College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Graduate Faculty
Baharav, Eva, PhD, speech-language pathology, child and adolescent language, typical and disordered language across the life span, phonology.
Darling, Rieko M., PhD, audiology, amplification, geriatrics, central auditory processing disorders, aural rehabilitation.
Mathers-Schmidt, Barbara, PhD, fluency disorders, neuromotor speech disorders, research methodology, speech science.
Peters, Kimberly A., PhD, audiology, pediatric audiology, auditory physiology, aural (re)habilitation, cochlear implants.
Zeine, Lina, PhD, adult language disorders, voice/laryngectomee.
Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Lina Zeine, AI 376, 360-650-3178
Goals
The objectives of the program in Speech-Language Pathology are to prepare competent entry-level professionals in speech-language pathology and to prepare students for advanced study at the PhD level. The program includes an internship taken after other academic and clinical requirements have been completed.
Speech-language pathology is a discipline which has developed out of a concern for people with communication disorders. Preparation leading to a degree in communication sciences and disorders includes a wide range of course work and a variety of clinical practicum opportunities working with the infant through geriatric populations.
Students who intend to seek employment in this profession, whether in a public school, clinic, rehabilitation center or hospital setting, are advised that certification/licensure at the state and/or national levels is required. Out-of-state students should recognize that other requirements may exist for employment in different geographic locations.
Prerequisites
Undergraduate major in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) or equivalent professional core curriculum. The BA or BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders (Speech Pathology and Audiology) must have been completed within the past five years in order to be considered as an applicant for the graduate program in CSD. Grade point average requirements consistent with the Graduate School. Graduate Record Exam — minimum 430 in verbal and quantitative and 4.5 on the analytical writing.
Students who are not native speakers of English must demonstrate competence in written and spoken English. This can be done by submitting a satisfactory score on the international TOEFL, taken within one year of the date of application. A minimum composite score of 600 is required for the paper-based test; the scaled score for the computer-based test is 250; the Internet-based minimum score is 100. The TOEFL scores must be on file in the Graduate School prior to receipt of the application for graduate study.
ASHA Standards
Standard IIIA: The applicant must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of biological sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and the social/behavioral sciences.
Implementation: The applicant must have transcript credit (which could include course work, advanced placement, CLEP, or examination of equivalency) for each of the following areas: biological sciences, physical sciences, social/behavioral sciences, and mathematics. Appropriate course work may include human anatomy and physiology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, genetics, physics, inorganic and organic chemistry, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and nonremedial mathematics. The intent of this standard is to require students to have a broad liberal arts and science background. Courses in biological and physical sciences specifically related to communication sciences and disorders may not be applied for certification purposes in this category. In addition to transcript credit, applicants may be required by their graduate program to provide further evidence of meeting this requirement.
The graduate coordinator will review the student’s transcript during the first quarter of graduate work and if any of the above course work needs to be completed, the student will be advised to do so, as an overload, before graduation.
Application Information
Notice: The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western Washington University admitted its last audiology master’s degree students in fall 2004. The department placed a moratorium on admission until further notice. Please contact the department for more information.
The above does not affect the speech-language pathology graduate program. The department will continue to offer the ASHA-accredited master’s degree program in speech-language pathology.
Enrollment is limited to 20 new graduate students per year.
Admit Quarter: Fall quarter only. The communication sciences and disorders program is a lock-step program which offers courses in sequence once a year beginning in the fall.
Deadline: Application deadline is February 1.
TA Deadline: Application deadline is February 1.
Specific Test Requirements: Graduate Record Exam, General Test, with a minimum of 430 in each area and 4.5 on the Analytical Writing. (No test scores are required if an applicant holds an advanced degree — MA, MS, PhD.)
Supporting Materials:
❑ Application with $50 fee (subject to change)
❑ Three recent letters of reference
❑ Two official transcripts from every school attended (no more than two years old)
❑ One-page statement of purpose
❑ One-page résumé
