Speech-language pathology drops GRE test requirement for admission
Nazareth College no longer requires applicants to submit Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores for admission to the graduate speech-language pathology (SLP) program, which makes the degree more accessible.
“This change removes a financial barrier for potential applicants, which supports the goal of increasing the diversity of our applicant pool,” says Dawn Vogler-Elias, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, a professor and the speech-language pathology graduate program director. GRE tests and test preparation services are costly and time consuming, which can disproportionately affect prospective students facing financial hardships.
Also, Vogler-Elias said, “We feel strongly that standardized instruments such as the GRE can be biased and do not predict graduate school success or one's potential to be a speech-language pathologist or professional.” Test scores on standardized tests in general have been shown to be associated with socioeconomic status, race, and gender.
The same change was made to graduate teacher certification programs as well, improving equity and access.
People of color account for just 8% of the speech-language pathology workforce. Nazareth’s Communication Sciences & Disorders Department — which includes an undergraduate major, a pre-audiology minor, the graduate SLP program, and a 5-year accelerated B.S./M.S. program — is working toward building a more diverse and inclusive program.
Noheli Ruiz ‘19G and Jasmine Torres ‘19G, women of color who met in the speech-language pathology master’s program at Nazareth and now work as speech-language pathologists, formed an alumni mentorship network for current students called Speech-language Therapy and Audiology Minority Program (STAMP). Rupert Johnson, Ph.D., assistant professor, is an advisor to the group. Their story: A Place to be Seen and Supported.
Speech-language pathologists evaluate, treat, and advocate for people with communication and swallowing disorders. Nazareth’s individualized curriculum is based on your career interests and on your educational background, to prepare you for three credentials: the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP), New York State license, and Teachers of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD) (required to work with children in preschool-21 years).
Nazareth’s traditional program is for students with an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders (or equivalent). An extended program is available for students with a degree in another field. The application deadline is February 1.
Nazareth’s SLP graduates consistently have 100% pass rates on the Praxis examination and 100% employment after graduation.
Learn more: Office of Graduate Admissions
For More Information
Julie Long | Chief PR Officer | jlong2@naz.edu | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (cell)
Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.
