Program Mission: With an appropriate undergraduate major in communication disorders and sciences, this program meets the requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence awarded by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and the Speech-Language Pathologist License awarded by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, and the Type 73 School Service Personnel Certificate awarded  by the Illinois State Board  of Education.

Accreditation:  Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in the area of speech-language pathology.

Admission Requirements: To be eligible for degree candidacy, applicants must meet all of the requirements for admission to the Graduate School (see “Admission to Graduate Degree and Certificate Programs”). Applicants must provide a documented score of the General Test of the Graduate Record Exam. In addition, students must have at least a 3.00 grade point average (A=4.0) in the undergraduate communication disorders and sciences major for admission consideration to the graduate program at Eastern Illinois University.  Admission is competitive and meeting minimum GPA requirements does not guarantee admission.  Admission is determined by a graduate faculty committee.  The committee considers all applications, including transfers from other four-year colleges and universities.  With department chair consultation and approval, students may enroll for some courses on a non-degree basis. Students who have a baccalaureate degree in a major other than CDS must complete all 2000 level CDS courses and CDS 3100, 3200, 3500 and 3700 or their equivalents prior to being considered for admission to the CDS graduate program. For the online cohort program, students must be employed in the public schools as a speech-language pathology assistant/paraprofessional, or special education aide; and must meet all other admission criteria.

Degree Audit: The graduate plan of study is the EIU Degree Audit, which is generated automatically in the Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) at the time of degree or certificate candidacy. Modifications of the standard EIU Degree Audit are submitted by the graduate coordinator to the certification officer in the Graduate School at the time modifications are approved. The Degree Audit serves as an unofficial summary of requirements for the program. Degree and certificate candidates are advised to review the comprehensive summary of the Degree Audit process specified on the “Requirements for All Degree and Certificate Candidates” section of the Graduate Catalog. Individual programs may require candidates to submit plans of study in addition to the Degree Audit, candidates should consult with the program coordinator.