Speech Language Pathology & Audiology, BA
Bachelor of Arts in Speech Language Pathology & Audiology (H70101BA)
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.
Contact Information
School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
Polsky Building 181
(330) 972-6803
http://www.uakron.edu/sslpa/
Students are encouraged to contact:
Dr. K. Todd Houston
Professor
School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
E-mail: houston@uakron.edu
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 Masters 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 Masters 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, nursing homes, 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 ZipRecruiter, the average starting salary for a Speech-Language Pathologist in the United States is $69,020. For more information, go to www.asha.org/public/speech.
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. Average starting salaries for audiologists is around $80,000. For more information go to www.asha.org/public/hearing/gen_audiology.htm or www.audiology.org.
Requirements for Admission
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) requires 50 credits of general education requirements and other required courses, including the American Speech-Language Hearing Association Standards1. The major also requires 46 credits of core coursework in speech-language pathology and audiology, and 24 credits of electives and extra courses for BA degree completion. The Bachelor or Arts (BA) requires two years of a modern language. A student may take courses from the Department of Modern Languages or the following American Sign Language (ASL) courses: SLPA 101 American Sign Language I, SLPA 102 American Sign Language II, SLPA 201 American Sign Language III, SLPA 202 American Sign Language IV, and SLPA 222 Survey of Deaf Culture in America. The major also offers a Bachelor of Arts Tagged (BAT) option without a modern language requirement.
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Coursework in human anatomy and physiology, physics or chemistry, psychology or sociology, and statistics are required to fulfill American Speech-Language-Hearing Association standards.
A minimum of 30 credits and completion of the following courses with a 3.0 GPA is required to be admitted into the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Program.
Pre-Admission Required Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| STAT 250 | Statistics for Everyday Life | 3-4 |
| or STAT 260 | Basic Statistics | |
| BIOL 200 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 3 |
| BIOL 201 | Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory I | 1 |
| BIOL 202 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 3 |
| BIOL 203 | Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory II | 1 |
| PSYC 100 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SLPA 110 | Introduction to Disorders of Communications | 3 |
| Total Hours | 17-18 | |
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 January 1, 2020, School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Degree requirements as of January 1, 2019, and ASHA-CCC Standards as of January 1, 2020.
The School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology offers a 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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements * | 15 | |
| Core Courses | 46 | |
| Modern Language Requirement | 14 | |
| Other Required Courses | 45 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
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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 Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major. | ||
| Academic Foundations | 12 | |
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours | ||
Speaking: 3 credit hours | ||
Writing: 6 credit hours | ||
| Breadth of Knowledge | 22 | |
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours | ||
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours | ||
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours | ||
| Diversity | ||
Domestic Diversity | ||
Global Diversity | ||
| Integrated and Applied Learning | 2 | |
Select one class from one of the following subcategories: | ||
Complex Issues Facing Society | ||
Capstone | ||
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings. | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SLPA 110 | Introduction to Disorders of Communications | 3 |
| SLPA 210 | Introduction to Clinical Phonetics | 4 |
| SLPA 215 | Introduction to Hearing and Speech Science | 4 |
| SLPA 230 | Language Science & Acquisition | 4 |
| SLPA 321 | Articulatory & Phonologic Disorders | 4 |
| SLPA 330 | Language Disorders | 4 |
| SLPA 335 | Principles of Audiology | 4 |
| SLPA 345 | Audiologic Treatment | 4 |
| SLPA 365 | Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Hearing | 3 |
| SLPA 366 | Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory | 1 |
| SLPA 422 | Organic Disorders of Communication | 4 |
| SLPA 445 | Multicultural Considerations for Audiologists & Speech-Language Pathologists | 3 |
| SLPA 446 | Observation and Clinical Techniques | 4 |
| Total Hours | 46 | |
Modern Language Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| The Bachelor of Arts degree requires two years of a Modern Language; ASL is recommended. 1 | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 14 | |
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It is recommended for a student to take the following sequence in American Sign Language (ASL) to meet the modern language requirement:
Other Required Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| STAT 250 | Statistics for Everyday Life | 3-4 |
| or STAT 260 | Basic Statistics | |
| COMM 106 | Effective Oral Communication | 3 |
| or COMM 105 | Introduction to Public Speaking | |
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL 222 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| PHIL 150 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| BIOL 200 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 3 |
| BIOL 201 | Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory I | 1 |
| BIOL 202 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 3 |
| BIOL 203 | Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory II | 1 |
| PHYS 133 | Music, Sound & Physics | 4 |
| or CHEM 101 | Chemistry for Everyone | |
| PSYC 100 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 230 | Developmental Psychology | 4 |
| Electives | 10 | |
| Total Hours | 44-45 | |
Recommended Sequence
| 1st Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| BIOL 200 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I 2 | 3 |
| BIOL 201 | Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory I 2 | 1 |
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I | 3 |
| PSYC 100 | Introduction to Psychology 2 | 3 |
| COMM 105 or COMM 106 | Introduction to Public Speaking or Effective Oral Communication | 3 |
| SLPA 110 | Introduction to Disorders of Communications 2 | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIOL 202 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II 2 | 3 |
| BIOL 203 | Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory II 2 | 1 |
| STAT 250 or STAT 260 | Statistics for Everyday Life 2 or Basic Statistics | 4 |
| Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
| Humanities Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| 2nd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ENGL 222 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| SLPA 210 | Introduction to Clinical Phonetics | 4 |
| SLPA 230 | Language Science & Acquisition | 4 |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3-4 | |
| SLPA 101 | American Sign Language I | |
Beginning Language I | ||
| Hours | 14-15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SLPA 215 | Introduction to Hearing and Speech Science | 4 |
| SLPA 321 | Articulatory & Phonologic Disorders | 4 |
| SLPA 330 | Language Disorders | 4 |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3-4 | |
| SLPA 102 | American Sign Language II | |
Beginning Language II | ||
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| 3rd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SLPA 335 | Principles of Audiology | 4 |
| SLPA 365 | Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Hearing | 3 |
| SLPA 366 | Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory | 1 |
| Arts Requirement | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| SLPA 201 | American Sign Language III | |
Intermediate Language I | ||
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHEM 101 or PHYS 133 | Chemistry for Everyone or Music, Sound & Physics | 4 |
| SLPA 345 | Audiologic Treatment | 4 |
| Complex Issues Requirement | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 5-3 | |
| SLPA 202 & SLPA 222 | American Sign Language IV and Survey of Deaf Culture in America | |
Intermediate Language II | ||
| Hours | 16-14 | |
| 4th Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SLPA 446 | Observation and Clinical Techniques | 4 |
| PHIL 150 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| PSYC 230 | Developmental Psychology | 4 |
| Electives | 5 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SLPA 422 | Organic Disorders of Communication | 4 |
| SLPA 445 | Multicultural Considerations for Audiologists & Speech-Language Pathologists | 3 |
| Global Diversity Requirement | 3 | |
| Electives | 5 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
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The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology requires completion of two years of a modern language requirement. The following sequence in American Sign Language (ASL) is recommended:
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Preadmission Requirements – must be completed with a 3.0 GPA prior to admission into the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology major.
Alert: By the end of your first 48 credit hours attempted, you should have completed your General Education English, Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic, and Oral Communication (Speech) requirements. You should have also declared a major and transferred to (been accepted by) a degree granting college at The University of Akron.