Program: The MSc-SLP/PhD Combined Program (Communication Sciences and Disorders) [Graduate] - University of Alberta

Apr 16, 2025

University of Alberta Calendar 2018-2019

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine offer a program of combined study which permits highly qualified students to earn both the MSc in Speech- Language Pathology and the PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences after five years of full-time study.

Each student must apply first to the MScSLP program, following the procedures in General Information .

In addition, students must indicate on their online graduate application that they are applying to the combined MSc-SLP/PhD-RS program.

Following review by the MSc-SLP Admissions Committee, successful applications will be forwarded to the Rehabilitation Science PhD Program Committee for review. Admission will be recommended only for those students judged to have the ability and motivation to handle the significant demands of the combined program.

In addition to new applicants, students already admitted to the MScSLP program are eligible to apply for the combined program in the first semester of study.

Entrance Requirements

Applicants to the combined MScSLP/PhD program must meet the entrance requirements of both the MSc-SLP program (see General Information ) and the PhD in Rehabilitation Science program (see General Information ). They must have completed a four-year honors baccalaureate degree or a master’s degree in a related field from a recognized academic institution. They must have completed the required preparatory courses for the MScSLP program and show evidence of research potential as demonstrated by scholarly work. In addition, they must meet the GPA, GRE, and English language proficiency requirements of each program and submit letters of recommendation.

Program Requirements

Students in the combined program will complete all of the requirements for the MScSLP and PhD programs, including coursework, clinical practica, candidacy, and research. The Program requirements for the MScSLP can be found in The Degree of MSc in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) , and those for the PhD in Rehabilitation Science in The Degree of PhD . The PhD thesis will fulfill the research requirement for the MScSLP. The sequence of coursework and other requirements will be determined by the candidate’s PhD supervisory committee in consultation with the Graduate Program Coordinator and Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Length of Program

A minimum of five calendar years will normally be required to complete the combined MScSLP/PhD program. The time required to complete the program may be varied for individual candidates but cannot exceed the statutory limits of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research as set out in Time Limit for Completion of Graduate Programs .