Please use the CSDCAS Application System to find the University of Kentucky CSD Application. https://csdcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login
While the minimum admission requirement is a 3.0 GPA out of a possible 4.0, the average GPA of students selected for our program is 3.8. Currently, there is no GRE requirement. Our admission decisions are based on a composite of information about the applicant, not merely one factor. The composite includes but is not limited to:
- grades
- personal achievements/involvement during school or since graduation
- service activities
- leadership
- motivation
- time management skills
- letters of recommendation
Our application in the CSDCAS portal will be live by October 15th. Applications for both the Traditional 2- Year Master’s Program and the 3-Year Master’s Program will be due on January 15, 2027.
(Please note: Application materials received after the posted deadline will not be considered in admission review.)
Our application through CSDCAS will require the following:
- official transcript(s)
- three letters of recommendation
- responses to 1 written and 1 video prompt
CSDCAS must verify all official transcripts from any institution where credit has been earned. Applicants who submit transcripts in the fall will have an opportunity to submit updated fall transcripts after they receive official grades, and CSDCAS will reverify them. More information can be found on the CSDCAS Applicant Help Center page. You MUST be a verified applicant by the deadline to be reviewed for admittance to our program.
Students with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in speech-language pathology will begin their coursework in the summer semester and should select the Traditional 2-Year Master's Program on the CSDCAS application.
Students who do not have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in speech-language pathology will begin their coursework in the fall semester and should select the 3-Year Master's Program on the CSDCAS application.
Yes, those terms are interchangeable, and different universities use different terms for their CSD degrees. A Bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology, speech pathology, communication sciences and disorders, etc. are all the same.
The Traditional 2-Year Master's Program is expected to span 6 semesters. The 3-Year Master's Program is expected to span 8 semesters.
Some students apply to our CSD Graduate Program after having completed a Bachelor’s degree in another field of study. In addition to their Bachelor’s degree (in another field), students then took “pre-requisite” courses for the Master’s degree. The pre-requisite and undergraduate courses at UK include:
- Biology,
- Chemistry/physics,
- Social/behavioral sciences,
- Statistics,
- Clinical Phonetics,
- Language Across the Lifespan,
- Speech & Hearing Science,
- Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech Mechanism,
- Neural Bases of Speech & Language,
- Clinical Experience in Communication Disorders,
- Audiology,
- Aural Rehabilitation,
-
Grammar.
If a student has a completed Bachelor’s degree in another field and has taken ALL of those pre-requisite courses then they may be eligible to apply as though they have a completed Bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology.
Contact tammy.edge@uky.edu for questions. Please note that you will likely need to complete all prerequisite courses before enrolling in the 6-semester course of study for students who already have a Bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology.
The student who enrolls in the 2-Year Master’s program with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in speech-language pathology will complete the Master’s degree, if successful, in 6 semesters of graduate study. The student who enrolls in the 3-Year Master’s program with a Bachelor’s degree in another field of study will complete the Master’s degree, if successful, in 8 semesters of graduate study.
The CSD Graduate Program uses a holistic approach and does not require GRE scores. All student applications are carefully reviewed for many factors including, but not limited to; Overall GPA, GPA in the CSD major, honors, awards, research experiences, bilingualism, commitment to service, writing ability, evidence of leadership, enthusiasm for the profession, strength of recommendations, and other broad sets of experiences and skills that suggest that you may bring a unique perspective to communication disorders.
Faculty members who have taught you, should write at least 2 of your letters of recommendation to speak about your academic performance. Faculty members who have worked with you in research, volunteer work, or a leadership role (e.g., NSSLHA, Student Ambassadors) would also be excellent.
Try to select someone to write a letter for you who can speak to other unique and valuable experiences and opportunities you may have had. A letter from an employer, mentor, or someone who has supervised a Study Abroad experience, an inner-city experience, or a research experience in another area may genuinely enrich your application and help us see what you bring that makes you distinctly different or qualified for our profession.
Written prompt: You'll be asked to provide a written response, limited to 3,000 characters. This response is meant to be brief, and allow you to describe your personal characteristics and your interest in UK. Please follow the directions carefully.
Video prompt: You'll be asked to provide a recorded video prompt, limited to 3 minutes. You will upload your video response to YouTube as an unlisted, but not private, link. Please follow the directions carefully.
Faculty members usually meet in early to mid-March to make final admissions decisions. You will hear from us by email before the end of March.
Generally, we receive 150-300 applications per year, and cohort sizes vary year to year depending on the application pool. Typically, we admit 30-36 students per year.
The CSD Department offers various training grants and scholarships. learn more. Please see our Funding Opportunities page for more information.
The University of Kentucky Graduate School offers several financial support options. You can read about the various financial support options and determine if you are eligible to apply.
Also, the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences has information about support funding on its website. Click here for the College of Health Sciences then select “Students” and finally select “Scholarships and Financial Aid”. Once again, you will be able to see the various options and determine your eligibility to apply.
Students and university programs are obligated to make decisions by April 15th. We may ask you for an earlier decision, but you have a right to ask us to wait until April 15th.
The 1st-year graduates will mostly be on campus, working in our academic clinic under the direction of Aimee Sayre. The 2nd year will include 3 semesters of outside clinical/school rotations.
To meet the requirements for ASHA certification, students must complete one pediatric rotation and one adult rotation. Typically, these rotations will include one in an adult setting, such as long-term care, outpatient rehabilitation, inpatient, or residential rehabilitation facilities, and one in a public school or pediatric facility.
- Students who do not complete a school rotation must complete a sequence of two 1-credit elective courses to gain the required school-based competencies. The first course will be taken during the second fall semester, and the second course during the second spring semester. These two courses will fulfill the students’ elective requirement.
Yes, if you are offered admission to either the 2-Year Traditional Master's Program or the 3-Year Master's Program in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Kentucky, you will be asked to apply to The Graduate School through Apply Yourself at a cost of $125.00.
Additionally, you will be required to pay a tuition* deposit to secure your place in the Program. The tuition deposit must accompany your letter confirming your acceptance of your place in the program. The non-refundable tuition deposit is $500 for Kentucky residents and $ 1,000 for non-residents of Kentucky. The fee will then be credited to your first semester tuition (summer or fall, depending on the program). If you accept your place in our Graduate Program and then decline after April 15, 2025, you will not be eligible for a refund of the fee.
- Cost of Attendance: The total estimated expense to attend UK, including tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.
- Tuition and Fees: The specific charges for instruction and related services, excluding other living and personal expenses.
UK offers several on-campus living arrangements. Please visit https://www.uky.edu/housing/about-graduate-family-housing for more information, virtual tours, application and frequently asked questions.
Contact our Program Coordinator Tammy.edge@uky.edu
Program Compliance Summary Report
Annual Program Compliance Checklist (Academic Year 2024-2025)
College of Health Sciences
Communication Sciences and Disorders (M.S.)
11.11.2024
- Review compliance letter(s).
- Review out-of-state field placement state authorization and licensure information for each state. Note any changes or suggestions to propose to your compliance coordinator. Suggestions should be discussed with your compliance coordinator, and any changes should be finalized before signing the acknowledgment form on the last page.
- Read and sign the acknowledgment form under the program/course personnel signature line on the last page.
- Send to the appropriate Associate Dean for review and signature.
- If the compliance program contact for your program(s) has changed, please submit the updated information via the Program Compliance Contact Update Form.
- For questions or concerns, contact your compliance coordinator, Blazan Mijatovic (Blazan.Mijatovic@uky.edu).
- Send this entire document with the signed acknowledgment form to your compliance coordinator before 11.25.2024.