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Application Processes to the WTAMU Master of Science Program in Speech-Language Pathology

Students Holding a Bachelor of Science or Arts degree in Communication Disorders (includes graduating college seniors)

  1. Apply to the WTAMU Graduate School. Complete the online application at applytexas.org (graduate status) OR at the WTAMU Graduate School’s webpage. Pay the non-refundable $40 application fee. Send official transcripts from all institutions attended to the Graduate School. It is recommended that all prospective graduate students complete this step and be accepted to the Graduate School no later than mid-December before sending additional admission materials for the specific program. Students accepted to the Graduate School will receive a letter in the mail. Please note that completing a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders at WTAMU does not guarantee acceptance to the master’s program.
  1. Upon general acceptance to the Graduate School, directly send program specific materials in ONE (1) packet to:

Dr. Brenda Fields Cross

Department of Communication Disorders

West Texas A&M University

WTAMU Box 60757

Canyon, TX 79016-0001

Program specific materials include: a 1000-word technical paper describing evidence-based practice and how it has shaped the profession of speech-language pathology; and three (3) letters of professional recommendation from professors, supervisors, or employers on professional letterhead. Please note that the deadline for these materials is JANUARY 15th. Materials must be received on or before this date. Allow for mailing time. Do not send materials via email. Materials received after January 15th WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED regardless of their mailing date or other circumstances. Do not send additional letters of recommendation. All technical papers should be as close to the 1000-word requirement as possible.

  1. The graduate committee will contact applicants selected for an interview. Interviews will be determined based upon the applicant’s technical paper, letters of recommendation, and grade point average (GPA). The minimum GPA for consideration is 3.2. GPA is based upon the last 30 hours of COMPLETED coursework (including but not limited to communication disorders classes). GPA is calculated by the Graduate School upon receiving transcripts. Please note that interviews will be conducted only through Skype, WebEx, or phone. Not all applicants will receive interviews.
  1. Await decision made by graduate committee. Final acceptance decisions will be based upon interview performance and previous considerations. Acceptance letters will be mailed directly to those applicants selected. Wait-list and rejection letters will be sent to other applicants.
  1. If accepted, please sign, date, and copy for your records your acceptance letter. Mail original letter back to the department no later than two (2) weeks after receiving notification. Await additional correspondence from the department.

Students with Communication Disorders Leveling Coursework Completed or To-be Completed

  1. Re-apply to the WTAMU Graduate School. All prospective students who have leveled must apply to the Graduate School for the master’s program. If leveling at WTAMU, students will apply to the Graduate School twice. First, students apply to level; student then apply AGAIN for acceptance to the graduate program AFTER the first semester of leveling coursework has been completed. The recommended deadline for acceptance to level at WTAMU is at least one (1) semester before leveling coursework begins. The recommended deadline for acceptance to the Graduate School for the master’s program is early to mid-December AFTER the first semester of leveling communication disorders coursework is completed. ACCEPTANCE TO THE LEVELING PROGRAM AT WTAMU DOES NOT GUARANTEE ACCEPTANCE TO THE MASTER’S PROGRAM. It is highly recommended that students apply to several graduate programs in speech-language pathology. Complete the online application at applytexas.org (graduate status) OR at the WTAMU Graduate School’s webpage. Pay the non-refundable $40 application fee. Send official transcripts from all institutions attended including WTAMU with completed communication disorders coursework to the Graduate School. Students accepted to the Graduate School will receive a letter in the mail.
  1. Upon general acceptance to the Graduate School, directly send program specific materials in ONE (1) packet to:

Dr. Brenda Fields Cross

Department of Communication Disorders

West Texas A&M University

WTAMU Box 60757

Canyon, TX 79016-0001

Program specific materials include: a 1000-word technical paper describing evidence-based practice and how it has shaped the profession of speech-language pathology; and three (3) letters of professional recommendation from professors, supervisors, or employers on professional letterhead. Please note that the deadline for these materials is JANUARY 15th. Materials must be received on or before this date. Allow for mailing time. Do not send materials via email. Materials received after January 15th WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED regardless of their mailing date or other circumstances. Do not send additional letters of recommendation. All technical papers should be as close to the 1000-word requirement as possible.

  1. The graduate committee will contact applicants selected for an interview. Interviews will be determined based upon the applicant’s technical paper, letters of recommendation, and grade point average (GPA). The minimum GPA for consideration is 3.2. GPA is based upon the last 30 hours of COMPLETED coursework (including but not limited to communication disorders classes). GPA is calculated by the Graduate School upon receiving transcripts. Please note that interviews will be conducted only through Skype, WebEx, or phone. Not all applicants will receive interviews.
  1. Await decision made by graduate committee. Final acceptance decisions will be based upon interview performance and previous considerations. Acceptance letters will be mailed directly to those applicants selected. Wait-list and rejection letters will be sent to other applicants.
  1. If accepted, please sign, date, and copy for your records your acceptance letter. Mail original letter back to the department no later than two (2) weeks after receiving notification. Await additional correspondence from the department. All leveling students will be required to complete mandatory American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) certification core coursework with a final grade of “C” or better BEFORE the first fall semester of graduate studies. These classes include but are not limited to college algebra, statistics, biology, behavioral science, and physical science.

Students with a Bachelor’s Degree in a Discipline Other than Communication Disorders

  1. Apply to the WTAMU Graduate School. All graduate programs in speech-language pathology require communication disorders coursework to be completed. The Department of Communication Disorders at WTAMU offers a leveling option that requires a minimum of 34 semester credit hours. The minimum GPA to apply in order to level at WTAMU is 3.0. Complete the online application at applytexas.org OR at the WTAMU Graduate School’s webpage. Pay the non-refundable $40 application fee. Send official transcripts from all institutions attended to the Graduate School no later than one (1) full semester before beginning coursework. Students accepted to the Graduate School will receive a letter in the mail. Please note that in order to receive financial aid for leveling work, students should choose the “second bachelor’s degree” option. Receiving financial aid is not mandatory. However, NO FINANCIAL AID WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR STUDENTS WHO DO NOT SELECT THIS OPTION ON THEIR APPLICATION. Questions regarding financial aid should be directed to WTAMU Financial Aid or the Graduate School. Leveling students should also keep in mind that COMPLETING a second bachelor’s degree requires additional coursework in communication disorders and other disciplines. Levelers who are later accepted to the graduate program in speech-language pathology will change admission status AFTER being accepted a SECOND TIME to the Graduate School. ACCEPTANCE TO THE LEVELING PROGRAM AT WTAMU DOES NOT GUARANTEE ACCEPTANCE TO THE MASTER’S PROGRAM AT WTAMU.
  1. Enroll in leveling coursework and complete first semester of communication disorders classes. Upon notification of acceptance to the leveling program, the assigned academic advisors in the Department of Communication Disorders will permit students to enroll in the appropriate coursework. Log onto BuffAdvisor and register for the specified classes.
  1. Upon completion of the first semester’s coursework, re-apply to the Graduate School. Apply to the WTAMU Graduate School after final grades for the first semester’s coursework have been confirmed and included on WTAMU transcripts. ACCEPTANCE TO THE WTAMU LEVELING PROGRAM DOES NOT GUARANTEE ACCEPTANCE TO THE WTAMU MASTER’S PROGRAM. It is highly recommended that leveling students apply to several graduate programs in speech-language pathology. The recommended deadline to apply and be accepted to the Graduate School for the second time is no later than mid-December. Students accepted to the Graduate School will receive a letter in the mail.
  1. Apply directly to the master’s program before completing second semester’s leveling work. Upon general acceptance to the Graduate School, directly send program specific materials in ONE (1) packet to:

Dr. Brenda Fields Cross

Department of Communication Disorders

West Texas A&M University

WTAMU Box 60757

Canyon, TX 79016-0001

Program specific materials include: a 1000-word technical paper describing evidence-based practice and how it has shaped the profession of speech-language pathology; and three (3) letters of professional recommendation from professors, supervisors, or employers on professional letterhead. Please note that the deadline for these materials is JANUARY 15th. Materials must be received on or before this date. Allow for mailing time. Do not send materials via email. Materials received after January 15th WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED regardless of their mailing date or other circumstances. Do not send additional letters of recommendation. All technical papers should be as close to the 1000-word requirement as possible.

  1. The graduate committee will contact applicants selected for an interview. Interviews will be determined based upon the applicant’s technical paper, letters of recommendation, and grade point average (GPA). The minimum GPA for consideration is 3.2. GPA is based upon the last 30 hours of COMPLETED coursework (including but not limited to communication disorders classes). GPA is calculated by the Graduate School upon receiving transcripts. Please note that interviews will be conducted only through Skype, WebEx, or phone. Not all applicants will receive interviews.
  1. Await decision made by graduate committee. Final acceptance decisions will be based upon interview performance and previous considerations. Acceptance letters will be mailed directly to those applicants selected. Wait-list and rejection letters will be sent to other applicants.
  1. If accepted, please sign, date, and copy for your records your acceptance letter. Mail original letter back to the department no later than two (2) weeks after receiving notification. Await additional correspondence from the department. All leveling students will be required to complete mandatory American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) certification core coursework with a final grade of “C” or better BEFORE the first fall semester of graduate studies. These classes include but are not limited to college algebra, statistics, biology, behavioral science, and physical science.