Terry Baggs, Graduate Director
ACU Box 28058
Abilene, Texas 79699-8058
Don Morris Center, Room 126

Phone: 325-674-4819
Fax: 325-674-2552
Email: terry.baggs@acu.edu
Web: www.acu.edu/grad

Faculty
Lynette Austin, Assistant Professor
Terry Baggs, Assistant Professor
Denise Barnett, Assistant Professor
Brenda Bender, Associate Professor
MaLesa Breeding, Professor
Diana Taylor, Assistant Professor

Introduction
Abilene Christian University’s Communication Sciences and Disorders Department offers a Master of Science (MS) degree in speech-language pathology. The MS in communication sciences and disorders is a 52-hour non-thesis program consisting of 36 hours of academic preparation and 16 hours of clinical practicum. The course work is presented in a two-year sequence. A written comprehensive examination is required.

The Communication Sciences and Disorders graduate program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA).

The mission of the Communication Sciences and Disorders department is to equip students with knowledge and skills in speech-language pathology for ministry to individuals with communication disorders through a Christian world perspective. Students and faculty are involved in the provision of diagnostic and treatment services to the community, research into the causes, prevention, and effects of communication disorders, and advocacy for persons with communication disabilities. The training program endeavors to produce speech-language pathologists with professional competency and conduct consistent with the highest national standards.

Admission Requirements
Enrollment is limited to applicants who will be full-time students.  The admission requirements for the MS program in communication sciences and disorders are:
 

  1. Complete an application and application fee (see online link to admission);    
  2. An official transcript(s) in English (or translated to English) of all previous colleges attended. The transcript must indicate an earned 
      bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or equivalent;  
  3. A cumulative undergraduate approximate B average or above in the area of focus or related area and evidence of an overall productive
      GPA;
  4. A minimum GRE score of 288 (combined verbal and quantitative);
  5. Three letters of recommendation (at least two of the recommendation letters must come from professionals in the field and relate to
       the applicant's potential academic success);
  6. Writing sample;
  7. A current resume that includes information regarding: college education and activities to date, employment to date, and   
      community/church involvement.  High school activities should not be included;
  8. A two-year commitment is required from all applicants.

All application materials must be received by the preceding February 15 for the fall semester. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. An application is considered incomplete if any of the required elements have not been received by the Graduate School, including GRE scores.

When all the required materials are assembled, the application will be reviewed by the CSD faculty. A personal interview may be required;  If an interview is requested, additional information as to the nature of the interview will be provided at that time

The Communication Sciences and Disorders Admissions Committee makes holistic judgments based on the evaluation of an applicant’s ability and readiness for graduate work. In conjunction with the Graduate School, the Committee may recommend conditional admission for an applicant who does not meet all admission criteria.