Distance Education SLP Degree & Admission Details

This is a distance education program but is not completely “online.” Students must take courses one night per week at their local education service center, and practicum hours are not online. Other courses are taken live via Zoom; students are expected to attend all classes.

This program is partially funded by the Texas Education Agency in order to ameliorate the shortage of SLPs in the public schools of Texas. Since this program requires sponsorship from a Texas education entity, out-of-state students are not eligible for this program.

Yes. TWU may be able to provide you with some potential sponsors in your area, but you are required to secure your own sponsor for the duration of the program.

The expectation is that students will work for the schools for at least three years following graduation from the program.

Leveling classes do not need to be completed before applying to the program, but they must be completed, with transcripts submitted, before the program begins.

Because most of our students will become licensed as a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) while in the program, we require that students either be currently licensed as an SLPA or have completed their communication sciences education within 8 years of starting the master’s program. Students who are not currently licensed SLPAs and completed their communication sciences education more than 8 years ago will be required to take more recent leveling courses. 

There is no time limit for the ASHA prerequisite courses of statistics, biological science, chemistry/physics or social-behavioral science.

While TWU does not require the COVID vaccine of its students, most healthcare providers do require that practicum students are vaccinated. Since we rely on these healthcare providers to provide externship placements for our students, we cannot guarantee that unvaccinated students will be able to progress or graduate from the program.

No, you do not have to be employed in healthcare, but you are required to be sponsored by a healthcare entity such as a home health company, private clinic, etc. for the duration of the program (27 months).

You do not need to have your sponsor secured before you apply, but you must have a signed sponsorship agreement in place in order to begin the program in the summer semester.

Yes. TWU may be able to provide you with some potential sponsors in your area, but you are required to secure your own sponsor for the duration of the program.

This is a distance program. Classes meet online via Zoom two or three nights a week and students are expected to attend each class. Clinical practicum experiences are not online.

Students from outside Texas may be accepted into the healthcare cohort. We cannot accept students who live outside the United States, however.

There are residency requirements for each of the three summers. This requirement is three days on the TWU Denton campus, generally occurring toward the end of the summer semesters. Exact dates for the first residency will be announced at acceptance and future dates will be announced as soon as possible.

There is no tuition discount for distance programs. Distance students pay the same tuition and fees as on-campus students. Out-of-state students will pay the non-Texas resident tuition rate.

While TWU does not require the COVID vaccine of its students, most healthcare providers do require that practicum students are vaccinated. Since we rely on these healthcare providers to provide externship placements for our students, we cannot guarantee that unvaccinated students will be able to progress or graduate from the program.

Program Contact

Admissions Coordinator
940-898-2025
csohadmissions@twu.edu

Application Deadlines

August 15, 2024 – January 6, 2025

Admission Requirements

1. A bachelor's degree in communication sciences or a bachelor's degree out of field with completion of pre-master's leveling courses at TWU or another university. Applications may be submitted before these are completed as long as the degree or required leveling courses will be completed before graduate coursework begins.
2. Completion of college-level coursework in the four areas in compliance with ASHA's Standard IV-A. No communication sciences courses can count toward this requirement. TWU follows ASHA’s guideline for meeting this standard. For more information on what classes count toward this requirement, see ASHA’s Course Content Guide.
   
   • Statistics (can be math statistics, psychology statistics, business statistics, etc.)
   • Biological science (biology, human anatomy, microbiology, etc.)
   • Physics or chemistry (must be chemistry or physics, not a physical science course)
   • Social or behavioral science (psychology, sociology, anthropology, public health, etc.)
3. A minimum 3.0 GPA for the last 60 hours of college coursework (the average GPA of incoming students in our program is 3.76).
4. The following items will be needed to complete the program application:
   • Estimated GPA on last 60 hours of college credit
   • Course names and dates for prerequisite courses and leveling courses (if needed)
   • A one-page letter of intent responding to this prompt: "Discuss how being accepted into the TWU Master's Program Statewide Distance Venue will help you achieve your professional goals." (include your name and ID# in the letter.
   • Current Resume
   • A link to a short (2-4 minutes) video which effectively communicates a response to this prompt: "Texas Woman's University distance Master's degree program is committed to creating top-quality SLPs with a focus in school-based service. School-based SLP's are an integral part of any educational team. Discuss what characteristics or personality traits you posses that would make you a successful member of the school-based team. What sets you apart from the other applicants?" 
   • The names, positions/titles, employers, and email addresses of three individuals who have agreed to provide you with letters of recommendation to the Graduate program. To receive maximal points, please select current/past professors and/or individual SLP/PT/OTs that are able to reference your potential to succeed in a graduate program. Individuals identified will receive an email from CSDCAS (may be sent after January 6) with instructions to submit their recommendation.

Schools-focused Track: (applications accepted beginning August 15, 2024)

TWU will offer a 13th cycle of the distance venue of the TWU MS program in Speech-Language Pathology, schools-focused cohort.  This program is designed for students who commit to working in the schools of Texas following graduation.  The 27-month program will begin in May 2025 with applications being accepted between August 15, 2024 and January 6, 2025.  Because of the unique nature of this program, interested applicants must attend one of the program Information meetings before applying.

1. Attend Cycle 13 SLP Master's Degree Distance School-Focused Venue information meetings (dates listed below)
2. Apply for admission to the TWU Graduate School.  This step should be completed several weeks prior to the January 6, 2025 program application deadline. (See "How to Apply" on website for TWU application.)
3. Complete the program application on the Communications Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS) website before the deadline.
   ***A second set of official transcripts from every college or university attended must be submitted to CSDCAS. If currently enrolled in classes, final Fall grades are NOT required to be posted on official transcripts.***

Announcing the dates for the Cycle 13 SLP Master's Degree Distance School-Focused Venue information meetings!

All information meetings are scheduled for Mondays at 4:30-6:30 pm CST.

• Monday, August 19th, 2024
• Monday, October 21st, 2024 

Additional Application requirements - Healthcare - focused Track (applications accepted beginning August 2025) 

Additional details regarding application requirements to be updated early Fall 2025.

Begin by reviewing your program's website to see if there are additional admission requirements and application deadlines prior to applying.  

1. Apply online.
   Apply to Graduate Programs  via the TWU Online Graduate Application Portal following instructions below.  
2. Submit transcripts to TWU.
   • Domestic Applicants must submit official transcripts for each college or university attended, both undergraduate and graduate. See the Information on Transcripts website for more details. Original transcripts for each college/university attended must be submitted, even if referred to on another schools transcripts.
   • International Applicants are now required to provide an evaluation prepared by a NACES or AICE member evaluation service. International transcripts should not be sent directly to TWU. See the International Admissions website for more details.
3. Submit Recommendation Requests
   If your program requires you to submit names for recommendations you will need to do it in the application. List of programs-majors.  
4. Pay the application fee.
   The $50 fee ($75 fee for International applicants), which applies to all new and returning applicants, can be paid by:
   1. Credit card - Pay Online through the application as the last step before submitting the application. The second portion of the application will not be available until the application fee has been received.
   2. Fee Waivers - Graduate applicants who are certified McNair Scholars are eligible for a McNair Scholar Application Fee Waiver. TWU Alumni may be eligible for the Alumni Advantage Fee Waiver. Check your eligibility here: https://twu.edu/alumni-advantage/. If eligible submit the request using the Application Fee Waiver Submission
   3. Following fee payment return to the application dashboard where supplemental application documents can be uploaded. The online application will list which documents are needed to fulfill the program admission requirements. You can also check the program's website.
5. Submit Program supplemental documents
   1. Submit all program requests for Resume, Statement of Purpose, Artist or Research Statement, Scholarly Writing Sample, Custom Essay, Portfolio Document, Video Submission, Licensure, Department Specific Application, Teaching Service Record, Teaching Certificate, etc. following submission of your application fee.

Watch for emails from your new program/department that may come to your TWU email address.

For more information or assistance with the application or graduate admissions, visit the Graduate Admissions website.

Students who wish to apply for a Graduate Assistantship must meet the General Criteria for Appointment of Graduate Assistants.