Admissions

As an evangelical Christian institution, Biola seeks to admit applicants whose backgrounds clearly demonstrate scholarly aptitude, a commitment to the historic Christian faith, personal character and integrity, and a positive service-oriented motivation toward the field of speech language pathology. Biola does not discriminate on the basis of the applicant's race, color, sex, socio-economic status, disability or national or ethnic origin.

Admissions Requirements

1. Applicants must affirm the seven core theological components of Biola’s Articles of Faith.
2. Hold a baccalaureate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from an accredited institution OR Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution AND complete the prerequisite courses for this program.
3. Meet the Basic Skills Requirement.
4. Have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale.
5. Non-native English speakers must verify a score of 100 IBT on the TOEFL exam.
6. Complete the MS SLP Application form.
7. Submit supplemental items through your online application portal:
   1. Spiritual recommendation form: Recommendation from spiritual mentor or leader
   2. Academic recommendation forms
   3. Christian Testimony essay
   4. Vocational Intent essay
   5. CV/Resume
8. Qualified applicants will then be invited to interview with a member of the MS-SLP Program faculty.

Application Deadline

• The Early Action deadline is December 1. Early Action applications are considered first for interviews and program acceptance.
• The regular application deadline is January 15. 
• Decisions are made only on completed applications. This program currently admits new students only in the fall semester each year.

Steps to Apply

Apply online for Biola University’s Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. Please create your account (if you have not already) and complete the application, including: Official transcripts, GRE scores and Basic Skills Requirement, academic references, pastoral reference, essays and resume.

Apply Now

International Students

International students applying for a graduate program at the School of Science, Technology and Health must meet the admissions requirements for their program of choice, in addition to the international student admissions requirements found below. These requirements detail varying application deadlines, required documents and more.

Our International Student Admissions office is here to help you navigate the application process. Contact us with your questions!

Graduate International Admissions
Schedule a Phone Appointment
Email: grad.international@biola.edu

Admissions Requirements

International students must follow the requirements listed below. All documents must be received before your application will be considered:

1. Submit an application
   Application deadlines vary based on program of choice and semester of entry.
   
2. Provide proof of English proficiency
   School of Science, Technology and Health requires all students whose first language is not English to provide proof of English proficiency. Ways to provide proof of English proficiency includes one of the following:
   • Meet minimum TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo test score (TOEFL iBT: 100, IELTS: 7.5, Duolingo: 125)
   • Provide official transcript showing accredited degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral) completed/taught fully in English
   • Successfully complete Biola’s English Language Scholars with passing status on the ELS Exit Exam
     
3. Submit official transcripts
   • All International transcripts need U.S. grade equivalencies noted (e.g. GPA on a 4.0 scale). If your transcripts do not show U.S. grade equivalencies, you must have them evaluated by a credential evaluation agency like SpanTran (Biola Discount), International Education Evaluation (Biola Discount), World Education Services (WES) or Foundation for International Services (FIS).
   • Be sure to choose "Course by Course Report" and have the evaluation agency send them directly to Biola University via online portal or post (13800 Biola Ave, La Mirada, CA 90639) in order to be considered official.
     
   • Official transcripts can also be physically delivered in an untampered envelope sealed by the institution.
4. F-1 Student Visa Required Documents
   The following are the required I-20 documents needed to create a Form I-20, which is needed to apply for your F-1 student visa. Please note that if you will be coming with dependents (spouse and/or children), you will need to provide additional documents and funding. NOTE: Please disregard the following if studying in the online format.
   1. Submit a copy of your passport
      Submit a copy of valid passport, which should be valid after 6 months of the program start date. Upload passport(s) in the Online Application Portal.
      
   2. Submit an Affidavit of Support(s)
      
      • An Affidavit of Support is a document that shows your financial sponsor’s support for your study in the U.S. Before we issue you a Form I-20, you must demonstrate full financial support for at least the first year of study on campus.
      • The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will not allow us to issue I-20 forms (used to obtain student visas) without documented proof that the student has sufficient funds to study in this country.
      • This Affidavit of Support form assures us that you will receive continued financial support from your sponsor(s) for your education at Biola University.
      • Download and upload the Affidavit of Support in the Online Application Portal.
        
   3. Bank Statement
      For each Affidavit of Support submitted, a bank statement must be sent in from each sponsor. Each bank statement must match the level of support pledged by the sponsor. Many students choose to send Certificates of Deposit as bank statements. Upload bank statement(s) in the Online Application Portal.
      
   4. Apply for the F-1 Student Visa (hybrid/on-campus students only)
      
      • Once the required I-20 documents are verified by the International Admissions Office, the Form I-20 will be mailed to you.
      • Pay the required SEVIS Fee to schedule an F-1 visa appointment at your nearest U.S. Embassy/Consulate. For an easy transition into the U.S., make your appointment at least two months prior to first day of class. See Embassy/Consulate Interview Tips for more information.
      • Arrive to U.S. within 30 days of the first day of class. Upon arrival, meet with Biola University’s Immigration Services.

Student Scholarships

Please see this page regarding available Biola University institutional aid. Note, admitted students will see additional scholarship opportunities available. Contact the Speech Language Pathology program directly regarding departmental scholarships (commdisorders@biola.edu).