What are the objectives of the Audiology program?

The objectives of our Audiology program are to:

• prepare audiology practitioners who are well-grounded in the basic sciences;
• provide didactic coursework and supervised clinical practicum experiences necessary to enable students to develop competencies in the areas outlined by ASHA (Foundations of Practice, Prevention and Identification, and Evaluation and Treatment), and;
• expose students to research in an effort to develop skills that will allow them to use evidence-based approaches to clinical practice.

What are the objectives of the Speech-Language Pathology Program?

The objectives of our Speech-Language Pathology program are to:

• prepare the student for a professional career in the diagnosis and management of individuals with speech-language disorders;
• provide didactic coursework and supervised clinical practicum experiences necessary to meet the course and practicum requirements set by ASHA for the Certificate of Clinical Competence and for New York State Licensure;
• expose students to research in an effort to develop skills that will allow them to use evidence-based approaches to clinical experience, and;
• provide the student the option to complete the requirements for NSY teacher certification as a teacher of students with speech-language disabilities.

What are the specific application requirements for the graduate programs in CSD at Syracuse University?

• Applicants must complete the entire CSDCAS application, including the questions, prerequisites, and essay specific to Syracuse University. CSDCAS application can be found here.
  • All official transcripts MUST be sent to CSDCAS at:
    CSDCAS Verification Department
    P.O. Box 9113
    Watertown, MA 02471
  • GRE scores are optional. If you wish to submit them, send them to CSDCAS using code 0757.
  • Customer Services Information
    Monday thru Friday
    9:00am to 5:00pm EST
    (617) 612-2030
    csdcasinfo@csdcas.org
• Ph.D. Applicants do not complete the CSDCAS application. Instead you must complete this application in our Graduate Admissions Department. (CollegeNet Application).

How are applicants evaluated by the SU admissions committee?

The following materials are the most critical parts of your application reviewed by the department’s admissions committee and faculty members:

• GPAs from undergraduate and post-baccalaureate coursework
• Official transcripts
• Personal Statement / Essay
• Three professional letters of recommendation
• Emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, including professionalism
• TOEFL scores for International students whose native language is not English
• Virtual interview with faculty (after initial review, for applicants moving on in the admission process)
• Supporting Information section of application, including relevant research experience (lab work, independent study, thesis, etc.) and/or clinical experience (including shadowing, observations, internships, etc.)

What is the average number of students who apply and the percent accepted?

Each year we typically receive 60-100 verified applications for the Audiology doctoral program and 120-220 verified applications for the Speech-Language Pathology master’s program. The number of admission offers is based on the qualifications of the applicant pool. In recent years, approximately 50-60% of applicants to both the Audiology doctoral program and the Speech-Language Pathology master’s program have been offered admission.

What are the minimum scores required for admission?

While there are no strict minimum cut-off scores, applicants with a U.S. or equivalent GPA of 3.0 or lower are unlikely to be admitted. Over the past few years, the number and quality of applicants means that GPAs of 3.5 or higher may be necessary to be competitive for admission. GREs are required for our Ph.D. programs but are optional for the MS SLP and the AuD programs In general, GRE scores will only be viewed favorably by the Admissions Committee; strong GRE scores may increase an applicant’s ranking for admission and for funding, but low GRE scores will not be used as a basis to deny admission or funding. Students who do not report GRE scores will not be denied admission or funding solely on the basis of a lack of GRE score.

We consider exceptions to the various numeric scores based on individual circumstances, such as students whose UG GPA is low, but have completed a graduate program in another area with a high GPA, students whose UG GPA is low, but have completed several CSD courses on a non-matriculated basis and received excellent grades, or International students whose grading systems differ from US (e.g. Canada).

Are there additional requirements for international applicants?

International students (excluding those from English-speaking Canadian schools, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand) are required to submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language, (TOEFL), with a minimum 620 (paper based), 260 (computer based), or 105 (internet based); official scores must be sent to CSDCAS via a unique TOEFL code (code C122) by the February 1 deadline.

Can I apply to begin the graduate program in the spring or summer?

No. Due to the sequencing of the courses and clinic, new students are only admitted in the fall.

Can I enter the program part-time?

No. Once you are matriculated into the program, it is a full time commitment.

Do you offer courses online?

No.

Can I take the graduate courses if I am not enrolled in the graduate program?

Yes. Students can take graduate level coursework in our department as a non-matriculated graduate student through the SU Continuing Education Department (University College). If students are admitted to our graduate program, up to 12 credits of non-matriculated coursework may be counted towards the graduate degree. Graduate coursework from other institutions will be reviewed for possible transfer credit on an individual basis. Completion of non-matriculated coursework does not imply admission into the graduate program, and you would still have to apply to the graduate program and be admitted.

When is the application deadline for Syracuse University and should I wait until I have my fall grades to apply?

The priority deadline for applications is January 1st, but we will accept applications for admission through February 1st. We do require fall grades for admissions consideration, but you should not wait to apply. The earlier you apply, the more quickly your information can be processed and verified by CSDCAS, which can take several weeks especially at peak times such as January 1 and 15. You can enter all of your in-progress (fall) and planned (spring) courses on your application and then later submit an academic update in CSDCAS and send a new transcript when your fall grades are final. Please see the academic update instructions on CSDCAS. The earliest date that academic updates can be submitted to CSDCAS is typically mid-December and the latest is typically mid-February. We may not consider you for admission if we do not have your fall grades verified by mid-February.

Can I be admitted into the Syracuse University AuD program without an undergraduate degree in the field of communication sciences and disorders (speech and/or hearing science)?

Yes. Any student holding a baccalaureate degree (regardless of major) from an accredited college or university in this country, or its equivalent in a foreign institution, will be eligible to apply to the AuD program at Syracuse University.

Are there prerequisite course requirements for the AuD program?

While there are no prerequisite requirements to apply or be admitted to the AuD program.

However, there are two required courses (Hearing Science and Intro to Audiology) students without a background must take prior to starting the program, as described below. Additionally, we require the ASHA basic sciences and statistics and there are two required background CSD courses that can be taken as electives during the AuD program if not already taken at the undergraduate level.

As each individual case may be different, please contact the department at csd@syr.edu to discuss your situation. Summary of background course requirements and recommendations:

1. Students who have not had a course in Hearing Science (or Speech and Hearing Science combined or Acoustics) or an Introductory Audiology course (e.g., Basic Clinical Audiology or Intro to Audiology) REQUIRED take these courses prior to starting the AuD program. If they have not been taken when admitted, they must be completed the summer before via online courses at other universities (they are not available at Syracuse University in the summer). While not required, if possible, we also recommend students from other undergraduate majors who are considering applying to Audiology take Anatomy & Physiology of Speech and Hearing and Speech Science to be well-prepared for graduate studies.
2. We require the four ASHA basic prerequisite course requirements (Biological Science, Physical Science, Behavioral Science, and Statistics) for both Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. These requirements are typically met through the undergraduate curriculum but may be met any time before graduating with your AuD (graduate credit not required, may be completed through any accredited college including community college and online courses). Please see the Background Course Requirements for the AuD program on our website.
3. Because the AuD curriculum does not include courses that are needed to fulfill all ASHA knowledge and skills areas for these two areas, a 1) sign language (ASL) course and 2) a normal language development course are expected to be fulfilled at the undergraduate level OR they will need to be completed prior to or during your AuD program. These courses may be used to fulfill open electives during the program if you do not have it.

Our SU Audiology prerequisites page describes the recommended courses for successful and timely completion of the four-year AuD program and allows you to select courses that you have already taken that may fulfill these areas.

For more detailed information and a sample program of study visit the Syracuse University Doctor of Audiology webpage.

Are there prerequisite course requirements for the SLP program?

Students both with and without undergraduate degrees in communication sciences are eligible for admission into the master's program in SLP at Syracuse University.

The typical master’s degree program in SLP for students with a bachelor's degree in communication sciences requires a minimum or four full-time academic semesters plus one summer (5 semesters total). Students with an undergraduate degree in fields other than communication sciences will have additional coursework requirements that extend the program by two semesters (7 semesters total).

In order to complete the degree in two years, students will need to have completed the following courses prior to entering the M.S. program:

• Speech Science
• Phonetics
• Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Mechanism
• Development of Speech and Language
• Clinical Methods
• Observations of Clinical Practice
• Speech Disorders in Children
• Basic Clinical Audiology

Additionally, in order to comply with ASHA general education requirements, all students will need to take, or show evidence of having taken the following coursework:

• Statistics
• Physical Science
• Biological Science
• Behavioral Science

If a student has not taken any of these general education courses as an undergraduate or during the summer and needs to take them as part of the graduate program, it may add to the length of the student's program. Follow this link for detailed information about background requirements. Click the following link to see a sample SLP program for students with a full background or without a background.

Is there funding available and can I apply for it?

Yes, there is funding, but most of it is merit based and does not require an application. First year students are eligible for tuition grants and graduate assistantships. These are awarded based on the students’ application, personal essay, recommendations, and telephone interview. Second year students are also eligible for graduate assistantships, which will also be awarded to students based on merit when available. There are three scholarships available for second through fourth year students. These are the Louis M. DiCarlo Scholarship, the Maureen Higgins Scholarship, and the Lisa Scime Scholarship. Applications for these scholarships go out in late summer and are awarded in December.

The office of Financial Aid can provide you with information about loans and work study opportunities. You can contact them by email: email-finmail@syr.edu or phone: (315) 443-1519.

Government funding is also available to all students every year thru the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Where and when do students get their clinical hours in the AuD program?

Au.D. students start their clinical hours immediately in our in-house Gebbie Clinic, where they will continue with different levels of clinical experience during the first two years under maximum supervision. Starting the summer of the second year, students will be placed in a series of local externships in at least three settings (hospitals, private-practices, rehabilitation centers and schools) for one semester each in the Syracuse and Central New York region. In the 4th year of the Au.D. students will complete a full-time 12-month clinical practicum at a national extern site.

Where and when do students get their clinical hours in the SLP program?

Students start their supervised clinical hours immediately in our Gebbie Clinic during their first three to five semesters, depending on their background. The last two semesters they will complete their externships at a variety of local or national placements.

Do I need a car while I am a student in the SLP or Au.D. program?

Yes, you will need reliable transportation during your externship semesters (the last two semesters in the MS-SLP program and after the first year in the Au.D. program.

What is the typical class size?

Typically, we have 8-10 students per incoming Audiology class, and typically around 22-30 students per incoming SLP class.

Do graduates of the SU graduate programs meet requirements for certification and licensure?

Yes. Students completing the graduate programs will have met the course and practicum requirements set by ASHA for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology/SLP and for New York State licensure. Completion of the SLP master's program, and previous appropriate undergraduate coursework, also prepares our graduates for certification as a Teacher of Students with Speech-Language Disabilities (TSSLD) in New York State.

What is the capstone requirement for the Syracuse University graduate programs?

At the conclusion of their academic and local clinic work, each Au.D. student must pass an intensive examination designed to comprehensively assess academic and clinical preparation. SLP Students must complete either comprehensive exams or a master’s thesis. Students conducting master’s theses work closely with faculty members in their labs, and typically have the opportunity to present their research at national meetings and in publications.

May I apply for the Au.D./Ph.D. dual program?

Students who wish to pursue the Au.D./Ph.D. dual degree must first be admitted to the Au.D. program and have successfully completed at least the first year of the curriculum. Admission to the dual program is not guaranteed and requires the agreement of a research mentor and a separate admissions decision. Please see our Syracuse University Doctor of Audiology webpage and contact our department for more information.

Applicants who may be interested in applying directly to the research Ph.D. program only (who may already have a clinical degree or do not wish to have a clinical degree) should read about the Research Ph.D. in Speech Pathology or the Research Ph.D. in Audiology and contact faculty regarding their research interests as admission requires the agreement of a faculty mentor. Application for the Ph.D. is through the SU graduate school, not through CSDCAS.

Any questions?

Please contact us by email at csd@syr.edu.