Admission Requirements

Applicants should follow the admissions process described in this catalog.

The Department of Communication Disorders at Marshall University is participating in the central application system known as CSDCAS. Applicants will apply online using the CSDCAS application. To learn more about the CSDCAS application process, visit https://www.csdcas.org/.

Completed applications along with all supporting materials, including official transcripts with courses and grades from the Fall 2026 semester, must be received and verified by the January 15 deadline to receive consideration for admission the following fall. Official transcripts must be received and verified by CSDCAS by January 15 for consideration. In addition, applicants must also meet the requirements below:

  1. An undergraduate degree (or pending degree) in Communication Disorders from an accepted, accredited institution is required. Students with deficits in undergraduate coursework, or those wishing to pursue public school certification, may need to complete additional requirements. Applicants must submit their most recent transcript, including grades for the fall semester that precedes the application deadline. If an applicant will be taking Communication Disorders coursework after the date in which the transcript was submitted, they must complete the Academic Update within CSDCAS to provide this information.  Students admitted to the graduate program will be required to submit final, official transcripts following completion of the undergraduate degree.
  2. Applicants with an undergraduate degree in a field other than communication disorders are required to complete appropriate foundational/leveling coursework prior to enrollment in the graduate program. Because prerequisite coursework varies across institutions, applicants will undergo a holistic review of prior coursework and academic preparation.

The following courses represent the typical leveling curriculum for the Marshall University Communication Disorders program:

    • CD 101: Introduction to Communication Disorders
    • CD 228: Language and Speech Development
    • CD 239: Phonetics
    • CD 229: Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism
    • CD 322: Developmental Speech Disorders
    • CD 328: Developmental Language Disorders
    • CD 460: Audiology
    • CD 427: Therapeutics (including 25 hours of guided clinical observation)

Applicants who may be missing one or more prerequisite courses are still encouraged to apply. Prerequisite requirements will be evaluated on an individual basis during the admissions review process.

Students interested in completing prerequisite coursework through Marshall University (face-to-face or online) should contact Pam Holland at holland@marshall.edu or 304-696-2985.

  1. An Overall and Communication Disorders Grade Point Average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for full-time admission. A student may be admitted for provisional enrollment with an overall or Communication Disorders GPA between 2.5 – 3.0 when the applicant possesses a degree and shows academic promise but does not meet the criteria for full admission. Refer to the Graduate College for further explanation of “provisional enrollment.”
  2. All applicants must submit a personal essay.
  3. All applicants must have three individuals, each of whom can comment on the applicant’s academic and/or clinical performance and potential, submit letters of recommendation. At least one letter must be from one of the applicant’s classroom instructors in communication disorders.
  4. All completed applications which are “verified” via CSDCAS are reviewed on an ongoing basis in the spring semester each year. Generally, the number of applications that the program receives exceeds capacity, therefore, the selection process is competitive.
  5. Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in a formal interview with faculty during the spring semester.

Note: Applicants who are selected by the program will receive further instructions from the Communication Disorders Graduate Program Director regarding formal application to Marshall University Graduate College. All admissions are term specific.

International Applicants

International applicants are required to submit official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores, in addition to the other requirements described for consideration.

For TOEFL examinations taken before January 21, 2026, the minimum scores required for consideration are:

  • Total Score: 105
  • Speaking Section: 26

For TOEFL examinations taken on or after January 21, 2026, ETS’s revised TOEFL scoring scale will apply. The minimum scores required for consideration are:

  • Overall Score: 5
  • Speaking Section: 5

Applicants submitting IELTS scores must have:

  • Overall IELTS Score: 7.5
  • Minimum Speaking and Listening Scores: 7.5

The English proficiency requirement is waived for applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accepted, accredited college or university in the United States.

International applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree from a college or university outside of the United States must complete a WES International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) evaluation through World Education Services (WES) and have the report sent to CSDCAS.

Official or attested transcripts, diplomas, and/or other required credentials from all foreign institutions attended may also be required by the Marshall University International Admissions Office for the determination of GPA, degree level, and course equivalencies.

For additional information, visit Marshall University International Admissions

Student Admission Data

Average

  2026  

  2025  

  2024  

  2023  

  2022  

  2021  

Verbal GRE

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Quant. GRE

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Analytic Writing

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

GPA (overall)

3.69

3.6

3.7

3.7

3.7

GPA (CD)*

3.68

3.6

3.6

3.7

3.6

* Students with a degree in other fields are encouraged to apply to the program. The CD GPA may not be applicable for this student.

* As of fall 2021, students are no longer required to take the GRE for admission to the graduate program.

   2026   

   2025   

   2024   

   2023   

   2022   

   2021   

Applications

70

60

87

144

95

Admitted

46

49

61

70

63

Class Size

30

24

34

34

28