Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
(Both can be done under either Clinical or Non-Clinical Option)
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Program Description
The School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology offers an undergraduate (pre-professional) and graduate program in academic and clinical training in speech-language pathology and audiology. Audiologists are responsible for the non-medical management of hearing loss including testing hearing, selecting and working with hearing aids, counseling individuals concerning hearing loss, providing auditory rehabilitation and making noise measurements. A speech-language pathologist works with children and adults who have problems with communication. A clinician first determines the presence of a problem, then designs a plan for treatment. The speech-language pathologist's therapeutic goal is to help individuals communicate more effectively.
Course work focuses on the evaluation and treatment of the many disordered communication processes. After completing the appropriate prerequisite course work, students with a grade-point average of 3.0 in major field course work and a grade of "B" or better in the prerequisite course may elect to choose the clinic option. Students wishing to study this field without clinical experience at the undergraduate level may pursue a non-clinical curricular option. Decisions regarding degree options and graduate study should be made only after consultation with departmental advisers. A Master's degree is required for employment as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist.
Typical work settings for M.A. level speech-language pathologists and audiologists include: schools, hospitals, clinics, private practice, physicians' offices, hearing aid dealerships and universities. For employment in school settings, individuals must be certified by the department of education of the state in which they will be working. Since a large proportion of practicing speech-language pathologists work in public school settings, it is recommended that undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing careers in the speech-language pathology and audiology professions, complete the requirements for educational certification, except for student teaching, which can be taken only at the graduate level. These educational requirements can be taken as electives. Each student should consult with an advisor.
Program Requirements:
Completion of the General Education requirement and the second year of a foreign language for the B.A., or the non-foreign language option for the tagged degree (B.A. in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology) 56 credits. Students may count 14 credits of American Sign Language for the foreign language requirement.
Electives - 21 credits
Core in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology:
7700:110 Introduction to Disorders of Communication (3)
7700:140 Introduction to Hearing Science (3)
7700:210 Introduction to Clinical Phonetics (4)
7700:211 Introduction to Speech Science (2)
7700:230 Language Science and Acquisition (4)
7700:240 Aural Rehabilitation (4)
7700:241 Principles of Audiometry (3)
7700:250 Observation and Clinical Methods (2)
7700:321 Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology I (4)
7700:322 Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology II (4)
7700:330 Language Disorders (4)
7700:340 Audiologic Evaluation (2)
7700:445 Multicultural Considerations in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology (2)
7700:450 Assessment of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (3)
Clinical Option
Add the following Clinical Practica to the above requirements.
7700:350 Entrance Practicum (3)
7700:351 SLP Screening Practicum (2)
7700:451 Audiology Screening Practicum (2)
*Courses in the Department of Biology are required to fulfill the natural sciences requirement (3100:264, 265) A B.A. in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology substitutes a core of courses in psychology and related disciplines for the foreign languages (see adviser for specific courses).
Non-clinical Option
To the University electives and core curriculum, add the following for a total of at least 7 credits:
7700:102 American Sign Language I (3)
7700:222 Survey of Deaf Culture in America (2)
7700:121 Aspects of American Sign Language (2)
7700:201 American Sign Language II (3)
7700:202 Conversational American Sign Language (3)
7700:350 Entrance Practicum (3)
7700:481 Special Topics (2)
