Elborn College 1510, Tel: 519-661-2001
Communication Sciences and Disorders offers Master of Clinical Science (MClSc) degrees in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
PREPARATORY PROGRAM - AUDIOLOGY
Applicants to the Audiology program who do not possess a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders or equivalent must complete a two-term "Preparatory Program." The aim of this program is to introduce students to the discipline of Audiology and to provide students with the intensive background preparation in hearing, speech, and language sciences needed to pursue graduate work in Audiology. During these two terms (Fall and Winter), Preparatory Program students are registered as "Special Undergraduate" students and pay tuition in accordance with the undergraduate fee schedule.
Effective September 1, 2010, the preparatory year will no longer be required for students completing professional training leading to an MClSc in Speech-Language Pathology.
Admission Requirements - Audiology
Applicants who hold an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, or the equivalent, may be eligible for direct admission into the graduate portion of the program in Audiology. Applicants with academic backgrounds in disciplines other than Communication Sciences and Disorders may be eligible for admission into the preparatory year portion of the program before progressing to the graduate portion of the program. The first year of studies for these students consists of a preparatory year followed by the two-year master's level portion of the program. The number of openings to both the two- and three-year portions of the program is limited and varies from year to year.
All applicants, regardless of background preparation, complete and submit the same Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service (ORPAS) application. Based on applicants' background preparation, the members of the Admissions Committee of School of Communication Sciences and Disorders will decide which portion of the program is appropriate for each applicant.
Entry to the graduate program in Audiology is on a competitive basis. Outstanding applicants holding an undergraduate degree will be considered. An applicant who holds an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, or the equivalent (with a minimum "B" average in the 10.0 courses most recently taken) may apply to the two-year Master's degree program in Audiology.
Applicants with degrees in disciplines other than Communication Sciences and Disorders are eligible to apply to enter the preparatory year. Such applicants must:
- have successfully completed a four-year degree prior to entering the program. A one-year BEd degree is not considered equivalent to the fourth year of a bachelor's degree.
- have successfully completed:
a) a statistics course, equivalent to Western's Psychology 2810 (preferably taken in a Psychology Department), and
b) a developmental psychology course, equivalent to Western's Psychology 2410A/B.
- have maintained a minimum "B" average in the 10.0 courses most recently completed.
- have completed a minimum of 14 hours of supervised experience in a setting that offers service to people with communication disorders, and provide a completed Clinical Reference Form, included in the ORPAS application.
- provide at least two letters of academic reference. Applicants who have not taken courses at the university level for more than five years may provide references from employers or professional colleagues who are able to comment on their suitability for graduate studies.
- complete the "Statement of Intent" that is part of the ORPAS online application.
If applications are similar in all other aspects, preference will be given to applicants who not only have completed the above courses, but who have included course work in the following areas: Communication Sciences and Disorders, Linguistics, Hearing Science, Physical and Biological Sciences and Psychology.
Applicants whose first language is not English require a minimum TOEFL score of 620 (or a minimum of 260 on the computer-based version or a minimum of 105 on the internet-based version) or equivalent, e.g., MELAB or IELTS, for admission.
Students who, after admission, show an inadequate command of spoken or written English must improve their proficiency to the School's satisfaction. Students may be asked to withdraw from the program if their inadequate command of English interferes with their ability to provide professional services.
Applicants should be aware that the number of students who seek admission to the program considerably exceeds the number of places that are available.
Admission Requirements - Speech-Language Pathology
Effective September 1, 2010, the preparatory year will no longer be required for students completing professional training leading to an MClSc in Speech-Language Pathology in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Entry requirements for this revised graduate program will change, and are different from those required for the professional program in Audiology. The revised two-year graduate MClSc curriculum in Speech-Language Pathology will be offered beginning
September 1, 2011.
Entry to the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology is on a competitive basis. Outstanding applicants holding an undergraduate degree will be considered. Such applicants must:
- have completed a four-year degree successfully prior to entering the program. A one-year BEd degree is not considered equivalent to the fourth year of a bachelor's degree.
- have completed successfully the following six prerequisite half courses:
i. Developmental Psychology or Child Development 1
ii. Introduction to Linguistics 1,2
iii. Statistics
iv. Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Physiological Psychology, Neuroscience or equivalent.
v. Life/Biomedical/General Sciences that cover basic processes important for communication sciences and communication disorders. Acceptable courses include Anatomy, Neuroscience, Physiology, Physics, Biology, Pharmacology, or equivalent.
vi. Social Science/Psychology/Linguistics covering basic human processes important for communication sciences and communication disorders. Acceptable courses include: Physiological Psychology, Neuropsychology, Perception, Learning and Memory, Normal Lifespan Development, Cognition, Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Language Acquisition, Phonetics, Phonology, Semantics, Syntax, Pragmatics, Introduction to Speech and Language Disorders, or equivalent.
1 At least one of these courses must include a section on normal language acquisition/development.
2 Must include a section on phonetics.
It is recommended that applicants take additional courses listed in v) and vi).
- have maintained a minimum "B" average in the 10.0 courses most recently completed.
- have completed a minimum of 14 hours of supervised experience in a setting that offers service to people with communication disorders and provide a completed Clinical Reference Form, included in the ORPAS application.
- provide at least two letters of academic reference. Applicants who have not taken courses at the university level for more than five years may provide references from employers or professional colleagues who are able to comment on their suitability for graduate studies.
- complete the "Statement of Intent" that is part of the ORPAS online application.
Applicants whose first language is not English require a minimum TOEFL score of 620 (or a minimum of 260 on the computer-based version or a minimum of 105 on the internet-based version) or equivalent, e.g., MELAB or IELTS, for admission.
Students who, after admission, show an inadequate command of spoken or written English must improve their proficiency to the School's satisfaction. Students may be asked to withdraw from the program if their inadequate command of English interferes with their ability to provide professional services.
Applicants should be aware that the number of students who seek admission to the program considerably exceeds the number of places that are available.
Application Deadline
Applications for admission must be completed (including all supporting documents) by January 15, for entry in the Fall of the next academic year.
Application forms for the program may be obtained from:
Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service (ORPAS)
Ontario Universities' Application Centre
170 Research Lane
Guelph, ON N1G 5E2
website: www.ouac.on.ca/orpas/
Major Area of Study
Students applying to the program must specify whether they wish to enter Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology.
Progression in Audiology
Students must achieve a minimum overall academic average of 70% with a passing grade of 60% in each course of the preparatory portion of the program. After successful completion of the preparatory portion of the program, students will be admitted to the graduate portion of the program in Audiology.
Preparatory Year in Audiology
The following courses are part of the program, but may not be required courses for all students:
Communication Sciences and Disorders 4411F/G, 4412A/B, 4417A/B, 4423A/B, 4439A/B, 4442A/B, 4497A/B, Anatomy and Cell Biology 2225.
Each student must seek academic counselling from the School to establish the individual's course requirements during the preparatory year.
Certification/Registration
Graduates of the MClSc degree meet all existing requirements for membership in and certification by the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA); membership in the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA); and licensing from the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). Registration with CASLPO is required by law for professionals in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology practising in Ontario.
Obtain regulations regarding eligibility for practice in Canada from:
The Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
410 Jarvis Street
Toronto, Ontario M4Y 2G6
The Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists National Office
130 Albert St., Suite 2006
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4
SR.06/2009
FACULTIES 