What if you have a non-CSD bachelors?

You can never become an SLP.

I’m kidding. Obviously.

I don’t have a bachelor’s degree in CSD, and I’m an SLP now. In fact, many SLP’s were once out-of-field applicants with diverse undergraduate backgrounds. In some ways it is a disadvantage, but in many ways it can be a huge advantage when applying to grad school.

So what can you do?

Option1: 2nd Bachelor's Degree

Earning a second bachelor’s degree is a big commitment. It is time consuming and expensive. But it ensures you are optimally prepared to apply to any graduate program in SLP that you want.

If you’re going to go this route, focus on maintaining a strong GPA. You’ll need it!

To find a program, visit ASHA Ed Find and check the “Undergraduate” box under degree program.

Option 2: Extended Master's Degree

An extended master’s degree is a master’s degree + the specific requisite classes you need to complete before starting your actual graduate classes. Sometimes these are called “three years masters” degrees because you typically spend one year doing pre-requisite classes and then two years doing the rest of the degree.

This is generally the best option. The only problem is, there are not a lot of these programs and many of them will require you to have completed at least a few classes before you can even apply.

To find a program like this, visit ASHA Ed Find and select “Masters Degree” under degree type and then “Prerequisite not required for admission” under program offerings.

Option 3: Post-Bacc Then Masters

Your final option is to complete a few pre-requisite classes before applying to a master’s program. There are many programs that offer this in the form of a “baccalaureate program.” This is typically a non-degree option (also called “non-degree enrollment”).

This is a great option if you’re not in a rush. You’ll save time and money by only taking the exact classes that you need. The downside is, you need to know which master’s program you want to go to in order to know the specific pre-requisites they require. The post-bacc program from XYZ University is typically designed for XYZ’s Graduate Program. So, if you go to ABC University, you might still have a few more pre-reqs to do.

To find out where you can take these pre-requisites, visit ASHA Ed Find and select “pre-requisites online” from program offerings or visit your local college or university.

I did my pre-requisite courses online through Utah State University before applying to a few masters programs and being accepted into my top-choice: The University of New Mexico. For me it was the perfect balance between the three options.

What I did:

I enrolled in the 2nd Degree program at Utah State University. It typically takes 2-years to complete. I did a few courses my first year and then applied to some 3-years masters programs. When I was accepted into my top-choice school: The University of New Mexico, I no longer needed to finish the whole 2nd degree.

For me this was the perfect balance between the three options.

How being an out-of-field applicant can help you become an SLP

Many out-of-field applicants worry that not completing a CSD-major will harm their chances of getting into graduate school for speech-pathology. The truth is the exact opposite.

In many ways, your non-CSD major and unique background, if you know how to leverage it, can actually boost your chances of getting admitted.

Standing Out

As someone who has sat to read dozens upon dozens of application essays, I can tell you that they begin to blur together. You see the same cliché phrases and stories over and over. This is true of SLP grad school applications as well.

As an out-of-field applicant, you are in a position to stand out from the crowd by virtue of your unique training and experiences. For example, I was a classroom teacher before becoming an SLP. While this isn’t as different as working in beer distribution (like a friend of mine from grad school), it is still unique.

I promise you when the admissions committee reads an essay with unique content, it stands out.

A Chance to Raise Your GPA

Depending on the route above you chose, as an out-of-field candidate you have a chance to raise your GPA. Even if your non-CSD major GPA was good, having a strong GPA in relevant courses is a huge advantage.

Many CSD majors with a C or B in a class agonize over how to handle it in their applications: Address it in the personal statement? Re-take the whole class?

You’re in the unique position to rock the socks off any pre-requisite classes from the beginning. My undergrad GPA was already strong (over 3.5) but even so, I worked hard to earn a 4.0 in my pre-requisite courses to boost my chances.

Diverse Funding Options

College is expensive. We all know that.

As an out-of-field applicant to SLP grad programs, you might be lucky to earn some funding that others aren’t qualified for.

I have a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, and I have significant experience working in the language in Spain and Mexico. That language proficiency, which I might not have developed as a CSD-major, helped me earn a graduate research assistantship working for a professor doing bilingual research.

Another example: my teaching background helped me earn a fellowship through my university to participate in workshops about service learning.

Maybe you have experience running your own business or maybe you worked as an editor (both real backgrounds of my classmates). One of them was able to get part-time work within the department grading for professors. The other worked alongside a professor managing the sprawling clinic.

These unique qualifications alone aren’t enough to earn you admission, but rather than a weakness, you can use them as a cornerstone strength in your application.

Wrapping It Up

If you’re a non-CSD major or out-of-field applicant looking to get into graduate school for speech-language pathology, don’t worry about how your background is different. Use it as a way to stand out.

Unique qualifications alone aren’t enough to earn you admission, but rather than a weakness, you can use them as a cornerstone strength in your application.