Speech Language Pathology & Audiology, BS

Bachelor of Science in Speech Language Pathology & Audiology

The School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology offers an undergraduate and graduate program of academic and clinical training in speech-language pathology and audiology. The undergraduate curriculum in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology focuses on the fundamental components of the discipline, including normal communication development and processes, understanding of speech and hearing sciences, and an introduction to evaluation and treatment of hearing, speech, language and communication differences and disorders. Completion of the undergraduate degree prepares students for entry into either graduate study in speech-language pathology or audiology. 

Requirements for Admission

The Bachelor of Science requires general education requirements and American Speech-Language Hearing Association Standards¹. The major includes 45 credits of core coursework in speech-language pathology and audiology. 

¹

Coursework in biology, physics or chemistry, social and behavioral sciences, and statistics are required to fulfill American Speech-Language-Hearing Association standards. 

A minimum of 30 credits and a 2.75 GPA is required to be admitted into the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Program. 

Speech Language Pathologist

• Speech-language pathologists specialize in communication and swallowing disabilities of all types and work with people from infants through the elderly.
• Speech-language pathologists diagnose and treat individuals with speech or language, swallowing, fluency, deafness and hearing loss, voice, and cognitive-communication disabilities due to brain injury or stroke.
• Speech-language pathologists also prescribe assistive technology for speaking, reading, and writing.
• The undergraduate curriculum provides a broad background in normal speech, hearing, and language development, and an introduction to the specific communication disorders and their management.
• With an undergraduate degree, some students enter sales or case management in various health-related businesses.

Students must earn a master's degree to become a speech-language pathologist; the program takes two years to complete. Graduate students take classes and participate in clinical preparation which includes a supervised clinic on campus as well as community-based externships in settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, rehabilitation facilities, clinics and private practice. The University of Akron also offers a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology. For more information, go to https://www.uakron.edu/sslpa/gslpp/. 

Job Outlook

Upon obtaining certification from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and a license from the State of Ohio Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, jobs are available in many settings. Employment settings include hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, early intervention programs, schools, clinics and private practices. Speech-language pathology is listed among the fastest growing occupations by the United States Department of Labor. According to The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the median salary for a Speech-Language Pathologist with 1-3 years of experience is $74,000 per year in the United States. For more information, go to www.asha.org.  

Audiologist

• Audiologists are hearing care specialists who evaluate and treat individuals with hearing and balance disorders.
• Audiologists are to hearing as Optometrists are to vision.
• Audiologists diagnose hearing and balance disorders in infants, children and adults, and provide treatment including fitting hearing aids, dispensing assistive listening devices, mapping cochlear implants, and providing audiologic rehabilitation for children and adults.
• Audiologists work in a variety of health care settings such as private practices, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, and physician’s offices.

To practice, Audiologists must earn a Doctor of Audiology degree. The Doctor of Audiology degree is a 4 year post-baccalaureate program that is offered through The University of Akron in conjunction with Kent State University and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Graduate students take classes as well as participate in supervised clinical experiences, which take place in the campus clinic and in a wide variety of external sites.

Job Outlook

Audiology is listed among the fastest growing occupations by the United States Department of Labor. The median salary for audiologists is $91,113 according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. For more information go to www.asha.org/public/hearing/gen_audiology.htm or www.audiology.org.

Program Contacts

School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
Polsky Building 181
(330) 972-6803
http://www.uakron.edu/sslpa/

Students are encouraged to contact:

Dr. Angela Reif
Associate Professor
School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
E-mail: areif@uakron.edu

The following information has official approval of The School of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology and The College of Health and Human Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (Stellic) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor. It is highly recommended that all students meet with the SSLPA academic advisor once admitted into the program. 

Below is an example sequence of courses including The University of Akron General Education Requirements as of August, 2026 and the School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Degree requirements as of January 1, 2019.

Three year accelerated option for first time students who wish to pursue a masters degree in speech-language pathology. Eligible students have earned credits for at least the first year of courses. Credits can be earned through qualifying scores on appropriate Advanced Placement (AP) exams or through College Credit Plus Program (CCP) courses. Credits for qualifying AP scores or CCP courses are determined by the appropriate academic department. Departments may assign varied course credit, depending on the student’s score on an AP exam or grade in a CCP course. Students may also receive credit by examination or via placement tests, where appropriate.

Requirements

Summary

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Several courses required for the major also satisfy General Education requirements. The University minimum of 36 credits are required for General Education and credit for these courses will apply to multiple requirements. 

General Education Requirements

Core Courses  

 Other Required Courses 

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Course in biological sciences (general human anatomy, physiology, general biology, cell biology, molecular biology, cybernetics biology, computational biology, cytology, ecology, evolutionism, environmental biology, forensic biology, genetics, marine biology, morphology, microbiology, molecular biosciences, natural science, neurobiology, neurology, radiobiology, sociobiology, or zoology)

Recommended Sequence

¹

Preadmission Requirements – must be completed with a 2.75 GPA prior to admission into the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology major.

²

Natural Science in Biology

³

Natural Science in Physics or Chemistry