Communication Sciences and Disorders

Admission Requirements

Requirements for admission include:

• A completed application
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
• A major in Communication Sciences and Disorders or demonstration of prerequisite coursework taken, as described below.

Required Prerequisites

• Language Development
• Anatomy/Physiology of the Speech System and Auditory System
• Phonetics
• Speech Science (including the physics of sound and acoustic characteristics of speech)
• Audiology (including hearing measurement and hearing disorders)
• Aural Rehabilitation

Preferred Prerequisites:

• Articulation/Phonological Disorders
• Fluency Disorders
• Child Language Disorders
• Voice and Resonance Disorders

Application Process

Fall Application Cycle Begins July 17, 2023

1. Apply for graduate school at UW-River Falls by using the online application at https://apply.wisconsin.edu/ and pay the processing fee before January 1. Completion of an Applicant Statement on the UW System application is not required. Do not submit any additional application materials directly to UWRF or the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD).
2. Complete an application and submit the following application materials through the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Services (CSDCAS) by January 1.

• Three letters of recommendation from CSD professors/instructors and/or clinical supervisors. Additional letters may also be submitted. It is highly recommended two of the three letters of recommendations come from CSD faculty.
• A personal statement that includes: Brief personal background information, your motivation for pursuing a career in speech-language pathology, reasons why you would be a "good fit" for our program and any other pertinent information you feel is important for us to know.
• ALL college and/or university transcripts, including any high school courses taken for college credit. Transcripts MUST be sent directly to CSDCAS either electronically or by mail.
  •  Electronic transcripts can be sent to CSDCAS through Credentials Solutions, Parchment or the National Student Clearinghouse.  Please choose Application Service and then in the dropdown menu, choose CSDCAS as the recipient. Do not enter an email address for CSDCAS, it will populate automatically when you choose CSDCAS.
  • Transcripts can be mailed to the following address:
    • CSDCAS Verification Department
      PO Box 9113
      Watertown, MA 02471

Be sure to order transcripts EARLY to ensure they are delivered to CSDCAS on time. Transcripts ordered after the 1/1 deadline will not be accepted and will result in your application being ineligible for review. You will need to request a new transcript after January 1 if you have completed courses during the fall semester or are taking courses spring semester.

The application process for Fall will begin July 17, 2023. All application materials, with the exception of the UW-System online application for graduate school, will be submitted through the CSDCAS website. All application materials are due January 1 and only completed applications will be reviewed.

Contact CSDCAS customer service with any questions or concerns by calling 617-612-2030 or sending an email to csdcasinfo@csdcas.org.

Total credits to degree: 54

Required Specialization Courses, 34 credits:
CSD 715 Research Methods in Communicative Disorders
CSD 716 Anatomy and Physiology of the Central Nervous System, 2 credits
CSD 717 Cognitive Disorders in Adults, 3 credits
CSD 720 Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies, 1 credit
CSD 730 Audiology II, 3 credits
CSD 737 Auditory Processing and Auditory Processing Disorder, 2 credits
CSD 739 * Techniques in Communication Sciences and Disorders, 3 credits *required for schools placement
CSD 740 Voice Disorders 1 Credit
CSD 750 Dysphagia, 3 credits
CSD 757 Motor Speech Disorders, 2 credits
CSD 762 Developmental Language Disorders, 3 credits
CSD 764 Augmentative/Alternative Communication Systems, 3 credits
CSD 765 Aphasia, 3 credits
CSD 768 Language and Literacy, 2 credits
CSD 770 Articulation/Phonology and Fluency Disorders, 3 credits


CSD 787 Counseling Issues in Communication Sciences and Disorders, 1 credits

Elective Courses, 0-8 credits

CSD 798 Independent Research, 1-4 credits
CSD 799 Thesis, 1-4 credits

Required Clinical Experience, 20 credits:

CSD 579 Clinical Experience Internship, 6 credits
CSD 771 Audiology Practicum 1, one credit
CSD 772 Audiology Practicum 2, one credit
CSD 773 Practicum in the School, 0 or 6 credits
CSD 774 Practicum in Rehabilitation Facilities, 6 or 12 credits

Students must choose one of the following plan options.

Plan A
Oral and written exam.

Plan B
Oral and written exam.

Plan C
A minimum of 54 semester credits of graduate work. Written comprehensive exam.

The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in speech-language pathology (residential) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD, 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

https://caa.asha.org/