Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Undergraduate Program

Bulletin Description for the Major in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
(Clinical or Non-Clinical Option) *@

Program Description

The School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology offers an undergraduate (preprofessional) and graduate program of academic and clinical training in speech-language pathology and audiology. Audiologists are hearing care specialists for evaluation and treatment of individuals with hearing and balance disorders. Scope of practice includes hearing assessments, selecting and fitting hearing aids/assistive listening devices, programming cochlear implants, balance testing, and counseling regarding hearing loss. Speech-language pathologists work with children and adults with language, voice, fluency, articulatory and phonologic disorders, and swallowing problems. They provide assessment and treatment for these problems as well as working in prevention of them.

Course work focuses on the evaluation and treatment of the many disordered communication processes. Students who complete 7700:321, 330, and 235 with a "B" average or better and have at least a 3.2 overall grade point average may also take the elective course: 7700:440 Observation and Clinical Techniques. This course includes accumulation of a minimum of 25 hours of supervised observation, as required for graduate study by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. A master’s degree is required for employment as a speech-language pathologist. An Au.D. is required for certification as an audiologist.

Typical work settings for speech-language pathologists and audiologists include: schools, hospitals, clinics, private practice, physicians’ offices, industry 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 more than 50 percent of practicing speech-language pathologist’s work in public school settings, it is recommended that undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing careers in speech-language pathology complete the requirements for educational certification, except for student teaching, which can only be taken at the graduate level. These educational requirements can be taken as electives. Each student should consult with the undergraduate coordinator adviser about this option.

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.T. in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology). 45 credits. Students may count 14 hours of American Sign Language for the foreign language requirement.
• Electives - 21 credits
• Core in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Credits

* Courses in the Department of Biology (3100:265) and Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (7700:265, 266) are required to fulfill the natural sciences requirement . A.B.A. in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology substitutes a core of courses in psychology and related disciplines for the foreign languages (see Undergraduate Coordinator for specific courses).

@ Note: Effective Spring 2009, the clinical/non-clinical options will be eliminated and 7700:420 will no longer be offered.

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