There are four prerequisite courses that are required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for certification and are considered to be an essential background for the graduate program. While the prerequisite courses are not a requirement in order to apply, it is highly encouraged that students satisfy the following prerequisites prior to enrollment in the Vanderbilt Master in Speech-Language Pathology program.
The above four areas cover the most crucial prerequisites you’ll need for purposes of credentialing. Transcript credit in the form of coursework, AP or CLEP credit may be offered to meet these requirements if they were approved by your undergraduate institution and show on your transcripts.
We have no set criteria for GREs of students we accept, but the successful applicant must have GRE scores consistent with Vanderbilt standards. Our decision to admit is based on a composite of information about the applicant, not merely one variable. Within this mosaic of information, we are looking for consistency of abilities and performance, so that, for example, strong GREs appear coupled with strong grades together with solid letters of recommendation (with the letters coming from individuals who know you academically and/or clinically) and a strong personal statement.
Additionally, certain coursework in the area of communication sciences and disorders may serve to expedite completion of the graduate curriculum. Typically, students who have a background in communication sciences and disorders may graduate after five semesters in the M.S. program while non-background students are enrolled for six semesters
For students without a background, the completion of the following courses prior to enrollment in graduate school may serve in order to reduce course load requirements:
To meet prerequisite requirements, these courses should be taken in a department of communication sciences and disorders.