In order to be considered for admission to the graduate program by the COMD admissions committee, you must have at least a 3.0 in the major and in the last 60 hours of course work. Letters of recommendation and a personal statement are also required. Admission is competitive. For Fall 2013, only 19.5% of applicants were accepted. Despite the minimum requirements for initial consideration, the average GRE scores of those accepted were: 156 Verbal, 151 Quantitative, and 4.3 Writing; the average GPA in the major was 3.92; average GPA overall was 3.70.

For 2014 admissions, UH ComD will accept scores from either the original or the new GRE exam. GRE scores will be accepted up to 5 years after the test was taken (e.g., for Spring 2014 application, test scores from January 2010 or later will be accepted).

For admission in Fall 2014, the deadline for completed applications is February 1, 2014. We do not offer spring or rolling admissions.

Before You Apply to the Graduate Program

1. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Please read the Eligibility Requirements and Essential Functions form which details the communication, motor, sensory, intellectual/cognitive, and social/behavioral skills that are needed to meet gradate and professional requirements for clinical practice as a speech-language pathologist.

2. POST-BACHELOR’S PROGRAM: Potential applicants with a Bachelor’s degree in a field other than Communication Disorders must complete the Post-Bachelor’s (PB) program. 

3. PRE-REQUISITE COURSEWORK: Pre-requisite courses that provide a basic understanding of speech, language, hearing, and swallowing, as well as (basic) courses in natural sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, and statistics* (see note below) must be completed. We strongly recommend that these be completed prior to entering the graduate program; otherwise, your starting semester and/or graduation may be delayed. Prerequisite courses include the following (or their equivalents):

SCIENCE & STATISTICS COURSEWORK: These are ASHA/CAA requirements. Science courses do not have to have a laboratory component. Science courses cannot apply both to math/science requirements and ComD requirements (e.g., human anatomy cannot count both for biological science and for head/neck anatomy for communication).

1. Biological Science (e.g., biology, human anatomy)
2. Physical Science (e.g., physics, chemistry)
3. Social Science (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology)
4. Statistics*

*NOTE: As of August 2014, all applicants for certification in Speech-Language Pathology must have completed a statistics course. This replaces the previous requirement for a college-level algebra course. Any student beginning a graduate program in Fall 2013 or later MUST have a statistics course.

COMMUNICATION DISORDERS COURSEWORK:

1. Anatomy & Physiology (A&P for speech & hearing; head & neck anatomy for SLPs, etc)
2. Phonetics
3. Speech and Language Development
4. Speech and/or Language Disorders (can be in children or adults)
5. Audiology
6. Aural Rehabilitation
7. Speech Science
8. Clinical Procedures (Potential topics covered in a clinical procedures course can include: e.g., evaluation purpose, process and tools, intervention methods, goal writing, theories to justify underlying principles, service delivery (ECI, public school, Medicaid, Medicare, etc.), data collection, report writing/clinical documentation, ethics, etc. Some students may obtain such knowledge & skills through other communication disorders courses.)

If you completed your undergraduate degree at a University other than the University of Houston you may be asked to submit syllabi from select courses. These will be reviewed to ensure that all required competencies have been achieved.

4. UNDERGRADUATE COMPLETION DATE: Potential applicants with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders that was granted more than 7 years before the anticipated date of admission to the program must re-take the following classes or their equivalents BEFORE applying to the graduate program:
   1. Speech and Language Development
   2. Speech and Language Disorders in Children
   3. Aural Rehabilitation
   4. Speech Science
   5. Clinical Procedures

These classes may be taken in the PB program. Students are required to apply to the PB program in the department prior to registering for any PB classes.

How to Apply to the Graduate Program

Please follow the application procedures outlined below.

NOTE: We are currently working on moving to on-line applications. Information will be posted about on-line applications in the Fall. Please check periodically for updates.

LATE and/or INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

All Applicants

Completed applications must be received by February 1 for consideration for admittance for the Fall semester.

1. GRADUATE STUDIES APPLICATION: A completed graduate studies application (known as the Texas Common Application). Note there are different applications for domestic and international students.

2. UH COMD APPLICATION: A completed UH COMD application packet. Applications will be processed on-line and the instructions will be posted in the fall of 2013.

3. OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS: Two official copies from each institution attended. These must be received in sealed envelopes with a stamped seal across the envelope flap. You must submit transcripts from UH if you did undergraduate or post-bachelor's work at UH.

4. GRE TEST SCORES: For 2013 applications, UH ComD will accept one official copy of your scores, including verbal, quantitative and writing scores. UH ComD will accept test scores from either the original or the new GRE exam. Beginning with spring 2013 admissions, GRE scores will be accepted up to 5 years after the test was taken (e.g., for Spring 2013 application, test scores from January 2009 or later will be accepted). The institution code for the University of Houston Main Campus (UH University Park) is 6870, and the department code is 0620.

5. FEES: $75.00 nonrefundable departmental processing fee.

6. ADDRESS FOR APPLICATION: Send all application materials to:

NOTE: We are currently working on moving to on-line applications. Information will be posted about on-line applications in the Fall. Please check periodically for updates.

Program Coordinator
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
100 Clinical Research Services Center
University of Houston
Houston, TX 77204-6018

International Applicants

In addition to the materials listed above, the International Admissions Office requires that you submit the following:

1. TOEFL SCORES:  One official copy.

2. A letter of FINANCIAL BACKING

3. The STATEMENT of UNDERSTANDING located in the application booklet.

4. TWO PASSPORT-SIZED PHOTOS 

5. FEES:A $75.00 nonrefundable departmental processing fee and a $75 processing fee.

6. ADDRESS FOR APPLICATION: Send all application materials to:

NOTE: We are currently working on moving to on-line applications. Information will be posted about on-line applications in the Fall. Please check periodically for updates.

Program Coordinator
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
100 Clinical Research Services Center
University of Houston
Houston, TX 77204-6018

LATE and/or INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Part-Time Graduate Program

All applications (regardless of the applicant’s intent to be full-time or part-time) are subject to the same admissions criteria. Admissions decisions are made from the entire pool of applicants. AFTER admission to the graduate program in ComD, students indicate full-time vs. part-time status. See graduate curriculum page for more information.

More Information

1. General questions about domestic or international admissions may be answered by visiting the Admissions Page of the University of Houston website.
2. Questions about the UH COMD application process should be directed to Dr. Byron Ross.
3. Questions about the UH COMD graduate program should be directed to Dr. Peggy Blake or Dr. Byron Ross, Graduate Program Coordinators.

After You are Admitted

• ADMISSION STATUS: Students admitted under provisional status must not make any grade below a B- during the first semester in the program. A student who does not meet this provision will be dismissed from the program at the end of the first semester.
• CONTINGENCIES: If you are admitted to the program, the admission offer will be contingent upon the successful completion of your undergraduate degree or any remaining undergraduate prerequisite classes. "Successful completion" is defined as a B- or better in all required courses. Failure to meet these requirements may result in a change to provisional status or revocation of your admission.