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M.S. Program Frequently Asked Questions & Resources

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The application deadline is January 15, 2026 at 8:59 pm, PST (11:59 pm, EST) for Fall 2026 admission. Please carefully review the Resources and FAQs below.

Resources

Application Process Timeline

M.S. Program Application Process and Admission Offers

Application Information
Application for	Application Opening Date	Application Closing Date (the Deadline*)	Notification for an Invitation-only Open House to top 100 applicants
Fall 2026	October 1, 2025	January 15, 2026 (8:59pm PST) (or 11:59pm EST)	Starting Early March

*Application files will be reviewed and ranked by the Graduate Committee after the deadline. Late submission of applications or applications that are incomplete by January 15, 2026 deadline will not be reviewed. Make sure that you apply to both CSDCAS and CSU APPLY. All application materials (letter of statement, three letters of recommendation, and official college-level transcripts) are due to ONLY the CSDCAS (CSDCAS).

The only required document due to CSU APPLY is transcripts from all institutions.
Please upload the following to the Cal State Apply application:

Upload unofficial transcripts from the institution at which you received or will receive your bachelor’s degree.
If the following also apply to your academic history, please also include the following under the Optional Documents section using Unofficial Transcript upload:
- If you completed less than 60 semester units at the institution at which you earned a bachelor’s degree, upload all other college transcripts.
- If you have already earned a bachelor’s degree and have taken courses after completing the degree, upload those transcripts.
- If you are required to provide evidence of meeting the English Language Proficiency requirement, please upload the appropriate evidence as well.
- Please visit the Office of Graduate Studies website to ensure your application is complete or if you have any questions before submitting your application.

Note: If you receive a formal offer of admission, the offer will be contingent upon receiving OFFICIAL transcripts and test scores, if applicable. OFFICIAL transcripts will be required and must be submitted to the Office of Admissions. Please monitor the “Task List” in your student portal for required documents. Final official transcripts must include all grades and degrees earned.

Transcript Verification can be directed to CSDCAS at 617-612-2064 (or adonnelly@liaison-intl.com) or to CSUF Admissions Office at 657-278-7601 (or our Admissions Website). Because it may take 4 to 6 weeks for CSDCAS to process and verify your transcripts, you are strongly advised to submit your transcripts at least six weeks prior to the deadline (January 15, 2026, 8: 59 pm PST). However, make sure that your submitted electronic transcripts must have a grade for at least eight CSD courses, and a mention of the remaining four CSD courses and one statistics course.

Please note that once you’ve submitted your application to CSDCAS, you may not be able to modify or update it.

Below is the tentative timeline for our application process and admission offer.
Date/Month	Description
January 15	Application Deadline- No later than 8:59 pm, Pacific Standard Time (PST) (The deadline of CSDCAS is 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time)
February	Reviews of the Applications
Early March	Invitation to Open House (only the top 100 applicants) (Date: TBA)
Late March	Admission offers will be extended
March 20th	Initial response from the applicants to the admission offer
April 15th	Final deadline to accept the admission offer
Within 1-2 weeks after accepting the offer	Selected applicants (hence force, students) will receive an official admission letter from the Admissions Office. Upon receiving the letter, students will need to go to their student Titan portal to OFFICIALLY accept the university’s admission offer and pay the fee.
June - July	Students will be receiving emails about their Individual Study Schedule (ISS), course deficits (e.g., COMD 404), ASHA CCC-requirements (Biological science, physical science course), credential requirements (PSYC 361, SPED 371), and required 25 observation hours, etc.

Application Checklists

1. You will first apply online through CSU APPLY (For any questions, please refer to NEW Cal State APPLY Instructions or contact the Admissions office)

Please upload the following to the Cal State Apply application:

Upload unofficial transcripts from the institution at which you received or will receive your bachelor’s degree.
If the following also apply to your academic history, please also include the following under the Optional Documents section using Unofficial Transcript upload:
- If you completed less than 60 semester units at the institution at which you earned a bachelor’s degree, upload all other college transcripts.
- If you have already earned a bachelor’s degree and have taken courses after completing the degree, upload those transcripts.
- If you are required to provide evidence of meeting the English Language Proficiency requirement, please upload the appropriate evidence as well.
- Please visit the Office of Graduate Studies website to ensure your application is complete or if you have any questions before submitting your application.

2. You will then go to CSDCAS. Follow the instructions to create your account and submit the following materials online through CSDCAS:

A letter of intent (also known as a ‘personal statement or essay’)
Three letters of recommendation (one from CSD faculty or instructor, another one from a supervisor in the field, and the third one from either)
Enter your grade for all college or university courses as instructed by CSDCAS.
- Your GPA will be computed automatically based on only the CSD major courses.
- For any repeated classes, the CSDCAS system will use an average of the two grades.
Submit electronic official transcripts from all the universities and/or community colleges that you have ever attended.

Notes: GRE score is NOT a requirement for admission.

Refer to the CSD website for more information (e.g., application procedures, timeline, admission requirements, FAQs, etc.)

It is your responsibility to check the completion of your application status at CSDCAS and complete your CSUF APPLY.

Late submission or incomplete application will be NOT reviewed!

Admission Requirements

1. Minimum requirements for entrance into the master’s degree program include:

A bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) (also known as Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology or Speech-Language Pathology, or Speech and Hearing Sciences).
Completion of 12 CSD courses
A statistics course

If you attended a program outside CSUF, or are attending a preparation or leveling program that offers only 10 CSD courses, you then must have at least 9 of the 10 courses that are the equivalent to listed courses below, and complete two additional courses by the end of Spring or Summer 2025. Applicants with less than 12 CSDs or have one or more course deficits (i.e., non-equivalencies) will NOT be considered for admission.

By the ﬁrst day of the fall 2026 semester, if the applicant whose B.A./B.S. degree in CSD is not conﬁrmed or fails to complete 12 CSD prerequisites (including the 9 equivalent courses below) and one statistics class, their conditional admission will be revoked.

Nine Required Equivalent Courses

COMD 241 Introduction to Phonetics (3)
COMD 242 Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders (3)
COMD 307 Speech & Language Development (3)
COMD 344 Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Hearing Mechanism
COMD 350 Speech & Hearing Science (3)
COMD 352 Child Language & Phonological Disorders (3)
COMD 461 Audiology & Audiometry (3)
COMD 474 Neurology & Neurogenic Communication Sciences and Disorders (3)
COMD 476 Clinical Methods and Procedures (3)

2. A GPA of 3.0 or above is the minimum requirement for application, but successful applicants generally have above 3.7 GPA in the CSD courses.

3. Two copies of electronic transcripts from all college-level institutions (that the applicant has attended) must be submitted to the Cal State Apply and the CSDCAS.

4. A letter of intent/personal statement or essay from the applicant should highlight their personal qualities, relevant work experience, and future potential (clinical, personal) for working effectively with individuals and communities from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, academic history, professional interests, future career goals in obtaining an M.S. degree in CSD at CSUF.
**The essay may NOT exceed 5,500 characters (about 650-700 words) to be accepted by Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS), an online application website. Characters include spaces, carriage returns, and other formatting.

5. Three letters of recommendation from people familiar with the applicant's academic potential, clinical or ﬁeld experience, and/or work ethics. See below for the detail:

Letter #1 from someone who can speak to the applicant’s academic potential (e.g., a Communication Sciences and Disorders faculty member whose class you have taken)
Letter #2 from someone who can speak to the applicant’s clinical potential (e.g., SLPA or other type of clinical supervisor)
Letter #3 from anyone the student chooses who can speak to either their academic or clinical potential (this person does not have to be a CSD faculty member or professional)

6. International students’ TOEFL scores must be at least 550. For other requirements speciﬁc to international students (e.g., transcript veriﬁcation, etc.), check International Graduate Admission.

Important notes:

All material must be received by January 15, 2026, 8:59 pm (Paciﬁc Standard Time). It is best to submit materials well in advance (about 4-6 weeks before the deadline) so that the applicant will have a chance to verify receipt of materials and take corrective action if necessary.
The application with any missing information or unmet criteria of items #1 through #5 and/or #6 (if applicable) will be considered ‘incomplete’ and will not be reviewed.
GRE score is NOT required.
For more information, refer to the CSD website.

Application Procedures

The Cal State University-Fullerton (CSUF) Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) master’s program will process applications using an online service, Communication Science and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS). This online application shall be required in addition to the mandatory application submitted at Cal State APPLY.

The CSDCAS is administered by an independent third-party provider and is not associated with the California State University or the CSU APPLY application system. The CSDCAS is a fee-based service that enables applicants to apply to multiple institutions conveniently. All applicants to CSUF’s M.S. program in Communication Sciences and Disorders must submit applications to BOTH the Cal State APPLY and CSDCAS. Hard copy application materials will NO longer be required, nor reviewed by the university.

Application Deadline

Completed applications must be received by January 15th, 8:59 pm PST (11:59 pm EST) of the admission year. It is the responsibility of an applicant to ensure the completion of both CSDCAS and Cal State APPLY by the posted deadline. Neither incomplete applications nor late submissions will be reviewed.

Contact Information

For CSDCAS Inquiries:
Refer to their FAQ or contact CSDCAS Customer Service

Available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, EST at 617) 612-2030, or email them at csdcasinfo@csdcas.org

For CSUF Application Inquiries:
Refer to Cal State APPLY FAQs

For any additional questions you may have or any unaddressed questions regarding the application, please email:

Dr. Chakraborty (Graduate Advisor): rchakraborty@fullerton.edu
Dr. Seung (Department Chair): hseung@fullerton.edu

The Two-Step Application Process for all Applicants

Step 1 – Apply to Cal State APPLY

Apply to the CSD M.S. program, submit an official copy of transcripts for your college-level courses from all institutions (Cal State University-Fullerton; Admission Office; P.O. Box 6900; Fullerton, CA 92834), and pay the application fee to CSUF Admissions Office by January 15th at 8:59 pm PST (11:59 pm EST) of the admission year. The completion of CSU APPLY will allow the Admissions Office to assess your overall admissibility to the university and provide you with access to the CSUF Student Portal.

NO need to submit your personal statement/essay or letters of recommendation to CSU APPLY. If asked by the CSU APPLY system, you will simply state “not applicable” to move to the next step.

Step 2 – Apply to CSDCAS

You will create an account and submit the required application materials:

A letter of intent/personal statement or an essay,
Three letters of recommendation (two from instructors, one from a clinical/work supervisor)
Electronic copy of official transcripts to CSDCAS from all institutions

To meet the application deadline of January 15th, 8:59 pm PST (11:59 pm EST), it is best that you request your transcripts at least 4 to 6 weeks in advance.

Your application will NOT be considered unless you have completed both CSU APPLY and CSDCAS processes with the required materials.

12 CSD Prerequisites

Students with a B.A. or B.S. in a major other than Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) must complete 12 CSD prerequisites with the equivalency of the following NINE courses prior to matriculating in the master's degree program:

COMD 241 Introduction to Phonetics (3)
COMD 242 Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders (3)
COMD 307 Speech & Language Development (3)
COMD 344 Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Hearing Mechanism
COMD 350 Speech & Hearing Science (3)
COMD 352 Child Language & Phonological Disorders(3)
COMD 461 Audiology & Audiometry (3)
COMD 474 Neurology & Neurogenic Communication Sciences & Disorders (3)
COMD 476 Clinical Methods and Procedures (3)

To apply to the CSUF CSD M.S. program for Fall 2026, students must have completed 12 CSD courses from an ASHA accredited program. If you attended a program outside CSUF, or are attending a preparation or leveling program that offers only 10 CSD courses, you then must have at least 9 of the 10 courses that are the equivalent to the above listed courses, and complete two additional courses by the end of Spring or Summer 2026. Applicants with less than 12 CSDs or have one or more course deficits (i.e., non-equivalencies) will NOT be considered for admission.

COMD 404 Communication Development/Disorders in Children from Culturally/Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds (3) is a prerequisite for a clinical practicum scheduled in the 1st semester of the Master’s program. We advise students to complete this course in addition to the 12 CSD courses by Spring 2026. If not, admitted students need to take COMD 404 in the first semester of the graduate program.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the procedure for applying for the next fall admission year?

For information on applying to our graduate program for the next fall admission year, please carefully review the instructions on the Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) website.

2. What is CSDCAS?

The Communication Science and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS) is an independent third-party provider that is not associated with the California State University (CSU).
All required documents for M.S. applicants will be submitted directly only to CSDCAS. No hard copy of application materials will be accepted at CSUF-Dept. of Communication Science and Disorders.

3. Why CSDCAS? What does it do?

The CSDCAS website will allow you to submit required materials where the CSUF-CSD graduate committee will access and review your files. You will only need to do onetime submission of application materials. After this submission, your files are then accessible to other participating ASHA accredited CSD programs of your own choice. In other words, CSDCAS enables applicants to conveniently apply to multiple institutions.

4. Is there an application fee involved in utilizing CSDCAS?

Yes. The CSDCAS is a fee-based service.Using their services requires you to pay a separate application fee.
There is a fee waiver program available for those who meet the income level. Refer to CSDCAS Inquiry Form for the details.

5. If I have questions about CSDCAS, who do I contact?

You will first carefully review CSDCAS FAQs , and contact CSDCAS Customer Service (available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST)
Phone: (617) 612-2030
Email: csdcasinfo@csdcas.org

6. I am applying to the M.S. program through CSDCAS, but have not completed or submitted my application yet. Can I begin the process of having the required documents sent to CSDCAS?

After creating a CSDCAS account, you can request the required documents sent to CSDCAS.

7. Is the required "statement of purpose" from the Cal State APPLY application the same as the essay question that is required on the CSDCAS application?

The request for a “statement of purpose” shown on the Cal State Apply application does NOT apply to Communication Sciences and Disorders applicants. The Statement of Purpose is ONLY for the CSDCAS. You will enter ‘not applicable.’ in Cal State Apply to skip this request.

8. Are GRE, CBEST, or any other scores required to be submitted for the graduate program application?

Neither the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) nor the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST) scores are required for applying to the M.S. program at CSUF.

9. Do I send materials or documents for my application directly to the department?

No application materials are due to the department. Any documents received in the department office will NOT be considered or reviewed.

To CSDCAS: All your application materials (including a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, & a copy of college-level transcripts from all institutions) are due to CSDCAS.

To Cal State APPLY: A $70 application processing fee and a copy of college-level unofficial transcripts from all institutions should be submitted in Cal State APPLY. However, when they are admitted, official transcripts must be sent to the Office of Admissions.

The application deadline for both CSDCAS and Cal State APPLY is the same for January 15, 2026 at 8:59 pm PST (11:59 pm EST).

10. If I do not have a background in Communication Sciences and Disorders or have been out of school for more than two years, who should I ask to write the letters of recommendation for me?

Obtain letters from your former professors who taught you the CSD classes and/or are familiar with your academic work.

To Cal State APPLY: A $70 application processing fee and a copy of college-level unofficial transcripts from all institutions and evidence of meeting the English Language Proficiency requirement (if applicable) should be submitted in Cal State APPLY. Once admitted, official transcripts and test scores must be sent to the Office of Admissions .

11. Three letters of recommendation from people familiar with the applicant's academicpotential , clinical or field experience, and/or work ethics. See below for the detail.

Letter #1 from someone who can speak to the applicant’s academic potential (e.g., a Communication Sciences and Disorders faculty member whose class you have taken)
Letter #2 from someone who can speak to the applicant’s clinical potential (e.g., SLPA or other type of clinical supervisor)
Letter #3 from anyone the student chooses who can speak to either their academic or clinical potential (this person does not have to be a COMD faculty member or professional)

12. Can the letters of recommendation be submitted in a hard copy and/or manually

NO. All references must be submitted electronically through CSDCAS.

The Department will NO LONGER accept a hard copy of the letters of recommendation.

13. Does the admission committee review applications in the order they were received, and/or do they accept applicants on a rolling basis for admission?

NO. The graduate admission committee does not admit applicants on a rolling basis. Following the submission deadline, all applications are reviewed simultaneously, regardless of when you completed or submitted your application.
Submission after the posted deadline or an incomplete application will not be reviewed.

14. Once I have completed and submitted my application through CSDCAS, what may I expect?

Please refer to the Timeline for Application Process and Admission Offers tab above.

15. What are the GPA and Course Requirements?

ONLY CSD courses GPA will be considered.
For the details of GPA calculation, refer to CSDCAS GPA Calculation website.

16. Do I need to compute and submit my GPA?

NO. Although CSDCAS system will automatically compute your GPA, you are encouraged to use the CSDCAS GPA calculator.

17. To whom do I send my official transcripts?

You are required to submit two sets of official college-level transcripts to both the CSDCAS and Cal State APPLY (The CSUF Admissions Office). The electronic submission of transcripts is located on the CSUF Admissions Office website.
Refer to the CSDCAS for the Link to send an electronic transcript to the CSDCAS.

18. Should I wait for my grade report for the fall term before sending in my transcripts?

Suppose your transcripts show at least 8 of the 12 CSD course grades when submitting your application, with four remaining CSD courses and one statistics class scheduled in Spring 2026. In that case, you are strongly encouraged to submit your transcripts ASAP or at least 4-6 weeks before the deadline of January 15th to avoid any delay in verifying your application at the CSDCAS Office.

19. Will my application be rejected if I only complete less than eight CSD courses and a statistics course by the deadline of January 15, 2026?

Yes! An applicant who has taken less than eight CSD courses or has not taken a statistics class will not be considered in the review process.

20. Is completion of eight CSD courses and one statistics class sufficient at the time of submitting my application?

Yes, your application will be considered, provided the remaining four courses are scheduled to be completed in spring 2026. Your official transcript should show the completion of the 12 CSD courses and one Statistics course before fall 2026 if admitted; otherwise, your admission offer will be revoked.

21. Should my course content must match the CSUF COMD courses?

At least 9 of the 12 CSD courses should be equivalent to the CSUF COMD courses listed below:

COMD 241- Introduction to Phonetics (3)
COMD 242 - Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders (3)
COMD 307 - Speech & Language Development (3)
COMD 344 - Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Hearin Mechanism (3)
COMD 350 - Speech & Hearing Science (3)
COMD 352 - Child Language & Phonological Disorders (3)
COMD 461 - Audiology & Audiometry (3)
COMD 474 - Neurology & Neurogenic Communication Sciences & Disorders (3)
COMD 476 - Clinical Methods and Procedures (3)

Please refer to the application requirements and M.S. application checklist tab above.

22. If I attended or am attending a leveling course program that only offers 10 CSD courses, am I eligible for graduate admission?

NO, you must have completed 12 CSD courses, with 9 of them being the equivalent courses to the CSUF COMD courses.

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