Graduate School Application for the Ph.D. Program   

Please read the instructions for the online Graduate School Application carefully. Following the instructions will expedite processing your application. You must submit your application to the Graduate School Admissions Office by February 1st for admission. Because the Graduate School will not accept paper applications, you must apply online. In addition, the application fee is non-refundable and can be paid by credit card (Mastercard or Visa), Debit/ ATM card, personal check, or money order, drawn on a U.S. bank. After you submit your application you will be directed to the fee payment section. Please do not send cash. The application fee is $56.00 USD if you pay either by personal check or money order, it must be drawn on a U.S. bank, and made out to University of Wisconsin-Madison. Be sure to write your birth date on your check, so that the check can be matched to your online application. The Department of Communicative Disorders cannot make a recommendation for admission until your application fee has been received by the Graduate School.

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Department Application for the Ph.D. Program

The Department of Communicative Disorders requires electronic submission of the following as part of the online application process to the Graduate School:

(1) a letter describing your purposes for graduate study in communicative disorders

(2) three letters of recommendation, two of which should come from faculty members who have knowledge of your academic performance. The third letter of recommendation can come from a clinical supervisor, employer, or another individual who has knowledge of your academic potential and likelihood for success in graduate school.

(3) the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). It is your responsibility to make sure that the test scores are sent to UW-Madison; use the institution code 1846 when requesting that the test scores from ETS. The code for the department is 0620 for Speech and Language. Test scores must be received by the February 1 deadline for your application to be considered.

In addition, you will need to send the following directly to the Department of Communicative Disorders

(1) Two complete sets of official transcripts from each school you attended including the most recent semester (course work from one institution, listed as transfer credits on a transcript, does not serve as the official transcript for those credits).  One set of transcripts will remain in the Department of Communicative Disorders; we will send the second set to the Graduate School if you are admitted to the doctoral program.

After you have submitted a completed application form online to the Graduate School by February 1, the Department of Communicative Disorders will download your application directly from the Graduate School. Please check the Graduate School Online Application page to see if your application is complete. Some useful lists to help you when completing your application can be found at: (Application Checklist), (Helpful Hints for applying to Graduate School) 

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International Student Application for the Ph.D. Program

If your native language is not English, or your undergraduate instruction was not in English, you must do the following:

(1) provide official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).  If you are admitted to the Graduate School and your TOEFL (paper-based) test score is below 580; TOEFL computer-based test (CBT) score is below 237; TOEFL internet score (TOEFL-iBT) is below 92, MELAB score is below 82, or IELTS score is below 7, you must take an English assessment test upon arrival. Depending on your score, you may need to register for any recommended English as a Second Language (ESL) course(s) in the first semester you are enrolled. 

(2) provide evidence of financial support for the period of study; you can find information regarding finances at http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/admin/admissions/financialinfo.html.

(3) send your international academic records, in the original language accompanied by an official English translation, directly to the

Department of Communicative Disorders
1975 Willow Drive, Rm 318
Madison, WI 53706

These documents must contain the official seal/stamp and official signatures of the issuing institution. You must also send a set of descriptions of the courses list on the transcripts and/or certificates. Additional Graduate School admission requirements may be found at: http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/admissions/requirements.html

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Financial Assistance

The department is committed to providing financial assistance to students in the Ph.D. Program and makes every effort possible to provide financial assistance to students in the M.S./Ph.D. Program. Specific questions regarding funding should be directed to the Department of Communicative Disorders Financial Aids Chair or the Student Status Examiner.

Several sources of financial assistance are available. These include:

Assistance through the University of Wisconsin - Madison

(1) Graduate Fellowships

Fellows are selected on the basis of academic excellence.  Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required, as well as transcripts and letters of recommendation.  Fellowships are typically awarded to students who place in the upper 2-4% of all graduate students on this campus. Because of the difficulty inherent in reviewing academic records from countries in which a language other than English is spoken, foreign students (except from English speaking countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, etc.) are usually not considered for Graduate School Fellowships until after they have successfully completed two semesters of study on a U.S. campus. 

Graduate Fellowships are given to incoming students only. Fellows are required to be full time students. Because fellowships are intended to encourage maximum progress toward a graduate degree, fellows in their first year of graduate study may not hold a job or other remunerative appointment simultaneously with their fellowship.  Current policy permits remission of out-of-state tuition for non-residents, but all fellows must pay in-state tuition. Most students supported by a fellowship for their first year will need to find assistance for subsequent years from other sources.

(2) Vilas Fellowships

Fifty Vilas Fellowships for the entire campus are awarded each year. These fellowships are for an academic year and provide a stipend of $600 plus remission of out-of-state tuition.  Students are eligible for nomination only if they have a bachelor's or master's degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Vilas Fellows are selected from departmental nominations sent to the Fellowships Office. Awards are typically made to students who place in the upper 2-4% of all graduate students on this campus. Vilas Fellows are required to be full time students.

(3) Advanced Opportunity Fellowships

The Advanced Opportunity Fellowship (OAF) is available for minority/disadvantaged graduate students.  Recipients are selected from departmental nominations sent to the Fellowships Office. To be eligible, a nominee must be: (a) a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident, (b) admitted or enrolled in a graduate department at any level of graduate study, and (c) be a member of a traditionally under-represented minority or be an educationally disadvantaged person.

Preference is given to nominees who meet the following selection criteria: (a) membership in one of the following under-represented minority groups: African American (Black); North American Indian, or Alaskan native; Mexican-American/Chicano; Puerto Rican; or Southeast Asian (Cambodian/Hmong, Laotian, Vietnamese), (b) Wisconsin residency, (c) enrolled in an area of study that represents an under-represented discipline, and (d) educationally disadvantaged (i.e., have not had opportunity for access to primary, secondary, and college education that provides adequate preparation for graduate study and have not had the expectation and encouragement to pursue graduate education as a viable option). There is no specified experience or work requirement. AOF awards recipients are responsible for in-state tuition and are required to be full time students.

(4) E. B. Fred Fellowships

These fellowships are awarded for only one semester; they are designed for individuals who are pursuing doctoral study after at least a five-year interruption in their education, as these individuals are at a disadvantage in the competition for other forms of financial assistance. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required. While students may apply directly for this fellowship, rather than being nominated by their department, some statement of endorsement or intent to admit the student will be requested from the department.  Because foreign students are required to complete two semester of scholarship level work at an American university before they are eligible for consideration for graduate fellowships, most foreign students will not qualify for an E.B Fred fellowship.

 

Employment within the Department of Communicative Disorders on Research Grants

(1) Project Assistantships (PA)

Project Assistants are hired by faculty and staff who have research grants. Procedures to select a Project Assistant (PA) include personal interviews to determine the candidate's background and skills relative to the needs of the project. Criteria may include job-related experiences, areas of professional interest, interpersonal skills, transportation availability and scheduling requisites, as well as current and projected academic plans.  Appointments are generally on an annual basis, with an expectation of 20 hours of work per week.  A PA is expected to be enrolled as a full-time graduate student.  Appointment to a 50% PA position includes tuition remission. A fringe benefits package is also available. The University and Graduate School have specific policies governing PA appointments.  

(2) Research Assistants

Research Assistants are hired, typically for 10 hours of work per week, to assist faculty on their research projects.The hourly wage is dependent on the kinds of skills that are required and the student's experience.

Other Employment within the Department of Communicative Disorders

(1) Readers and graders for undergraduate courses, as needed, are recruited by faculty who teach courses that have high enrollments or require intensive and timely student feedback. While availably of these positions is not predictable semester to semester, students who are interested should inform the graduate advisor of their desire to be considered for such a position. Decisions are based on academic and clinical performance.

Additional Funding Opportunities

(1) There are bulletin boards in various locations in the Department of Communicative Disorders that contain information on financial assistance, job opportunities, etc., as they become available. 

(2) Wisconsin Speech-Language-Hearing Association (WSHA) Foundation Scholarships

WSHA scholarships are awarded each year to second year master's students or doctoral students, following a competition among applicants throughout the state of Wisconsin. Student scholarships include:

  • Stanley Ewanowski Scholastic Award
  • Friends of WSHA Foundation Scholarship
  • Judith H. and David J. Ward Scholarship
  • Gladys McKinley Scholarship
  • Nancy McKinley Scholarship
  • Jack Kile Scholarship
  • Risa Mari Otto Scholarship
  • Judy Kulpa Scholarship

In addition there is one research grant

  • Vicki Lord Larson & James R. Larson Research Grant

Information regarding specific criteria as well as how and when to apply for a scholarship or research grant can be found under WSHA Foundation at the WSHA website  www.wisha.org.
 

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Student Status Examiner

Teri Van Genderen - email
Phone: (608) 262-6464
Fax #: (608) 262-6466

Program Advisor

You will be assigned an advisor when you start the program.

Financial Aid Chair

See your program advisor.

 

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