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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Communication Sciences & Disorders

Graduate admissions: Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders

Requirements

These criteria are subject to standards set by the department, and individual colleges and schools, which reserve the right to revise or amend their entrance requirements beyond the minimal requirements of the university.

  • Must hold or be completing an earned baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a college or university of recognized standing.
  • Have adequate preparation with discernible ability to pursue graduate studies in the major field elected.
  • Undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) or above for the upper division of the undergraduate coursework.
  • Must have completed an undergraduate major or have substantial specialized work in his/her proposed doctoral major field.

Certain departments require the completion of a master’s degree with superior scholarship before considering acceptance of a student as a doctoral applicant. Applicants with less than a 3.0 grade point average in undergraduate coursework may be eligible for admission to doctoral studies if they have substantially achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or better in substantial graduate coursework in the proposed doctoral field.

  • For international students

    To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must have completed an appropriate university-level program comparable in subject matter and credits to a program for which a bachelor’s degree is awarded at Wayne State University.

    The fact that a degree in another country may have a similar name to a degree offered in the United States does not mean the two degrees require similar lengths and content of study or that they should be accepted as equivalents. A graduate application must:

    • Present an excellent scholastic record.
    • Have sufficient financial resources for minimum tuition, supplies and living expenses.
    • Have sufficient proficiency in English.

Part-time study

Our program accepts applications from students who plan to take the Ph.D. part-time. However, we strongly encourage part-time students to plan for one to three semesters of full-time work to complete the dissertation. 

Application procedures and checklist

Doctoral students are admitted in the fall semester. 

Deadlines for application

  • Jan. 15 for Rumble Fellowship consideration
  • Apr. 1 for graduate student assistantship consideration
  • Apr. 1 for no financial support consideration

Step 1: Wayne State Application

To initiate your application to the Ph.D. program in communication sciences and disorders, you must complete and submit the Wayne State graduate application for admission.

Your online application should include:

  • Application for Ph.D. admission
  • College/university academic transcripts
  • Application fee of $50 (subject to change). Important: Applications will not be processed without a fee
  • Financial aid application
  • For international students

    The following additional materials are also required:

    • Financial statement as described by the WSU Office of International Student Services.
    • Student visa status must be documented as described by the WSU Office of International Student Services.
    • Official transcripts of TOEFL test battery scores (only required for international students who are non-native speakers of English). Minimum scores:
      • TOEFL: Score of 600
      • iBT: Score of 100
      • IELTS: Score of 7.5
      • Duolingo: Score of 130

    Official scores must be sent directly to Wayne State University. All exams must be taken before Feb. 1 to ensure receipt of the score report by the Feb. 15 deadline. For test schedules and fees, visit Wayne State University's Testing, Evaluation and Research Services. Additional information on the tests is available at ets.org.

Step 2: Department submission

Simultaneously with your WSU online graduate application submission, please send the following supplementary materials to the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

  1. Submit the Wayne State Graduate Application for Admission. Remember: Doctoral students are admitted in the fall semester.
  2. Submit the following supplementary materials.
  • Personal statement

    A personal statement (maximum of five pages) is required that describes your interests in the Ph.D. program, research and teaching interests.

  • Resumé/CV

    Your resumé/CV should include:

    • Research background
    • Graduate courses
    • Languages spoken or written other than English
    • Employment history
    • Education (major area of baccalaureate and prior graduate courses)
    • Experience in audiology or speech-language pathology, if applicable, including clinical hours, types of placements and types of clients
    • Volunteer experiences
    • References
  • Writing sample

    This can be a research paper or publication.

  • GRE scores

    Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test scores within the past five years are required. If you have your GRE test scores, please upload the score form to your online application.

    Please note:

    • If you need to take or re-take the GRE, please allow enough time for your scores to reach Wayne State by Jan. 15 (if being considered for financial aid) or Apr. 15 (if not being considered for financial aid).
    • To register or find GRE test dates, see the ETS' Registration, Test Centers and Dates.
    • Include Wayne State University's code 1898 on the test form when you take the GRE to request that your test scores be sent directly to WSU.

    For information about the GRE, visit ets.org/gre.

  • Letters of recommendation

    Three letters of recommendation are required. At least two of these letters should be from academic faculty. As part of your Wayne State application, please provide the names and contact information of three individuals who have agreed to write letters of recommendation for you. The writers of your three letters will then be contacted by the university and can upload their letters online confidentially.

    It is the applicant's responsibility to submit the online application in enough time to allow the letter writers to submit the letters of recommendation by the application deadline.

    Please note:

    • It is most desirable to receive letters from previous college instructors or from individuals who are knowledgeable regarding the individual's performance in academic areas.
    • Letters of recommendation should address the applicant's knowledge and experience in the discipline, special or unique skills and knowledge, and capability for doctoral study and development as an independent researcher.
    • The admissions committee is particularly interested in previous research activity, general scholarship, writing abilities, oral communication skills, research/analytical and/or clinical skills and performance in previous undergraduate and graduate work.
    • Letter writers must also complete the evaluation form that is provided online.
    • In rare instances that a letter writer is unable to submit their letter of recommendation online, please provide that person with the paper version of the letter of recommendation form. Paper format letters must be sent to the department in a sealed envelope with the writer's signature across the seal. Letters should be mailed to the graduate admissions officer at the address above by Jan. 15 (if being considered for financial aid) or Apr. 15 (if not being considered for financial aid).

All supplementary materials should be emailed to Dr. Margaret Greenwald at mgreenwald@wayne.edu or to:

Communication Sciences and Disorders Ph.D. Program
5201 Cass Ave.
103 Prentis Bldg.
Detroit, MI 48202

When the department receives your online application and the above supplementary materials, we'll contact you about the Ph.D. Committee’s decision on your application. If you're selected for an interview and reside or work in the Detroit area, the interview should be in person. Interviews can also be conducted through Zoom for applicants residing outside of the Detroit area.

Step 3: Transcripts

Please have official copies of your undergraduate and graduate transcripts sent directly from the institution(s) you attended to the Wayne State University Office of Graduate Admissions. Have a second official copy sent to the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Wayne State University Graduate School Admissions
5057 Woodward, Suite 6000
Detroit, MI 48202

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Attention: Graduate Admissions Officer
5201 Cass Ave.
103 Prentis Bldg.
Detroit, MI 48202

Step 4: Interview

When the department receives your online application and the above supplementary materials, a department member will contact you and inform you about the Ph.D. committee's decision regarding your application. If you're selected for an interview, the interview will be in person if you work or reside in the metro Detroit area. Interviews can be conducted via video call for applicants who work or reside outside of the metro Detroit area.

More info

Questions?

Please contact our Ph.D. coordinator, Dr. Margaret Greenwald at mgreenwald@wayne.edu for more information or if you wish to schedule an appointment to discuss the Ph.D. program.