Admissions

UW-Madison Graduate School Requirements for Admission

A minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (4.0=A); however, the students we accept into the program typically have much higher GPAs.

Prior to applying, it is recommended for International Students to review all International Student admissions requirements.

English Proficiency

Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English proficiency test score and meet the minimum TOEFL or IELTS Score.

Degree Equivalency

Many International Institutions provide 3-year bachelor’s degrees and multiple types of grading scales. To ensure your degree is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree and to understand how your grades will be evaluated, please review the Wisconsin Directory of international Intuitions. If your institution is not listed, it will be evaluated after you apply.

Course Evaluation

All ASHA requirements and program prerequisites are evaluated case by case. For questions regarding course equivalencies to meet ASHA requirements and program prerequisites, please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Additional International Student Resources

We have current International Students available to help answer questions about the transition to UW-Madison, the experience in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and to help answer any other questions you may have. To connect with a current international student, contact the Graduate Program Coordinator.

• International Student Services
• Becoming a Global Badger

You must complete the following undergraduate courses before beginning graduate course work:

In addition to the above courses, you will need a course in each of the following areas:

• Biological sciences
• Physical sciences (chemistry or physics)
• Statistics
• Social/behavioral sciences

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) standards now specify that a course in each of these areas is required for ASHA certification. For additional details, visit ASHA’s website Standard IV-A.

If you choose to complete prerequisites at UW-Madison before applying for graduate study, you must apply to the Capstone Program. These courses typically can be completed within two semesters. Equivalent courses from another university or department will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

These letters should address your potential for academic success in graduate school. At least two should come from instructors who have knowledge of your academic performance. The third may come from a clinical supervisor, employer, or other individual who has knowledge of your academic potential and likelihood for success in graduate school. No more than three.

Communicate your reasons for wanting to study speech language pathology. This is an opportunity for you to highlight experiences, related skills, and personal attributes which make you an exceptional candidate. 1-3 pages, single-spaced.

Include honors and awards

Upload a copy of your unofficial transcripts. These show grades earned at every college or university you have attended, including study abroad. If you’re currently enrolled in an undergraduate program, the most current fall semester grades need to be reflected on your unofficial transcript. The file should be a PDF no larger than 4 MB. Programs no longer require mailed hard copy transcripts and will accept only electronic versions for the initial screening. If admitted, the Graduate School will request official transcripts.

M.S./Ph.D. applicants must complete the M.S. and Ph.D. supplement applications. Both supplemental applications are essential in reviewing applicants.

M.S.

Complete the supplemental application found in the online program application. This is where you will show us how you fulfilled the M.S. prerequisites by matching your courses to the prerequisite courses. If you have not completed one or more of the prerequisites, include a plan for fulfilling them prior to the start of the graduate program.

Ph.D.

Communicate your reasons for pursuing a PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Include in your statement:

1. your academic background, interests, and relevant skills;
2. a summary of your past research experience, including the goals of each project, the approaches you took, and implications of your results;
3. the research questions you are interested in exploring in graduate school, and how these align with the interests of one or more of our faculty members.

If your native language is not English, or your undergraduate instruction was not in English, a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score is required. You may take the test more than once; we will consider the scores from your best testing date. Only official scores, submitted directly from the testing agency, and no more than two years old from the start of your admission term may be submitted. Official scores are due by application deadline. You must submit your scores following the directions outlined on the Graduate School Admission Requirements page.

UW-Madison charges a non-refundable $75 application fee that must be paid by credit card (Master Card or Visa) or debit card. In addition to the $75 application fee, non U.S. citizens will be charged a $6.00 international document processing fee.

There are also limited application fee grants available. Check the UW-Madison Graduation Application Fee Grants to see if you qualify. Please note that fee grant applications must be submitted before you application and can take two weeks to process so you should plan to submit fee grant applications by December 1st with consideration of holidays.

The department will provide an application fee waiver to individuals who are first-generation or are in financial need. To receive a fee waiver code, you are required to self-disclose being a first-generation student or indicate you are in financial need by filling out the Fee Waiver Application below. Please complete the Fee Waiver Application at least one week before the application deadline to receive a fee waiver code. Students who request an Application Fee waiver will not be disclosed to the Admissions Committee and will not impact admission decisions. Limited fee waivers are available.

Application Fee Waiver for Applicants

• Submit all materials one week prior to deadline. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Start your application early. Do not wait until you can gather all your materials. It is better to start the application and add items as they become available.
• Track your application status. After submission of your application, you will receive a link to a personal web page where you can track your application status. We update this page as we receive your materials, usually within two weeks of receipt.

For more information, review the UW-Madison Graduate School “Steps to Apply” and “Admissions FAQ”.