Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences MS plus Credential
Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences MS plus Credential Program Information
Fall Deadline: December 15th
*An unofficial copy of the fall semester transcripts is required to be submitted by January 15th*
Submit a university application through Cal State Apply. Please note that the CSU Graduate Application must be submitted online on or before the deadline, regardless of what day the deadline falls.
Attend An Information Meeting over ZOOM Conferencing
Meetings are designed to inform prospective students of the best possible ways to meet the requirements for admission into the program.
Visit our events page for the schedule and information on how to reserve a virtual seat.
Admissions Procedures
The faculty reviews all applications after the deadline. There are no rolling admissions. Applicants will be notified by mail eight to ten weeks after the deadline regarding admissions decisions. Applicants must meet both department and university requirements to be formally admitted to the program and university.
Requirements for the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Program
University Requirements
- Online Graduate Application
- Application Fee: $70.00
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges or universities attended.
Program Materials
- Application Fee $25.00 (non-refundable)
- Bachelor’s Degree -must be posted on transcripts before starting the program
- GPA: 3.0 overall
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Letters of recommendation -3 letters required
- Written English Proficiency Requirement
- Fulfill Basic Skills Requirement
- ASHA Standards IV Requirement Course List
- Certificate of Clearance - required upon recommendation for admittance to the SLHS Program
CSU Graduate Application Requirements
- University Application: Apply to San Francisco State University’s Graduate Division (415/338-2234, ADM 250), using the online Graduate/Post-Baccalaureate application to The California State University.
- Fee: There is a $70.00 fee for this application. You can pay online at the time of the application submission.
- Transcripts: Upload one unofficial set of transcripts from every college or university attended to the SF State Graduate Admissions. Official transcripts will be required for admitted students. If you have previously attended SF State, you may not need to send transcripts. Please check with Graduate Admissions regarding their policies.
- TOEFL: If you are an international student or if you have a bachelor’s degree from outside the United States, please contact Graduate Admissions directly. There may be additional requirements for admissions, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Program Requirements
- Processing Fee: There is a $25.00 non-refundable fee for this application. Please pay this fee online via CashNet. Cashnet charges a 2.75% nonrefundable fee for all debit/credit card transactions. Upload proof of payment on Cal State Apply.
- Degree: Applicants must have earned a Bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university. Applicants with degrees from outside of the United States must have the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree from a US regionally accredited institution. The degree must be awarded before enrolling in the Master’s program. If the degree is not awarded at the time of the application deadline, applicants must provide transcripts at the time of application and submit updated transcripts once the
degree has been awarded. - GPA: The Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Graduate Program requires a minimum of 3.0 for master’s degree applicants.
- Statement of Purpose: The Mission of the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) at San Francisco State University (SFSU) is based on our commitment to antiracism and other forms of ant-discrimination. Applicants must submit an essay outlining personal attributes and professional experiences that illustrate a potential for excellence in the field and demonstrate your commitment to anti-discrimination. The essay should include a brief discussion of your future professional and academic goals, as well as your potential contribution to the improvement of services for individuals from under-served communities In the field of speech, language and hearing sciences, under- served communities include those from communities that are non-White, non-monolingual English speaking, low-income, and have limited access to quality healthcare and education. You must identify and discuss how you wish to challenge barriers to accessible, equitable and transformative communication for individuals with communication disabilities, especially those from under-served communities. We also invite you to discuss your own background and life experiences that make you uniquely qualified to address the needs of under-served communities. The essay should be no longer than three double-spaced pages. Below is the rubric for the statement of purpose.
- Resume: You may include information about your academic, employment, and volunteer experiences that are pertinent to your application and program objective.
- Letters of Recommendation: Candidates must upload three letters of recommendation. Letters should come from individuals who have observed and collaborated with the applicant in a professional or educational setting. It is preferred that the letters be from people who can comment on the applicant’s experiences with people with disabilities and/or in an educational setting. It is also appropriate to have recommendations from those who can speak to the applicant’s academic ability and potential for success in a graduate-level program. Additional letters beyond the required three will also be accepted to augment the application. Letters from relatives are not acceptable. Letters need to be typed on professional letterhead with original signature, and submitted via the CalState Apply portal.
- Written English Proficiency: Each graduate student must demonstrate the ability to write English correctly and effectively. To assure that each graduate student has the required proficiency in written English, two distinct assessments are made at SFSU: Level I and Level II. The SFSU Level I Written English Proficiency (WEP) requirement must be met prior to admission.
- The Written English Proficiency requirement is based on the Statement of Purpose, which is submitted with the application.
- To meet the Written English Proficiency Requirement, applicants must receive a score of 2.5 or higher on the Written English Proficiency Rubric (immediately below).
- Applicants who do not meet this requirement will be denied admission, or, if all other areas of the application are strong, a faculty member may choose to file a petition with Graduate Studies to request conditional admission. If conditional admission is granted, the student will need to complete an English Writing course from an approved list that will be maintained by the 3 departments prior to filing for Advancement to Candidacy.
- If you are an international student or if you have a bachelor’s degree from outside the United States, please contact the Graduate Admissions directly. There may be additional requirements for admission, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Written English Proficiency Rubric: The Written English Proficiency requirement is based on the Statement of Purpose, which is submitted with the application. To meet the Written English Proficiency Requirement, applicants must receive a score of 2.5 or higher.
Category | Description | 0, .5 or 1* |
---|---|---|
Organization | A well-organized piece of writing is not only clear, it’s presented in a way that is logical and aesthetically pleasing. You can tell non-linear stories or place your thesis at the end of an essay and get away with it as long as ideas are well ordered. | |
Focus | In good writing, everything makes sense and readers don’t get lost or have to reread passages to figure out what’s going on. Focused writing sticks with the core ideas without running off on too many tangents | |
Ideas & Themes | Does your statement of purpose have clearly identifiable ideas and themes? | |
Language | Does your statement of purpose include precise and accurate word choices and well-crafted sentences? We do look for excellence in grammar and style. However, the writer is not restricted to the grammar of the Standardized American English dialect, if another English dialect is preferred. | |
Voice | Write from a perspective that is unique to you. Be true to your authentic voice, because it is the most impactful voice you have. Your essay should tell us who you are and capture your unique story. This is what sets you apart from all other writers. It’s your unique way of stringing words together, formulating ideas, and relating scenes or images to the reader. In any piece of writing, the voice should be consistent and identifiable. |
*0 = No Evidence | .5 = Inconsistent Evidence | 1 = Consistent Evidence
Adapted from Donovan, M. (2017, Oct. 3). Eight Characteristics of Good Writing. Writing Forward. https://www.writingforward.com/betterwriting/characteristics-of-good-writing
- The SFSU Level II Written English Proficiency (WEP) requirement must be met prior tograduation.
- Level II is measured by successful completion of the culminating experience requirements thatinclude internships, as well as the written comprehensive examination or thesis.
8. Basic Skills Requirement: Met by possession of a baccalaureate degree or higher.
9. ASHA Standard IV Requirement Course List: Upon completion of degree requirements,applicants must have demonstrated knowledge of the biological sciences, physical sciences (either a course in physics or in chemistry), statistics, and the social/behavioral sciences, in order to apply for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The SFSU Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Department requires that courses in these areas be completed or enrolled, upon application to the program, and must be verified in academic transcripts. Course syllabi may be requested as well to confirm fulfillment of ASHA Standard IV.
As stated above, according to ASHA:
- Acceptable courses in biological sciences should emphasize a content area related to human or animal sciences (e.g., biology, human anatomy and physiology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, human genetics, veterinary science).
- Acceptable courses in physical sciences should include physics or chemistry.
- Acceptable courses in social/behavioral sciences should include psychology, sociology,anthropology, or public health.
- A stand-alone course in statistics is required.
Please Note: Research methodology courses in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) may not be used to satisfy the statistics requirement. A course in biological and physical sciences specifically related to CSD may not be applied for certification purposes to this category unless the course fulfills a university requirement in one of these areas.
10. Certificate of Clearance: The Certificate of Clearance (COC) consists of fingerprint clearance via Live Scan and the completion of an online application with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Because all graduate students in the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Program must participate in an internship within an educational setting, all students recommended for admission must go through a background check.
This is in accordance with California state law and Education code. Therefore, upon recommendation for admission to the SLHS Program, students must apply for and obtain a Certificate of Clearance with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) OR submit proof of prior completion of the clearance.
Acceptable documentation in lieu of a Certificate of Clearance: valid credentials or permits issued by the CTC, including substitute, pre-intern, clear or preliminary, or Child Development permits. District or other job-related clearance is not acceptable. Upload an electronic version of the document from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing website with your application