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Admissions Requirements

The general education requirements for the Communication Science degree have been modified for students entering the Communication Science major in fall term 2021. Students entering the program in fall term 2020 can follow either requirements.

General Education and Related Requirements

It is not necessary to complete all courses listed below prior to application to the major, but it is advisable to include as many of these courses as possible in the 60 required credits. Some outstanding general education or related requirements courses can be completed while enrolled in the Communication Science program.

  • Basic Writing (or exemption), 3 credits
  • College Math, 3 credits
  • Statistics, 4 credits 
  • English composition, 3 credits
  • Intensive Writing (one approved ‘W’ course)
  • Foreign Language, 6 credits (satisfied by 3 years high school foreign language)
  • English or American Literature, 3 credits
  • Music or Art, 3 credits
  • Literature, music, art or creative expression (3 credits)
  • History, 3 credits
  • Philosophy of Science, 3 credits 
  • International Culture, 6 credits
  • International Culture (non-western), 3 credits 
  • Natural Sciences
    • Behavioral Science: Intro to Psychology (3 credits)
    • Biological Science:  Human biology, anatomy and physiology (3 credits)
    • Physical Science: physics  (3 credits)
    • Cognitive processing/neuroscience/biopsychology (3 credits)
  • Sociocultural Issues (3 credits)
  • Child development/developmental psychology (3 credits)

Additional Requirements

A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 (based on 4.0) is required for admission. Students may be admitted provisionally.

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Application Procedures

Application Deadline: February 15. If spots are available after the deadline applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the class is full.

Pitt Students (including regional campuses)

Complete the SHRS ApplyYourself application. 

Transfer Students

Transfer students must apply to the University of Pittsburgh by completing the Office of Admission and Financial Aid's Transfer Application and selecting Communication Science as their intended field of study. International transfer students click here. 

All applicants must:

  • Submit a personal essay addressing the following:
    1. What you have done to learn about the field of communication science and disorders (both the science and clinical practice) in preparation for majoring in our undergraduate program in communication science? (maximum word count: 200 words); and, 
    2. Communication Science is a challenging major and admission to graduate school for speech-language pathology, audiology or other health-related and science fields is very competitive. Please explain what academic and personal skills you have developed since starting college that will allow you to be successful in this major. What do you feel are the critical skills, practices and attitudes that you must continue to work on as you proceed further in your academic studies?  (maximum word count: 500 words); 
  • Submit official transcripts from all institutions from which they have college credits. Current University of Pittsburgh students do not need to provide their University of Pittsburgh transcript, and can request copies of transcripts previously submitted to Pitt from their current school. Students currently at the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences can obtain copies of non-Pitt transcripts from the Office of Student Records, 140 Thackeray Hall, and drop them off in the SHRS Admissions Office, 4020 Forbes Tower; 
  • Resumes are strongly recommended;
  • A letter of recommendation is not required.

Applications to the CS program will be reviewed after a student completes approximately 45 credits (in anticipation of completing a further 15 credits prior to commencing the program). Consult Dr. Cheryl Messick (cmessick@pitt.edu), interim director of Undergraduate Education and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs for Communication Science and Disorders, for further guidance.