Graduate Admissions

The CSD Graduate Admissions Committee utilizes a holistic admission process, weighing applicants’ personal attributes and unique experiences alongside traditional measures of academic achievement such as grades. The committee selects students whose academic record, professional communication skills, and overall potential show the most promise for success in our field.

2025-2026 Admissions Timeline

  • September 19: UMaine CSDCAS portal opens
  • October 15, 7 p.m. ET: Virtual open house on Zoom (slides from open house available here)
  • December 18: Recommended date to submit application through CSDCAS to ensure verification by January 15, 2026
  • January 15: Deadline for completed applications
  • February 20: Virtual interview day for invited applicants

Admissions Requirements

To be considered for admission to the graduate program in speech-language pathology, applicants must have the following requirements.

  • Bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a properly recognized institution of higher learning obtained before enrolling in the graduate program. The degree does not need to be in CSD. Applications from all backgrounds will be considered.
  • GPA requirement. An overall GPA of 3.25 or above. Transcripts from undergraduate and graduate degrees, CSD and non-CSD coursework, and post-baccalaureate work will all be considered.
  • CSD prerequisite courses. Completed CSD prerequisite coursework with a grade of ‘C’ or better. Coursework must address the following content areas: audiology, language development, speech anatomy and physiology, phonetics, speech science, and neuroscience.
    • This CSD coursework might be addressed in a standalone course or embedded throughout courses. If you have taken coursework outside of a traditional CSD undergraduate major/department and believe you have met these prerequisites, please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator for verification. You should send the Coordinator an unofficial transcript and the course number, title, and description that you think meets the prerequisite coursework. A syllabus might be requested for review.
    • Completion of all prerequisites is not required to be considered for admission to the graduate program. These courses may be completed before or during the first year of the graduate program. When included as part of the graduate program, the background coursework may extend the length of the program by 1-2 semesters depending on the prerequisites needed. At a minimum, completing courses in speech anatomy and physiology, language development, and phonetics prior to starting the program are required to avoid extension of the graduate program.
    • ASHA’s EdFind and the Medical University of South Carolina have lists of programs offering prerequisite courses. Prerequisites taken outside of UMaine should be approved before students take the course by sending the course description to the Graduate Program Coordinator to ensure they meet the requirements. 
  • Non-CSD prerequisite courses. Completed non-CSD coursework with a grade of ‘C’ or better. At least one course in each of the following content areas: biological sciences, physical sciences, behavioral sciences, and statistics. These courses cannot be related to communication sciences and disorders. Please review the ASHA website about the non-CSD prerequisites.
  • English proficiency. Demonstrated English proficiency if your bachelor’s degree was not obtained from an English-speaking institution. UMaine’s minimum score requirements for English proficiency are: IELTS score of 6.5, TOEFL score of 82, PTE Academic score of 65, or Duolingo English Test score of 115. See the Graduate School Test Score webpage for minimum scores required for international applicants seeking a teaching assistant position.

Application Process

To be considered for 2026 admissions, all of the following need to be finalized no later than the January 15 deadline. All materials must be submitted through CSDCAS in order for your application to be considered complete. Note that there is no GRE requirement for those applying for admission to the graduate program.

  1. Complete an application through CSDCAS. Upload/send all materials directly to CSDCAS. Please note that our program does not require you to submit a resume, so all sections of the CSDCAS application need to be completed.
  2. Send official transcripts. Official transcripts from each college or university attended should be sent directly to CSDCAS. Foreign transcripts should be evaluated for U.S. equivalency according to the information in the CSDCAS Applicant Help Center. 
  3. Complete prerequisite coursework. These courses may be completed before or during the first year of the graduate program. When included as part of the graduate program, the length of the program may be extended depending on the prerequisites needed. All CSD and non-CSD prerequisite courses must have a grade of ‘C’ or better. Grades should be reported in CSDCAS for any courses that have been completed by the application deadline.
  4. Write a personal statement. Write a personal statement addressing the following prompt in 300-500 words: Applicants to our graduate program consistently have strong academic records and varied extracurricular experiences. Our department aims to find a graduate cohort of students who can uniquely and meaningfully contribute to the graduate program and the field of speech-language pathology. Share a story about yourself that exemplifies why you are a good fit for the University of Maine’s graduate program and the field of speech-language pathology.
  5. Obtain three letters of recommendation. We encourage applicants to have two letters of recommendation from university faculty who can speak to the applicant’s capacity to participate in graduate-level work. These could be past instructors, advisors, or anyone you interacted with in the university/college-setting. The third letter also could be from a faculty member or from an outside person, like a work supervisor. 
  6. Complete an English proficiency test (if applicable). Applicants who did not complete their bachelor’s degree from an English-speaking institution should complete English proficiency testing and have their scores sent directly to CSDCAS.
  7. Complete a UMaine Graduate School applicant tracking form. This is the only item that will not be completed through CSDCAS. You will need to complete an applicant tracking form through the Graduate School’s application portal. When you sign up for an account and indicate that you are applying to the M.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders, you will be directed to a brief form that asks for some basic demographic and enrollment information. You will not upload any application materials to this site and you will not be required to pay an application fee to UMaine. Completion of this tracking form is required for your application to be considered “complete” and ready for review. This form should be submitted by the January 15th deadline.
  8. Submit your completed CSDCAS application. Make sure items 1 through 7 are completed and your CSDCAS application is submitted no later than January 15. All transcripts, letters of recommendation, and the personal statement must be included in your CSDCAS application by the deadline for your application to be considered complete. Important note: In order for your application to be considered for certain scholarships, your CSDCAS application must be in the verified status by the January 15 deadline (suggested submission by 12/18/2025). Review the CSDCAS website for more information on the program deadline requirements and how long the application process takes through CSDCAS.

Questions?