MS in Speech-Language Pathology

We do not begin to review applications until the application deadline, and we do not have rolling admissions. Decisions about admission are made after all applications are reviewed.

Each application is reviewed in its entirety independently by the faculty in the Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders (CSD). Recommendations are made by the Admissions Committee for the program, which includes most of the CSD faculty.

We complete the application review process by the end of February. You can expect to hear about the status of your application soon after that. Additionally, each year we host an Open House for all accepted students that occurs in late March or early April.

Degree

Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or recognized international equivalent.

Prerequisite Courses for the Master's in Speech-Language Pathology

Completion of the following 9 prerequisite courses at a fully accredited institution with a grade of C or better is required for admission. 

All of these courses are offered online by the MGH Institute. Learn more about our online prereqs . Please note that some of these courses were likely completed during your undergraduate education.

MGH Institute MS in Speech-Language Pathology Prerequisites  

• Introduction to Communication Disorders
• Phonetic Transcription and Introduction to Acoustic Phonetics
• Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Mechanisms
• Speech-Language Acquisition
• Audiology (not Hearing Science)
• Biological Science Course (no lab)
• Social Science Course
• Physical Science Course (Physics or Chemistry are acceptable) (no lab)
• Statistics Course

Prerequisite courses do not need to be completed before applying to the program. However, all prerequisite courses must be satisfactorily completed prior to starting the program.

To inquire whether specific courses will satisfy our prerequisite requirements, please complete our CSD Prerequisite Inquiry Form. Please allow 10-15 business days for a reply.

TOEFL/ IELTS

The language of instruction and clinical education at the MGH Institute is English and a high level of proficiency in both written and spoken English is required.  Applicants who have not completed either an undergraduate or graduate program where English is the language of instruction must demonstrate English Language proficiency as part of your application to the MGH Institute of Health Professions.  If you have questions about the language requirements, please contact the Office of Admissions.

• Applicants who are citizens of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Guyana, an Anglophone country of Africa, or an English-speaking country of the Caribbean are not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
• Applicants who are candidates for graduation from an accredited degree-granting program in the United States or at an English-speaking school in one of the countries listed above are also not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Acceptance to the IHP will be contingent upon successful completion of this degree prior to matriculation. 

Please note that in some circumstances, demonstrating English language proficiency may be required by the academic program even if you are a citizen of a country in which the (or one of the) national language(s) is English. Decisions about the need for TOEFL or IELTS scores are at the discretion of the academic program to which you are applying in coordination with the department of OES.

The IHP accepts either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The test must have been taken within two years of the application deadline and official score reports are required. The minimum TOEFL (internet-based) score accepted is 89 and the minimum IELTS score accepted is 6.5.   

• To forward your TOEFL score please contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS).  The MGH Institute of Health Professions code is 3513.
• For IELTS, a Test Report Form may be mailed to MGH Institute of Health Professions and score information will be verified by the IHP directly. You may designate up to 5 schools to receive Test Report Forms at the time you register for the test.  To request additional Test Report Forms, contact your test center.

Please contact the Office of Admissions if you have any questions about the MGH Institute’s English Language requirements.  
 

Please refer to our program page in CSDCAS for information. All official transcripts should be sent directly to CSDCAS

Applicants that have earned a degree from a non-US institution are required to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation from one of the following NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) members: Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., SpanTran: The Evaluation Company, World Education Services (WES), or the Center for Educational Documentation. If you earned your bachelor's degree outside of the U.S. this credential evaluation must document minimum equivalency of a US baccalaureate degree or higher.

Statement of Intent

All applicants are asked to compose an essay that addresses the following:

Discuss your personal and professional experiences and leadership roles, your academic interests and objectives, and your career aspirations. Tell us about areas where you excel. Talk about times you have faced challenges, demonstrated resilience, and/or been an advocate for individuals who are marginalized.  What excites you most about becoming an SLP? Address how and why you feel the MGH Institute of Health Professions can help you achieve your academic and professional goals. Include any other information you believe is relevant. 

The statement of intent should be submitted directly to CSDCAS.

Optional Statement 

All applicants are invited to compose an essay that addresses the following:

MGH Institute of Health Professions highly values having a diverse student population.  Diversity presents itself in many different social identities, such as: race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality or place of origin, ability, socioeconomic status, unique life or work experience, etc. We invite you to reflect upon and share the ways your own social identities shape your relationship to your current educational or employment context, and to comment on how your own experience and perspectives might influence your experience in graduate school and the evolution of the field of Speech-Language Pathology.

The statement of intent should be submitted directly to CSDCAS.

Letters of Recommendation

Three recommendation letters are required for admission. Please refer to our program page in CSDCAS for more information. All recommendation letters should be submitted directly to CSDCAS.