Considering applying to GSU for the MHS in Communication Disorders? Come visit us on Saturday, April 9th for the Graduate Program Open House. <link

Fall 2017 Admission Application Opens September, 2016

Thank you for your interest in applying to GSU! We are seeking highly engaged, service-oriented, and well-qualified students from a range of life stages, cultural and linguistic backgrounds and communities. You are encouraged to begin the application process early during the application cycle.

Application Deadline for admission Fall 2017:January 15th, 2017.

TO APPLY TO OUR PROGRAM – Read Carefully

1.Eligibility: To be eligible to apply, you must meet the following criteria.

  • By your projected entry into the master’s program, you must have completed a bachelor's degree at a university with regional accreditation.
  • At the time of application, you must have at least five completed courses in the discipline on your transcripts to be considered for admission to the graduate program.
  • You must meet university criteria and program minimum criteria:

o A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate course work.

o A GPA of 3.0 or higher for all undergraduate course work in the discipline.

o Three letters of recommendation, two of which must be provided by faculty in Communication Disorders who can address your potential to succeed in graduate school.

2.Application:Access the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS) at the following link:

Create an account, free of charge, to begin building your online application. The CSDCAS application process is separate from and replaces the Governors State University general online application system. You do not need to do both.

  • DO NOTuse the GSU general online application system.
  • Complete an online application in CSDCAS at From the “Full Programs List” tab, add Governors State University.
  • All of your application materials must be complete in CSDCAS by midnight, January 15th.

Applicants with missing payments, transcripts, recommendation letters, or personal statements by the deadline will not be considered for admission. Applicants who have not completed all sections of the application by the deadline will not be considered for admission.It is the applicant’s responsibility to meet deadline requirements.

  • Collect and submit all required information and documentation. Follow the instructions provided in the GSU page on CSDCAS. You will be required to submit the following by midnight January 15th, 2017.
  • Application fees payable to CSDCAS (not to GSU)
  • A list of all college courses you have taken at every institution of higher education that you have attended, along with the year, semester, and grade for each
  • Official transcripts from every institution of higher education that you have attended – you may need to submit a second transcript from your institution after the Fall semester courses are posted.
  • A personal statement answering the following question: How have your experiences shaped you as an applicant to graduate school and as a future professional? Be specific if you can. For example, tell about an experience that has affected your attitudes and beliefs about individuals with communication disorders, or that has helped prepare you to work with adults and/or children with disabilities and their families. Submit this on the “Documents” tab of the GSU application page in CSDCAS.
  • Letters of recommendation - You are required to submit a minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation. You should use three qualified recommenders who can attest to your academic and professional abilities. A minimum of two letters of recommendation should be provided by faculty members and/or instructors in communication disorders who can address your academic abilities and potential to succeed in graduate school.
  • Responses to all of the supplemental questions that apply to you. These are listed on the “Questions” tab of the GSU application page in CSDCAS.

3.Follow up: After the application deadline, the admissions committee will invite selected applicants to an on-campus interview. Offers of admission will be made after the interviews, by April 1. Students must accept the offer by April 15th. Acceptance requires a seat deposit.

Campus Interviews: This is an exciting opportunity for you to learn about our program and faculty, and help us get to know you better. Applicants will be notified by February 15th if they will be invited to interview on campus. Notifications will arrive through email messages sent to the applicant’s email address entered in CSDCAS.Interviews will require a half-day time commitment and will be scheduled in advance.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to reserve time for this interview. There is a supplemental question on the CSDCAS GSU application in the “Questions” tab which asks you for your availability to attend the interview. Applicants for whom an on-campus interview represents an unreasonable hardship may contact the Department Chair, Dr. Catherine Balthazar () to arrange for a tele-interview. Applicants who fail to attend an interview or do not respond to the invitation will not be considered further.

Seat Deposit: Applicants who are offered admission will be required to submit a non-refundable $500 seat deposit subsequent to acceptance of the offer and prior to being officially admitted and assigned an advisor. The seat deposit will be applied to tuition. Students who do not attend GSU after accepting the offer will forfeit the seat deposit.

General Information:

  • If you are reapplying to the graduate program at GSU from a previous year, please be aware that ALL applicants will be required to create a new application for the 2015-2016 application cycle and have new references, personal statements and transcripts sent to CSDCAS.
  • Students admitted to the program must document a passing score on the Test of Academic Proficiency, ACT, or SAT in order to be fully admitted to candidacy in the program.Individuals who seek admission are strongly encouraged to complete the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) required for the Professional Educator License in Illinois before entering the master’s program. The TAP requirement may be met by equivalent performance on the ACT or SAT within the 10 years prior to admission to the program. Instructions for the TAP or ACT/SAT equivalency may be found at under Student Resources. This test IS NOT considered during the application process, but taking and passing it before you start graduate school will be of great benefit to you (see the CDIS Graduate Student Handbook for details at Please refer to the following guidance document:
    Link to ACT ISBE Handout