PhD Program Admissions

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Who can apply?

We accept:

1. Students who have a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Speech-Language Pathology, or Speech and Hearing Science. Students with Master’s degrees from other professions will be considered and evaluated on a case-by-case basis for admission.
2. Students with a Bachelor’s degree and exceptional academic records and backgrounds may pursue a PhD in CSD. These types of students who are admitted into the CSD PhD. program will be required to take additional prerequisite CSD core courses, which will be determined by the primary mentor and the CSD PhD admission committee.

When you have decided that a PhD is your path:

STEP ONE: Identify your mentor

Potential students will need to identify a mentor PRIOR TO application to the program. Students will not be admitted unless there is a faculty mentor willing to serve as their mentor. The mentor will serve as the student's academic advisor throughout the program and will serve as their dissertation chair. In rare cases, students may elect to change mentors, but only with the current mentor, prospective mentor, and doctoral graduate program director's approval.

Faculty Mentor List

NOTE: Students must identify a mentor before applying to the PhD program. Applications of students who have not identified a mentor will not be reviewed.

STEP TWO:  Once you have a faculty mentor, then you are invited to apply to the PhD program.

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What is needed to apply?

1. Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher.
2. GRE not required.
3. Minimum scores on the TOEFL or IELTS must be achieved for English proficiency by non-native English speakers. These scores must have been received within the past two years.  The CSD Department adheres to the standards set forth by the Graduate School for English proficiency.
4. Three letters of recommendation, two of which should be from former or current professors.
5. Resume or CV.
6. Evidence of research experience and/or scholarly writing- preferred, but not required.
7. Statement of Purpose, which should include answers to the following prompts:
   • Describe academic and/or personal experiences which have led you to pursue graduate study in CSD.
   • Why is Baylor University your choice for your PhD?
   • What are your career goals and future career plans?
   • What is your intended focus area in CSD? Why?  Is this focus supported by the current literature?
   • Which faculty member(s) at Baylor do you wish to work with as your academic mentor(s) and why?
8. Interview with Admissions faculty and potential mentor is required on campus when feasible or via video interview.
9. A faculty mentor must be identified by the applicant, before admission and the mentor must agree to accept the student as a mentee.

When are applications accepted?

Applications are accepted for fall semester only, with full-time study preferred and part-time study permissible. The deadline for application submission is January 15.

What funding is available? 

Applicants who are admitted at full-time status will be offered three years of funding when available, contingent on successful progress each year.

How many students are estimated to be in each annual cohort?

The target enrollment for the CSD PhD program is four new students per year.

How are classes offered?

Courses are offered through residential mode (i.e., face-to-face courses).