Admissions Requirements

*Misericordia University has announced that it will continue test-blind admission review for the first-year undergraduate class entering through the 2027-2028 year in all academic programs. Students who have taken the SAT or ACT are not required to submit their scores. Test scores will not be used in determining admission or academic scholarship awards.

These students have graduated from high school but have not yet entered college. For these students, the Speech-Language Pathology curriculum is a 5-year program leading simultaneously to the baccalaureate and master's degrees.

Prospective undergraduate applicants must meet both Misericordia University's and the Speech-Language Pathology department's admissions criteria.

Misericordia University's general criteria for acceptance into an undergraduate program are:

1. Evidence of the completion of 16 Carnegie Units, or evidence of a High School Equivalency Diploma.
2. Results of either the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT) program (optional).
3. Two letters of recommendation from the high school principal, a guidance counselor, or a teacher.

The Speech-Language Pathology department includes additional admissions criteria. Traditional students entering the 5-year professional program must have the following criteria to be considered for acceptance into the Speech-Language Pathology department:

1. The student must provide a typewritten essay of no more than 500 words indicating why the student wishes to pursue a career in speech-language pathology.

Evidence of exposure through volunteerism or service learning related to working with children and adults is highly desirable.

Graduate study begins in what is the fourth (traditionally the senior) year and continues through to the fifth year of study. For traditional students to advance to graduate study, certain pre-requisite criteria must be met:

1. Maintain an overall cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 at all times.
2. Successfully master all course objectives for all speech-language pathology courses taken prior to the senior year (first year graduate school).
   • Students begin their speech-language pathology courses in their freshman year and will typically complete all undergraduate coursework by their junior year. Upon completion of each semester, the progress of each student in terms of which course objectives were and were not mastered during that semester will be reviewed.
   • For any course objectives not mastered, the student will be given an assignment to assist them in mastering those objectives. Students cannot take graduate level coursework if they have not mastered all objectives.

Once criteria (1) and (2) above are successfully met, the candidate is automatically granted permission to commence to graduate study (i.e., there is no need for the student to make a formal application to graduate school).

Students who transfer into the program, either from another academic unit within Misericordia University or from another institution of higher education, will be required to meet the department's admission criteria. Students will be required to meet Misericordia University's requirements for a baccalaureate degree by taking the necessary coursework to ensure compliance with the requirements. Please refer to undergraduate admission requirements for traditional students for more details. A recommendation letter from a current professor may be substituted for a letter from a principal, guidance counselor, or teacher. Undergraduate students who are currently at Misericordia University must apply directly to the Speech-Language Pathology Department. The applications of these students should include the required documents from the admission requirements for traditional undergraduate students as well as Misericordia University transcripts.

Graduate study begins in what is the fourth (traditionally the senior) year and continues through to the fifth year of study. For traditional students to advance to graduate study, certain pre-requisite criteria must be met:

1. Maintain an overall cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 at all times.
2. Receive a grade of "B" or better in the undergraduate speech-language pathology courses.
3. Successfully master all course objectives for all speech-language pathology courses taken prior to the senior year (first year graduate school).
   • Students begin their speech-language pathology courses in their freshman year and will typically complete all undergraduate coursework by their junior year. Upon completion of each semester, the progress of each student in terms of which course objectives were and were not mastered during that semester will be reviewed.
   • For any course objectives not mastered, the student will be given an assignment to assist them in mastering those objectives. Students cannot take graduate level coursework if they have not mastered all objectives.

Once criteria (1) through (3) above are successfully met, the candidate is automatically granted permission to commence to graduate study (i.e., there is no need for the student to make a formal application to graduate school).

These students have earned a baccalaureate degree in communication sciences and disorders or speech-language pathology and are eligible for direct entry into the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology at Misericordia University.

Before the candidate can begin graduate studies, he or she must successfully complete prerequisite undergraduate courses. These courses provide the individual with the appropriate framework and background in communication sciences and disorders so that he or she will be prepared to enter graduate study. To be granted entry into graduate study, the candidate must complete prerequisite undergraduate coursework with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3, and must have earned a grade of "B" or better in each of the courses. For any course objectives not mastered, the student will be given an assignment to assist them in mastering those objectives. Students cannot take graduate level coursework if they have not mastered all objectives.

Students who apply to the graduate program in speech-language pathology and possess a baccalaureate degree in communication sciences and disorders must meet the following departmental admissions criteria:

1. A cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.
2. GRE scores are optional.
3. TOEFL scores for international students.

These students have earned a baccalaureate degree in any discipline other than communication sciences and disorders (e.g., biology, communications, education, English, linguistics).

Before the candidate can begin graduate studies, he or she must successfully complete prerequisite undergraduate courses. These courses provide the individual with the appropriate framework and background in communication sciences and disorders so that he or she will be prepared to enter graduate study. To be granted entry into graduate study, the candidate must complete prerequisite undergraduate coursework with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3, and must have earned a grade of "B" or better in each of the courses. For any course objectives not mastered, the student will be given an assignment to assist them in mastering those objectives. Students cannot take graduate level coursework if they have not mastered all objectives.

Students who apply to the graduate program in speech-language pathology and possess a baccalaureate degree in a discipline other than communication sciences and disorders or speech-language pathology must have the following admission requirements:

1. A cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.
2. GRE scores are optional.
3. TOEFL scores for international students.

Students accepted into the Speech-Language Pathology program for graduate study as a transfer from an accredited Speech-Language Pathology program at another institution of higher education will have their transcripts reviewed to determine which courses are transferable. The student must show evidence that the course(s) taken are similar in content to the corresponding courses offered at Misericordia University. Evidence may be provided in the form of a course syllabus and/or catalog description of the course. A plan of study will then be established accordingly.

If the graduate transfer student obtained clock hour credit for clinical practicum, up to 75 clock hours will be accepted (including 25 observation hours) toward the requirements for certification as long as they were obtained while attending an accredited institution of higher education and under the requirements set forth by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.

MISERICORDIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND EDUCATION SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Purpose:

In compliance with Title III of the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, this document presents a list of essential functions for students in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Misericordia University.

Introduction:

Essential functions are defined as those skills that all Speech-Language Pathology students must have the capacity to complete with or without reasonable accommodations. To ensure that students, faculty, colleagues, and patients are not placed in jeopardy by students with impaired intellectual, physical, or emotional functions a qualified student must:

• have vocationally adequate hearing and visual acuity with or without an aide
• be able to read, write, and speak English with efficiency
• have independent gross and fine motor capabilities that are within functional limits for daily provisions of therapy
• be able to learn, think critically, analyze, assess, and reason appropriately
• be able to adequately perform several tasks simultaneously
• demonstrate emotional stability and the ability to accept responsibility and accountability in demanding situations
• speak English intelligibly 
• maintain attention/concentration for extended periods (1-2 hours/sessions or class) 

Process:

Students must have their physician complete the program’s medical form which requires the physician to attest the student’s ability to perform the essential functions listed above. It is the student’s responsibility to disclose any documented learning disabilities to their medical physician prior to completion of form. 

In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, Misericordia University strives to ensure that "no otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program" administered by the university. If you are a student who requires academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact Kristen Ricardo in the Student Success Center at kricardo@misericordia.edu or (570) 674-6205. 

If a student cannot demonstrate the skills and abilities listed above, it is the responsibility of the student to request accommodations by applying for the ALP program or by completing the Disability Declaration form provided by Admissions. Once it is determined those accommodations are appropriate then a plan of accommodation (POA) will be developed collaboratively by the ALP Specialist and designated health science representative.

If a student’s health status should change and the student is no longer able to participate in the classroom or clinical setting, it is the responsibility of the student to notify the Department Chair or Administrative Assistant. The person notified would ensure that the proper documentation is received from the student’s health care provider and that information would be shared with the Director of Health Services. For more information regarding requesting reasonable accommodations refer to the current Misericordia University Undergraduate Catalog or contact the Assistant Director, Student Success Center/Office for Students with Disabilities at 570-674-6205.