Name

Heather Miller

School

Georgia State University

Degree Program

First year Masters of Education student in Communication Disorders

Previous Degrees

Master of Arts in Applied Anthropology from Georgia State University, 2005; Bachelor of Science in Biology from North Georgia College & State University, 1999

Research Interests

Speech therapy

Hobbies

Cycling

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school?

The primary reason I chose to go to Georgia State University for my masters in communication disorders was the school’s location. I had considered a few other schools known for their speech-language pathology programs like Portland State University and University of Texas, Austin. But since I am from Atlanta, it made sense for me to stay closer to home.

Another reason I selected Georgia State University is that I had connections to the school through some of my friends who went to graduate school here. I knew I had access to on-campus support if I needed it.

Did your application requirements include standardized test scores?

Yes, Georgia State University required applicants to its masters programs to submit GRE test scores.

Do you have any tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in communication disorders?

I would stress the importance of completing all of your prerequisites prior to applying to your graduate degree program. That way, you will not be behind when you start graduate school, and you can jump into your research and core requirements right away.

Graduate School – The Program

How long is your program and how is the curriculum distributed?

My masters program in communication disorders typically takes students 2 years to complete. But since my background is in unrelated fields, I have to complete some prerequisite courses that are not accounted for in the usual estimate of the program’s length. Because of those additional classes, it will take me 3 full years to complete my program.

I just began my studies, so I do not know all of the details about the way the curriculum is distributed. From what I understand, I will complete just over 2 years of coursework before I am placed into clinical internships for the final two semesters.

Does your program have a practicum component?

Yes, a practicum requirement comprises about a third of my program. We refer to the practicum as clinical placement. After we finish our coursework, we start our placement, which is made up of 2 sessions. In the first session, we are placed into a school where we work with children for a semester as we observe and assist a professional speech-language pathologist. After that, we spend our final semester in a medical setting.

It is unclear how much input we have about our placements. I get the impression that we can request a specific location, but those requests are not always granted because the positions are competitive, and we have to go where we are needed. My hope is to be placed somewhere in downtown Atlanta.

How does a masters program differ from undergraduate study?

Based on the experience I had in my previous masters degree program, I would say that the biggest difference between graduate and undergraduate study is that graduate school requires you to advocate for yourself more. In an undergraduate program, teachers will often help you to succeed by checking on your progress. Your advisor will keep you on track for graduation and monitor your success. But in a graduate program, you don’t necessarily have those same resources. You are expected to be more autonomous and take more control of your own education.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How much does your masters degree program cost?

I have a graduate research assistantship, so I only pay for mandatory fees and textbooks, which averages out around $1,500 per semester. However, without my assistantship, I would have been paying over $15,000 per semester because I am considered an out-of-state student. Obviously, in-state tuition is considerably less.

How are you funding your education?

One way that I am funding my education is through the graduate research assistantship I was awarded by Georgia State University. I advise all prospective graduate students to apply for teaching or research assistantships, because those types of positions can provide valuable learning experience and save you a lot of money over the course of your program.

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a masters degree in communication disorders?

I think the biggest time commitment I will face while pursuing my masters degree is my graduate research assistantship. It requires 20 hours of work each week. I do not have a realistic idea of how much time my classes will require of me yet, but I suspect that between classes, studying and the research assistantship, I will be working over 50 hours each week.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years, I hope to be pursuing my PhD in speech-language pathology. However, I have not yet decided what I want to do after I earn that degree. Generally, people who reach that level of education in speech-language pathology either go into research or take the academic route and teach at the university level.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a masters in communication disorders?

I would advise students who are interested in earning a masters degree in speech-language pathology to get some experience in the field before enrolling in a graduate program. That way, they will know what to expect from the profession before they invest a lot of time in their education. It might be difficult to find volunteer work at a clinic without any professional credentials, but at the very least I recommend that students interview and shadow a few speech pathologists before committing to the career.