Applying to the Ph.D. Program
The doctoral program at Penn State strives to prepare high-quality researchers to serve as leaders in the field of communication sciences and disorders.
Since the intent of the doctoral program is to prepare outstanding researchers and scholars to assume leadership roles within the field of communication sciences and disorders, only high-caliber students who demonstrate strong academic performance and research potential are accepted into the doctoral program. Admission is very competitive.
Students who enter the Ph.D. program in Communication Sciences and Disorders should have already obtained a master's degree in CSD or a related field.
Students who hold a master's degree outside of CSD may choose to seek the master's degree in CSD along the way to earning a Ph.D., but this is not a requirement.
Application timeline
| October 1 | Application opens for fall admission |
| December 15 | For full consideration of funding, all application materials must be received by this date |
| February 1 | Final application deadline |
| Early spring | Applicants will be notified of admission decisions in writing |
Accepted student profile
Students accepted into the doctoral program have:
- A cumulative GPA in their master’s program of well above a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Outstanding letters of recommendation documenting their performance and their potential as researchers and scholars
- A written statement of scholarly interests and research career goals
Penn State checked off all the boxes for me — great program reputation, an advisor that I was particularly interested in working with, and a general region of the country that appealed to me.
Admissions requirements
Preparing your application
Identify potential advisors
You can review graduate faculty profiles and departmental labs here. An in-person or virtual meeting (“interview”) with your potential research advisor is required prior to submitting your application.
Review requirements for graduate admission
All applicants to the Graduate School at Penn State, must meet Academic Eligibility Requirements. Applicants should review these requirements before beginning an application.
If you hold a master's degree from Penn State, or you are currently enrolled in a Penn State master's program, the application process is different due to your status as a Penn State graduate student. Please contact the graduate program assistant for more information on the application process.
Application materials
You will be asked to upload the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of purpose/personal statement
- See below for details
- Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended, both undergraduate and graduate. For those applicants still completing their graduate degree, official transcripts must include their fall semester coursework. Notarized copies are not sufficient. International applicants must submit official or attested university records, with certified translations if the records are not in English.
- Students who enter the Ph.D. program in Communication Sciences and Disorders should have already obtained a master's degree in CSD or a related field. Students who hold a master's degree outside of CSD may choose to seek the master's degree in CSD along the way to earning a Ph.D., but this is not a requirement.
- Optional GRE scores should be submitted electronically directly to the Graduate School using code 2660. If choosing to send GRE scores, note that scores are only reportable for up to 5 years following your test date.
- The inclusion or the non-inclusion of GRE scores will not alter applicants' chance of acceptance into the program. Applicants are encouraged to submit GRE scores to provide evidence of their technical and/or writing skills in the absence of other supporting evidence. It is recommended that applicants have GRE scores greater than the fiftieth percentile on the verbal and quantitative sections and a 4.5 or above on the writing section.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores, if applicable, are submitted electronically to the Graduate School using code 2660.
Personal statement
The personal statement should be a letter of intent documenting your scholarly interests, career goals, and reasons for pursuing a doctoral degree. Personal statements should be written in narrative form.
In 2 single spaced pages (1-inch margins, 11-point font), address the following questions:
- Why are you pursuing a doctoral degree?
- What are your career goals?
- Describe your specific research interests. What research questions do you hope to address? Why are you interested in these questions?
- Why do you believe that the Penn State CSD doctoral program best meets your needs? Name the faculty members in CSD with whom you have discussed your research interests.
- Discuss any previous research, teaching, or clinical service experience you have.
- Talk about a challenge you’ve experienced and how you handled it. Please note what you learned from this experience and how it might impact your future career. If accepted to the Penn State program, what strengths would you bring to our community?
- In the Penn State CSD Program, we believe that all children and adults have the right to experience life with functional communication and to experience and participate to their fullest potential in achieving education, vocational, and social goals in a climate that fosters a spirit of respect, optimism, and joyfulness. Describe how your work will further our vision by incorporating issues related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into your research and teaching goals.
Application decisions
Applications are reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Applicants will be notified of admission decisions in writing in early Spring.
