Requirements for International Graduate Students Whose Native Language is Not English

Lamar University SPHS programs require the following TOEFL or IELTS minimum scores based on the ASHA Committee on Language Proficiency (2019) which exceeds the minimum requirements for Lamar University's other departments due to the communication requirements for the fields.

• TOEFL or IELTS scores (if required) should be submitted through CSDCAS and to Lamar University directly. Use TOEFL Code C122 to send the official score to CSDCAS and 6360 to send the score to LU.
  • TOEFL and IELTS minimum scores are based on the ASHA Committee on Language Proficiency (2019)
    • TOEFL Internet-Based: Total=minimum of 83 and 26 on the spoken segment
      • TOEFL Internet-Based: Total=preferred 105 and 26 on the Speaking and Listening segment
    • IELTS=minimum of 6.5 and 7 on the spoken segment
      • IELTS=preferred 7.5 and 7.5 on the Speaking and Listening sections
    • *Duolingo is NOT accepted as evidence of language proficiency for the Speech & Hearing Sciences programs

Given the scope of practice in communication disorders, oral English proficiency is considered an essential tool. Lamar University's graduate catalog states that "International students whose first language is not English are required to pass an English proficiency test before they may be admitted to candidacy for a graduate degree." Information about the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) can be found here. 

Additionally, if a student whose native language is not English is accepted into Lamar University's speech and hearing sciences graduate program, and if there is evidence that this student is having exceptional difficulty with one or more of the tasks required in clinical service delivery (speech perception, speech/language modeling, comprehending speech or language produced by individuals with communication disorders, writing clinical reports, counseling families, etc.) the student will be asked to address these deficits through a remediation plan (therapy for accent reduction, perceptual training, etc. as needed).