Graduate Program

The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in speech-language pathology at the University of Kentucky is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. The Master of Science education program in speech-language pathology at the University of Kentucky is a residential program. 

CAA is a semi-autonomous body within ASHA that is responsible for formulating standards for accreditation of entry-level professional preparation programs in speech-language pathology and audiology, evaluating programs, and granting accreditation to programs that have met the standards. There are six accreditation standards that must be met and a description of those standards is available here (https://caa.asha.org/siteassets/files/accreditation-standards-for-graduate-programs.pdf).


The Master’s Degree Program in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Kentucky is designed so that students will be able to practice professionally as entry level speech-language pathologists upon completion of the program. Graduating students will be eligible to apply for the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association if all certification requirements are fulfilled satisfactorily. Students may also be eligible for Licensure in speech-language pathology in Kentucky and elsewhere in Speech Language Pathology.

Who Should Apply?

  1. Students with an undergraduate degree in communication disorders complete the master’s program in two academic years of full-time study (six semesters). The deadline for receipt of applications is February 1. If you have additional questions about admission to the graduate program, email us.
  2. Students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-communication disorders field can still apply to the graduate program as pre-requisite students.. The department accepts a limited number of pre-requisite applicants each year. Required documents for admission include all of the materials listed for the Master’s program, i.e., application, official transcript(s), three letters of recommendation, responses to two written and two video prompts. Students must also apply to the UK Graduate School.  Prerequisite coursework must be completed before graduate-level courses are taken. Traditionally, applicants take these courses in their first year as graduate students once they have been accepted into the program. Pre-requisite courses and grades earned are listed on the student’s graduate transcript but not calculated into the graduate GPA unless the course is offered at a graduate level (500 or higher). The pre-requisite program takes three academic years (eight semesters) to complete with the student taking the pre-requisite or “leveling” courses during the first academic year. Since our graduate program is competitive and we have a limited number of slots for admissions, all students should have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. The deadline for receipt of applications is February 1. If you have additional questions about admission to the graduate program as a pre-requisite student, email us.

Completion of a graduate degree in speech-language pathology is required for national certification and state licensure, as well as for teaching certification in most states. Most graduate programs require 1 1/2 to 2 years of full-time study to complete. Participation in UK’s graduate program, or any other program around the state or country, is very competitive. Most programs will require a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 to be considered for admission.

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