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The College of Health Sciences Speech-Language Pathology Program considers admission of those applicants who demonstrate academic and clinical aptitude coupled with professionalism. A competitive admissions framework is implemented to select program candidates. Each file is evaluated by a faculty committee using a specific program rubric.
The Midwestern University Speech-Language Pathology Program uses the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS) for students applying to the program. Applicants should submit all materials by March 1, 2021 in order to be considered (http://www.capcsd.org/csdcas). Please refer to the CSDCAS website for instructions on submission of application materials.
The Speech-Language Pathology Program operates on a rolling admissions cycle. Completed applications are reviewed throughout the cycle to determine applicant eligibility for interviews. Interviews are typically conducted during the winter and spring quarters. Admissions decisions are generally made within one month of the interview. The Program does not accept students who transfer from another Speech-Language Pathology Program.
Individuals applying for admission to the College of Health Sciences Speech-Language Pathology Program must submit documentation of the following minimum requirements before the academic year commences for the incoming class:
An international student must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or from a recognized post secondary Canadian institution that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation. Of the 30 semester hours, 15 hours must be in the sciences, 6 hours in non-remedial English composition, and 3 hours in speech/public speaking.
Applicants who wish to receive transfer credit for prerequisite coursework completed outside the U.S. or at a Canadian institution that does not use English as its primary language of instruction and documentation must submit an official, detailed, course-by-course evaluation obtained from one of the following evaluation services:
International applicants who do not provide documentation of acceptable US or Canadian course/degree equivalency will not receive credit, and will be required to complete all prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university in the United States, or at a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation.
For clarification about recognized post-secondary institutions in Canada that use English as a primary language of instruction and documentation, international applicants should contact the Midwestern University Office of Admissions.
To be considered for admission to the Speech-Language Pathology Program, applicants must submit the following to the Office of Admissions:
Please note: Applicants are responsible for notifying the Office of Admissions of any changes in their mailing address or email address. All application withdrawal requests must be made in writing via e-mail, fax, or letter to:
Midwestern University
Office of Admissions
555 31st St.
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Fax: 630/971-6086
admissil@midwestern.edu
When applicants are considered eligible for interviews after review of their completed files they will be notified of available interview dates and invited by the Office of Admissions to schedule an on-campus interview.
A typical interview day involves participation in the following activities coordinated by the Office of Admissions: an interview with two department faculty, lunch with current Midwestern University students, a campus tour, and consultations with counselors from the Office of Admissions and the Office of Financial Aid.
During interview sessions, department faculty will engage students in conversation regarding topics relevant to educational or healthcare settings. Students will also be asked to provide a writing sample in response to a clinical prompt. Interview and writing sample responses will be evaluated using rubrics established for this purpose. Prospective student's application, interviews, and writing samples are evaluated using rubrics that were developed by the SLP Program. The Speech-Language Pathology Admissions Committee makes admission recommendations to the Program Director who submits them to the Dean of the College of Health Sciences for action. The Dean, via the Office of Admissions, notifies each applicant in writing of the admission action/decision.
The Technical Standards set forth the nonacademic abilities considered essential for students to achieve the level of competence required by the faculty to obtain the academic degree awarded by the college.
Candidates must have abilities and skills in five areas: 1) observation; 2) communication; 3) motor; 4) intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative; and 5) behavioral and social. Technological compensation can be made for some limitation in certain of these areas, but candidates should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner.
1. Observation: The candidate must be able to accurately make observations at a distance and close at hand, including those on a computer screen or electronic device. Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision and sense of touch and is enhanced by the functional use of all of the other senses.
2. Communication: The candidate must be able to communicate in English, proficiently and sensitively, in verbal and written form and be able to perceive nonverbal communication.
3. Motor: Candidates must be able to coordinate both gross and fine motor movements, maintain equilibrium and have functional use of the senses of touch, hearing and vision. The candidate must possess sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination to perform profession-specific skills and tasks. Candidates must be able to lift 20 pounds.
4. Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: The candidate must be able to problem solve, measure, calculate, reason, analyze, record and synthesize large amounts of information in a timely manner. The candidate must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand spatial relationships.
5. Behavioral and Social Attributes: The candidate must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the consistent, prompt, completion of all responsibilities, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships. Candidates must be able to tolerate physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. The candidate must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, effective interpersonal skills, willingness and ability to function as an effective team player, interest and motivation to learn are all personal qualities required during the educational process.
Candidates are required to verify that they understand and are able to meet these Technical Standards at least 4 weeks prior to matriculation (or if admitted later, within 1 week of deposit). Candidates who may only meet Technical Standards with accommodation, must contact the Disability Services Office to make a formal request for accommodation. The Disability Committee, in consultation with the College Dean/Program Director, will determine what reasonable accommodations can be provided. The College is not able to grant accommodations that alter the educational standards of the curriculum.
Students must meet the Technical Standards for the duration of enrollment at the College. After matriculation, if a student fails to continue to meet the Technical Standards during subsequent enrollment, the student may apply for accommodation by contacting the Disability Services Office. If the accommodation needed to meet the Technical Standards alters the educational standards of the curriculum, the student's ability to satisfactorily progress in the curriculum will be evaluated by the appropriate College's Student Graduation and Promotion Committee.
The matriculation process begins after applicants receive notification of their acceptance. To complete the matriculation process, applicants must:
Applicants who fail to satisfy these matriculation requirements or who omit or falsify information required on official admission documents automatically forfeit their seat in the program. Any individual accepted for admission to the college/program who does not comply with stated timelines for submission of all required materials receives no further notification from the college regarding the forfeiture of their seat.
Students who receive denial or end-of-cycle letters may reapply for the following year's admissions cycle. Before reapplying, however, individuals contemplating reapplication should seek the advice of an admissions counselor. To initiate the reapplication process, prospective students must complete and submit a new application and proceed through the standard application process.