Master of Science in Communicative Disorders
College of Health Sciences

Admission is competitive.  Applicants must meet the following requirements for admission consideration:

A baccalaureate degree in communicative disorders, speech-language pathology, or speech and hearing sciences from a regionally accredited college or university is required.  If students have degrees in professions other than communicative disorders, speech-language pathology, or speech and hearing sciences, they must first complete specified prerequisite courses with a grade of B (on a 4-point scale) or better.  (Prerequisite course taken more than 10 years before the initiation of the graduate program will not be accepted.)

​Prerequisite courses:

• Phonetics
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Speech and Hearing Science
• Language Development
• Articulation Disorders
• Language Disorders in Children
• Introduction to Audiology

​Grades in other Communicative Disorders courses (e.g., Fluency, Diagnostics) will be reviewed.

Additionally, applicants must have completed the following with a grade of C or better:

• One course in biological sciences, one course in physics or chemistry, and one course in statistics for a total of 9 hours; and
• Courses in behavioral and/or social sciences for a total of 6 semester hours.
• A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) for courses completed during the junior and senior years, and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) at the undergraduate level.

Applicants who meet these requirements are encouraged to submit a full application packet for admission consideration.  Admission is based on academic performance and related experiences, GRE scores (DI Code 7169; waived for 2024-2025), recommendation letters, and writing samples.  All application materials must be submitted by March 1 for admission consideration.

Application Process:  All application materials must be submitted on or before March 1.

To be considered, applicants to the M.S. program in Communicative Disorders must submit a complete application (and/or Financial Aid Forms) to Jackson State University’s Graduate School.  The application can be found at: https://www.jsums.edu/graduateschool/masters-admissions/. 

Application Fee:

Out-of-state and International applicants must submit a $25.00 application fee to the Jackson State University Graduate School with the application. Applications will not be processed without payment of the application fee. Payment can be paid online using a credit/debit card at https://www.jsums.edu/graduateschool/masters-admissions/ or by money order mailed to the Division of Graduate Studies.

There is no fee for in-state students.

International students must submit TOEFL scores to the Jackson State University Graduate School.  A minimum score of 69 is required for admission to the Jackson State University Graduate School.

Applicants are required to submit:

• GRE scores (DI Code: 7169) – Requirement Waived for 2022-2023
• personal statement/essay that includes the applicant’s
  • reasons for pursuing graduate student in speech-language pathology;
  • reasons for pursuing graduate study specifically at Jackson State University;
  • professional goals;
  • strengths that will contribute to success in the graduate program at Jackson State University;
  • limitations, if any, that may need to be addressed in order to successfully pursue graduate studies in speech-language pathology; and
  • past work, research or volunteer experiences, if any, that have helped to prepare the applicant for graduate studies
• three letters of recommendation from speech-language pathology instructors and/or clinical supervisors.
• typewritten responses to the following:

Jackson State University is a historically black, coeducational, doctoral research-intensive university of higher learning that has been designated by the state Institutions of Higher Learning as the Urban University of Mississippi. Jackson State University’s students are diverse, including first-generation, non-traditional, and low-income. Jackson State University embraces the diversity of its students and is proud of its legacy of successfully challenging their minds and changing their lives through higher education, research, service, and preparing them for competitive careers.

• In your own view, what is the value of diversity in education?
• Please discuss the distinctive qualities, characteristics, and life experiences you would contribute to a diverse graduate program and to the education of fellow students at Jackson State University.
• Reflect on the following quote by William C. Steele: “Seeking diversity automatically leads us to excellence, just as focusing on excellence inevitably leads us to diversity.” What does this quote mean to you? Relate your response to graduate studies and/or the field of speech-language pathology.​

Immunizations Requirement:

All students admitted to Jackson State University are required to submit proof of having received two immunization shots for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) in order to complete registration for classes.

You must submit a copy of the required immunization record to the University Health Center prior to registration for courses.

Students who have been admitted but do not submit the required immunization verification will be unable to complete registration for classes in the school’s computer enrollment system. Please see further immunization information at the following link: https://www.jsums.edu/healthservices/immunization-requirements/

All applicants must submit Immunization records to:

Jackson State University
Health Services Center
P.O. Box 17097
Jackson, MS 39217
Telephone:  601-979-2260

It is very important that applicants submit materials prior to March 1 to allow the JSU Graduate School time to process application materials. It is HIGHLY recommended that application materials are submitted by February 1 to allow for processing time. Applicants should not wait until the due date or just before the due date to upload application materials. Doing so may result in the application not being complete until after the due date.

Incomplete and late applications will not be reviewed by the admissions committee

Jackson State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, creed, age, ethnic or national origin, disability, political orientation, or sexual orientation.