Admission decisions are based on an applicant's credentials in relation to those of other individuals applying. Admissions are made only for the fall semester, and generally 24-25 students enter the program each year.

The Admissions Committee reviews all applicants and all aspects of your application. In addition to your test scores and coursework, we consider your experience with vulnerable populations, your leadership, your interests, your referral letters, and your critical thinking skills. We are also committed to maximizing the diversity of our graduate student population.

To be admitted to the University of Iowa’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders' MA program, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Agree to adhere to ASHA’s Code of Ethics. In particular, students must be prepared to adhere to ASHA’s rules regarding nondiscrimination “on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, disability, culture, language, or dialect” and sign the Nondiscrimination Notification.
2. Attest that you possess the essential functions required to practice speech-language pathology, as outlined in the Student Success Document.
3. Have fulfilled the prerequisite coursework requirements (see section immediately below).
4. Have earned a Grade Point Average (GPA) that meets or exceeds the program's admission criteria (please see below).

Required undergraduate coursework

The following courses (or their equivalent) are required for graduation with an MA in Speech Pathology and Audiology program. If you have an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders, you will likely have already completed most of this coursework in your undergraduate program. Students who have not taken these courses will need to take them during the MA program; however, taking prerequisite coursework during the graduate program may extend the length of the MA program.

The following courses are typically taken outside of departments of communication sciences and disorders (CSD). CSD courses cannot be used to fulfill these requirements.

• A biological science course (human or animal biology)
• A physical science course (physics or chemistry)
• A social/behavioral science course (e.g. psychology)
• An introductory course in statistics

The following courses are typically taken within a CSD department:

• Phonology/Phonetics (3 credits)
• Anatomy and Physiology of Speech (3 credits)
• Hearing Science/Speech Science/Acoustics (3-4 credits)
• Neurological bases of Speech, Language, and Hearing (3 credits)
• Language Acquisition (3 credits)
• Hearing Loss and Audiometry (3 credits)
• Aural Rehabilitation (3 credits)
• Developmental Speech and Language Disorders (3-5 credits)

Accepted students use the linked form to track completion of prerequisite courses. The form can be used as a draft in considering an applicant's readiness for graduate-level study.

In addition, applicants are required to have completed 25 hours of clinical observation documented by a practitioner with ASHA certification before beginning the graduate program.

Students who have an undergraduate degree that is not in CSD may: 1) complete the prerequisite courses as a non-degree seeking student and then apply to the two-year program; or 2) apply as a three-year student, taking the required prerequisite coursework during their first year.

GRE/GPA requirements

The MA program no longer requires scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Criteria for admission to the Graduate College of the University of Iowa are available on the Graduate College website. There are no additional requirements for admission other than those imposed by the Graduate College, but applicants with GPAs of less than 3.4 in undergraduate study are not likely to be accepted. 

All applications to the Master of Arts in Speech Pathology and Audiology must be made through the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS), as well as through the University of Iowa Graduate College.

To apply, you must submit the following: 

• Transcripts from all previously attended institutions
• Three letters of recommendation
• Answer to the Critical Thinking Questions

Some materials will be submitted to CSDCAS and some to the University of Iowa. CSDCAS will require submission of transcripts and the names of your references. The University of Iowa application will require your official transcripts after you have been admitted into the program.

1. Apply to Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS) and to University of Iowa Graduate College. It is the applicant’s responsibility to meet the application deadlines.
2. Submit your application materials to CSDCAS. You do not need to submit a personal statement/essay or recommendation letters to the University of Iowa. If the UI online form does not allow you to skip over these items, write “see CSDCAS app.
3. All official transcripts MUST be sent to CSDCAS at: CSDCAS Transcript Processing Center, P.O. Box 9113, Watertown, MA 02471.You may wait until you hear that you have been admitted into the program to send transcripts to the University of Iowa. If denied admission, you do not have to send transcripts to Iowa.

 Once admitted, please submit all official transcripts to: Enrollment Management
2900 University Capitol Centre
201 S. Clinton St.
Iowa City, IA 52242

4. GRE's: The Admissions Committee decided that GRE (Graduate Record Exam) scores will not be required from applicants at this time. If you have questions, please contact Dr. Kristi Hendrickson, Chair of the Admissions Committee (kristi-hendrickson@uiowa.edu).
5. Grad College and GPA: Criteria for admission to the Graduate College of the university of Iowa are available on the Graduate College website. There are no additional requirements for admission other than those imposed by the Graduate College, but applicants with GPAs of less than 3.0 in undergraduate study are not likely to be accepted.

Interviews and visit days

Once the applications have been reviewed, interviews will be arranged via Zoom. Students who have been admitted to the MA program will be invited to a Visit Day in February or March. Visit Day gives applicants an opportunity to participate in a day-long set of activities to familiarize them with Iowa's M.A. program.

When will I hear a decision about admission?

Students will be notified of their application status in March.

On average, the University of Iowa accepts 8-12 students into the AuD program each fall. Decisions for admissions are based on several factors including undergraduate GPA and completion of required prerequisite coursework. Completed applications are due January 15, and decisions regarding admission are made by a committee consisting of both didactic and clinical faculty. All applicants will participate in a virtual. 

To be admitted to the AuD program, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Agree to adhere to ASHA’s Code of Ethics. In particular, students must be prepared to adhere to ASHA’s rules regarding nondiscrimination “on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, disability, culture, language, or dialect” and sign the Nondiscrimination Notification.
2. Attest that you possess the essential functions required to practice audiology, as outlined in the Student Success Document.
3. Have fulfilled the prerequisite coursework requirements (see below).
4. Have earned a Grade Point Average (GPA) that meets or exceeds the program's admission criteria (please see below).

Required undergraduate coursework

• Phonetics
• Basic Acoustics
• Introduction to Hearing Science
• Hearing Loss and Audiometry
• Anatomy and Physiology of Speech Production
• Language Acquisition
• Rehabilitative Audiology
• Introductory Statistics
• Biology/Physical Sciences (3 credit hours)
• Social/Behavioral Sciences (6 credit hours)

Clinical observation hours

Applicants must complete 25 hours of clinical observation as documented by a practitioner with ASHA certification before beginning the graduate program.

GRE/GPA requirements

The AuD program no longer requires scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Criteria for admission to the Graduate College of the University of Iowa are available on the Graduate College website. There are no additional requirements for admission other than those imposed by the Graduate College, but applicants with GPAs of less than 3.0 in undergraduate study are not likely to be accepted.

All applications to the Doctor of Audiology must be made through the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS), as well as through the University of Iowa Graduate College.

To apply, you must submit the following: 

• A personal statement,
• Transcripts, and
• Three letters of recommendation. 

Some materials will be submitted to CSDCAS and some to the University of Iowa. CSDCAS will require submission of the personal statement, transcripts, and the names of your references. The University of Iowa will need your transcripts, but not until after you have been admitted into the program.

1. Apply to Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS) and to University of Iowa Graduate College. It is the applicant’s responsibility to meet the application deadlines.
2. Submit your personal statement to CSDCAS. The essay should be one page single-spaced or two pages double-spaced. Please respond to the following:

• Describe how your lived experiences, education, background, and interests have prepared you for audiology graduate studies and professional training at the University of Iowa.

You do not need to submit your personal statement/essay or recommendation letters to the University of Iowa. If the UI online form does not allow you to skip over these items, write “see CSDCAS app.”

• All official transcripts MUST be sent to CSDCAS at: CSDCAS Transcript Processing Center, P.O. Box 9113, Watertown, MA 02471.
  You may wait until you hear that you have been admitted into the program to send transcripts to the University of Iowa. If denied admission, you do not have to send transcripts to Iowa.

When will I hear a decision about admission?

Students accepted into the program will be notified by early to mid-March for the following fall semester. Students may be placed on a deferred list at that time and will be informed of the wait-list decision late-March. The AuD program is designed for full-time, residential students only.