The MSLP Pre-Requisite course sequence at Francis Marion University is designed to prepare students who have earned Bachelor’s degrees in other fields to apply for admission to graduate programs in Speech-Language Pathology at Francis Marion and/or other universities. These graduate level courses are essential for matriculation into Master’s programs and success on the Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology and the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP).

This is not a degree program.  All applicants who wish to complete this course sequence must apply to FMU as a non-degree seeking student.  The program uses a rolling admissions policy for the pre-requisite courses.  This means that as soon as application packets are completed, a decision will be made regarding the applicant’s admission status.

The pre-requisite course sequence is designed to take one (1) one or two (2) semesters to complete, which allows students who have successfully (with a grade of B or better) completed the pre-requisite course sequence to apply for admission to graduate programs during the following application cycle.  All graduate level speech-language pathology courses are offered online.

Note: Completion of the MSLP Pre-Requisite course sequence does NOT guarantee acceptance into the FMU MSLP program.  All students are encouraged to research the admissions requirements of all of the graduate programs to which they are applying.

The following Speech-Language Pathology Pre-requisites must be completed (with a grade of B or higher) for admission to the FMU MSLP program.

• SLP 501 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanisms (3)
• SLP 507 Speech and Language Development (3)
• SLP 509 Introduction to Audiology (3)
• SLP 510 Introduction to Communication Disorders (3)
• SLP 515 Phonetics (3)
• SLP 520 Structured Observations and Pre-Clinical Simulation Experiences: 25 to 50 clinical hours under the direct supervision of an ASHA-Certified SLP and/or Audiologist (1)

To apply for the pre-requisite course sequence at FMU:

Step 1: Go to the FMU Admissions webpage: https://gradapply.fmarion.edu/; 

Step 2: Create an account and sign in; Please be aware that you must have senior status (i.e., earned at least 87 credit hours) or have a bachelor’s degree to take these graduate level prerequisite courses; 

Step 3: Upload your driver’s license;

Step 4: Submit official transcripts and/or proof of graduation here: graduate@fmarion.edu;

Step 5: If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree yet, you must complete a Transient Form from your home institution to obtain permission to take courses at FMU.  Submit your completed Transient Form here: graduate@fmarion.edu;

Step 6: Add the following information in the appropriate boxes.

Box 1-Non-Degree

Box 2-Pre-Requisite Course, Non-Degree

Box 3-Choose Spring 2025, Summer I, or Fall 2025

• At least one course in the Biological Sciences – Biology, human anatomy and physiology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, human genetics, and veterinary science are all possible options to meet this prerequisite.
• At least one course in the Physical Sciences – Physics or chemistry is required to meet this prerequisite.
• At least one course in Statistics – The course must be an actual statistics course and not a research methods course; it does not need to be a CSD statistics course.
• At least one course in the Social/Behavioral Sciences – Courses in psychology, sociology, anthropology, or public health are all possible options to meet this prerequisite.

Note: Students are advised to complete all the general coursework prior to finishing the pre-requisite course sequence.