRAM
APPROACH TO CLINICAL EDUCATION (STUDENT-CENTERED, FLEXIBLE, CLINICAL OR RESEARCH
EMPHASIS)
PRACTICUM (ON- & OFF-CAMPUS EXPERIENCES, VARIETY OF SITES, WHEN DO YOU START,
CHOICE, INTERNSHIP, SUPERVISION STYLE)
CLASSES (SIZE, INSTRUCTORS, DEGREE PLAN, SPECIALIZATIONS)
FACILITIES
REPUTATION/RANKING
ATMOSPHERE: FACULTY, STUDENTS
FUNDING, WORK
LEVELING/PREREQUISITES (TOTAL TIME, REAPPLICATION, ATTITUDE TOWARD NON-MAJORS)
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES (MANDATORY, OPTIONAL)
QUALITY OF LIFE (LOCATION, COSTS, LEISURE)

PREPARING FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL

SHOW YOU TAKE ACADEMICS SERIOUSLY

Get Good Grades

Take Challenging Course, Look at Your Transcript
Observe Clinical Programs

BE NOTICED (POSITIVELY) BY FACULTY TO GET

GOOD RECS
Attend Office Hours/Reviews
Volunteer in research

VISIT PROGRAMS

Learn about them

Show you are interested

WHATS CONSIDERED BY
ADMISSIONS COMMITTEES

QUALITATIVE EVALUATION

GRADES (overall, major, last 2 years, trajectory)

GRE (V+Q Scores) CAN I TAKE IT MORE THAN ONCE?

FACULTY RECOMMENDATIONS

(OTHERS)

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE, SKILLS, PROFESSIONAL GOALS, AND

RELEVANT EXPERIENCES (FIT, WRITING SKILLS)
EXPLAIN WEAKNESSES IN RECORD
INTANGIBLES (VISITING)
WHAT IF I DONT GET IN?

WHY UT DALLAS?
FOCUS/APPROACH TO CLINICAL EDUCATION
PRACTICUM (ON- & OFF-CAMPUS EXPERIENCES, VARIETY OF SITES, WHEN DO
YOU START, HOW SELECTED, CHOICE, INTERNSHIP, SUPERVISION STYLE)
CLASSES (SIZE, INSTRUCTORS, DEGREE PLAN, SPECIALIZATIONS)
FACILITIES: CALLIER-DALLAS, CALLIER-RICHARDSON
REPUTATION/RANKING
ATMOSPHERE: FACULTY, STUDENTS
FUNDING, WORK
LEVELING/PREREQUISITES (TOTAL TIME, NO REAPPLICATION)
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
QUALITY OF LIFE

CURRICULUM:
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
UTD PREREQUISITES (Undergraduate) What
you need to know to get started. May be
completed at UT Dallas or elsewhere.

Intro to Communication Disorders

Phonetics
Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing
Articulation Disorders

ASHA/TX Licensure Requirements

(Graduate or Undergraduate)
Biological Science (Human Biology preferred), Physical Science (Physics or
Chemistry preferred), Social Science, Statistics
Audiology, Language Acquisition, Speech Science
Clinical Observation (must observe an ASHA-certified SLP, documentation)

CURRICULUM:
GRADUATE REQUIREMENTS
Language Disorders (minimum 5 courses) 3 in either Child or
Adult Language Disorders, 2 in the other. One Child and 1 Adult
course specified.
Speech Disorders (minimum 3 courses) All 3 specified
Dysphagia (minimum 1 course) Specified.
Free Electives to reach 39 graduate credit hours (excluding
Prerequisites and Practicum)
Practicum and Internship Pediatric and adult core (1 semester
each), elective practicums and internship (3 semesters)

APPLYING TO UT DALLAS
APPLY ON-LINE: www.utdallas.edu/admissions
Apply Directly to the M.S. Program in Communication Disorders (no
leveling program)

APPLICATION DEADLINES:

FEBRUARY 15 FOR SUMMER AND FALL

SEPTEMBER 15 FOR SPRING
SOFT DEADLINES
ROLLING ADMISSIONS

QUESTIONS/VISITS: Email me: stillman@utdallas.edu

Program Office 214.905.3060 or communicationdisorders@utdallas.edu
More Info: http://bbs.utdallas.edu/comd /