Preparing for your Masters or Doctoral Degree

 The deadline to apply for Fall 2015 Master of Science Speech-Language Pathology and the Doctor of Audiology program is fast approaching. February 1, 2015 is the deadline for all documents to be completed and turned in. You can find the complete guidelines and forms here.

 Even if you are not currently ready to apply, it is a good idea to take a look and familiarize yourself with the application requirements. The Letter of Intent and Recommendation Letters are important parts of your application packet, and require forethought; it is best to begin working on gathering these items in advance. 

Letter of Intent

 A letter of intent is an intellectual autobiography; its conveys the continuum of your academic life experiences and events  that have led you to desire a graduate education. 

 Writing a letter of intent can be a daunting task, so here are a few tips to think through the process and create your perfect letter of intention.

• Do your Homework: Read all the available information about the program you are applying to; be familiar with the mission statement, general program structure, and courses offered.
• Get others viewpoints: After your initial drafts, let someone you trust read your letter, and take their suggestions into consideration. Also, help is available at the Lamar Writing Center. You can find out more here; now is not the time to wing it like you might with class research writing.
• Style of writing:  A direct and straightforward writing style is recommended with an active, not passive voice. be positive, and emphasize strengths and explain anomalies. 

Here is a link to a webpage that gives a good complete outline to writing a letter of intent: Writing a Letter of Intent.

Letters of Recommendation

 Both Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology have forms that the person writing the letter of recommendation must fill out. They are available here, look on the right side bar for links. 

 You need to begin this process early, because the person you are asking needs time to complete the recommendation; if you are planning on asking professors, ask early because they may have many of these letters to write. 

The College Board website has a comprehensive guide for getting a good letter of recommendation. You can find them here.

Master of Science Speech-Language Pathology Degree Plan

 The Master of Science degree program in Speech-Language Pathology at Lamar University is a two year program, with 10 academic courses, and a clinical practicum rotation each semester. The first year clinical practicum will be at Lamar Speech clinic and possibly combined with a school location. The second year students participate in off campus externships at public schools and medical sites. You can find complete information on courses and degree plan here.

Doctor of Audiology Degree Plan

The Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) at Lamar University offers comprehensive academic, research and clinical experience in a wide variety of settings. A unique feature of Lamar Audiology is the diversity of the clinical and research experiences available. Students obtain clinical and/or research experience at the Lamar Speech and Hearing Clinic, several local audiology clinics, public school programs, local private practices, Houston and Lake Charles and Lafayette medical centers and other medical, rehabilitative, and educational facilities across the United States. More information about the Doctoral program can be found here.

Team Work Makes the Dream Work

Sincerely,

Your Speech and Hearing Family