Admissions

The College of Health Sciences Speech-Language Pathology Program considers admission of those applicants who demonstrate academic and clinical aptitude coupled with professionalism. The program admits only full-time students. A competitive admissions framework is implemented to select program candidates. Each file is evaluated by a faculty committee using a specific program rubric that assesses academic ability, writing, pre-clinical experiences, and a variety of other factors.

The Midwestern University Speech-Language Pathology Program uses the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS) for students applying to the program. Applicants should submit all materials by March 1 in order to be considered (http://www.capcsd.org/csdcas). Please refer to the CSDCAS website for instructions on submission of application materials.

The Speech-Language Pathology Program operates on a rolling admissions cycle. Completed applications are reviewed throughout the cycle to determine applicant eligibility for interviews. Interviews are typically conducted during the winter and spring quarters.

Admissions decisions are generally made within one month of the interview until the class is filled.

Admission Requirements

The SLP Program offers incoming students the opportunity to matriculate into two different tracks: Traditional Track and Leveling Track. The Leveling Track is for students with baccalaureate degrees in an area other than Communication Sciences and Disorders and/or for those who lack the starred SLP specific prerequisite coursework included below. Admission requirements for each track are detailed below.

Traditional Track

To apply for admission to the College of Health Sciences Speech-Language Pathology Program Traditional Track, individuals must submit documentation of the following minimum requirements before the academic year commences for the incoming class:

1. Completion of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution in Communication Sciences and Disorders, inclusive of the courses listed below, or
2. Completion of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution in an area other than Communication Sciences and Disorders with completion of prerequisite coursework in the following areas:

Prerequisites	Semeste r Hours	Quarte r Hours
Anatomy and Physiology of Communication Mechanisms*	3	4
Phonetics*	3	4
Speech-Language Development*	3	4
Speech and/or Hearing Science*	3	4
Statistics	3	4
Biological Sciences	3	4
Physics or Chemistry	3	4
Social Sciences	3	4

3.   Minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; and minimum major grade point average (MGPA; all speech- language pathology coursework) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Grades of C or better for prerequisite courses; grades of C- are not acceptable for the prerequisite courses listed above.
4. Oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues.
5. Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on academic, clinical, and professional experiences of the applicant.
6. A completed CSDCAS application.
7. An interview with faculty (invitation only).
8. During the interview day, write an essay given a clinical writing prompt (for interview candidates only).
9. Commitment to abide by the Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
10. Passage of the Midwestern University criminal background check.
11. Although submission of scores on the general and writing sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are not required for admissions, students are encouraged to submit GRE scores using the Midwestern University institution code of 4160.
    • For more information about the GRE, contact Educational Testing Services (ETS) at 866-473-4373 or visit www.ets.org/gre

Graduate Record Examination Scores (GRE; optional)

Applicants who choose to submit official GRE general test and writing scores should send scores directly to Midwestern University. The MWU institutional code for submitting scores is 4160.

Leveling Track

Individuals who completed a baccalaureate degree in an area other than Communication Sciences and Disorders and/or who do not meet the minimum requirements for the Traditional Track may apply for admission to the College of Health Sciences Speech- Language Pathology Program Leveling Track. To select this track, individuals must designate this option during the application process, and submit documentation of the following minimum requirements before the academic year commences for the incoming class:

Completion of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution in an area other than Communication Sciences and Disorders with completion of prerequisite coursework in the following areas:

Prerequisites	Semester Hours	Quarter Hours
Statistics	3	4
Biological Sciences	3	4
Physics or Chemistry	3	4
Social Sciences	3	4

1.  Minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Grades of C or better for prerequisite courses; grades of C- are not acceptable for the prerequisite courses listed above.
2. Oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues.
3. Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on academic, clinical, and professional experiences of the applicant.
4. A completed CSDCAS application.
5. An interview with faculty (invitation only).
6. During the interview day, write an essay given a clinical writing prompt (for interview candidates only).
7. Commitment to abide by the Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
8. Passage of the Midwestern University criminal background check.
9. Although submission of scores on the general and writing sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are not required for admissions, students are encouraged to submit GRE scores using the Midwestern University institution code of 4160.
   • For more information about the GRE, contact Educational Testing Services (ETS) at 866-473-4373 or visit www.ets.org/gr

GRE Scores (optional)

Applicants who choose to submit official GRE general test and writing scores should send scores directly to Midwestern University. The MWU institutional code for submitting scores is 4160.

Application Process and Deadlines

To be considered for admission to the Speech-Language Pathology Program, applicants must submit the following to the Office of Admissions:

1. CSDCAS Application
   Applicants are required to submit their applications to CSDCAS at https://csdcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login by March 1. Please refer to the CSDCAS application instructions for specific details about completing the application, required documents, and processing time. Due to the large number of applications and the limited number of seats available, applicants are encouraged to complete their CSDCAS application early in the cycle. An advantage of a centralized application service is that students can monitor the status of their applications online.
2. Letters of Recommendation Applicants are required to submit a minimum of two letters of recommendation to CSDCAS at https://csdcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login. 
3. The Office of Admissions will accept only letters of recommendation received via CSDCAS. Letters should be contributed from professors, speech-language pathologists, or other professionals with whom the applicant has interacted. They should address academic, clinical and professional qualities that will contribute to the applicant's readiness for graduate study. Please refer to the CSDCAS application instructions for specific guidelines and requirements for submitting letters of recommendation.
4. GRE Scores (optional)
   Applicants who choose to submit official GRE general test and writing scores should send scores directly to Midwestern University. The MWU institutional code for submitting scores is 4160.
5. Completed Applications
   The Office of Admissions will send a letter verifying receipt of completed CSDCAS application to applicants who meet the minimum cumulative GPA requirement of 3.00. The letters will include instructions for checking the status of the required application materials online. Applicants are responsible for tracking the receipt of their application materials and ensuring the submission of all required documents.

 

Only applicants who submit complete application packages will be considered for potential entrance into the Program.

Please note: Applicants are responsible for notifying the Office of Admissions of any changes in their mailing address or email address. All application withdrawal requests must be made in writing via e-mail, fax, or letter to:

Midwestern University Office of Admissions
19555 N. 59th Ave.
Glendale, AZ 85308
Phone: 623/572-3275 Fax: 623/572-3229
admissaz@midwestern.edu

Interview and Selection Process

When applicants are considered eligible for interviews after review of their completed files, they will be notified of available interview dates and invited by the Office of Admissions to schedule an interview. A typical interview day involves participation in the following activities coordinated by the Office of Admissions: an interview with two program faculty, a campus tour, and consultation with a counselor from the Office of Admissions. Virtual and in-person interview dates will be offered.

During interview sessions, program faculty will engage students in conversation regarding topics relevant to educational or healthcare settings. Students will also be asked to provide a writing sample in response to a clinical prompt. Interview and writing sample responses will be evaluated using rubrics established for this purpose. Prospective students' applications, interviews, and writing samples are evaluated using rubrics that were developed by the SLP Program. The Speech-Language Pathology Admissions Committee makes admission recommendations to the Program Director. The Dean, via the Office of Admissions, notifies each applicant in writing of the admission action/decision.

Reapplication Process

Students who receive denial or end-of-cycle letters may reapply for the following year's admissions cycle.

Before reapplying, however, individuals contemplating reapplication should seek the advice of an admissions counselor or the SLP Program Director. To initiate the reapplication process, prospective students must complete and submit a new application and proceed through the standard application process.