Navigating the Path: Undergraduate Degree Requirements for Speech Pathology

The journey to becoming a speech-language pathologist (SLP) or audiologist is a rewarding but demanding one, requiring careful planning and dedication. The undergraduate degree serves as the foundational stepping stone, providing the necessary knowledge and skills for advanced studies. This article elucidates the undergraduate degree requirements for speech pathology, offering a comprehensive guide for aspiring professionals.

The Role of an Undergraduate Degree

An undergraduate degree in communication disorders lays the groundwork for graduate studies in audiology or speech-language pathology. Entry for practice in the field of communication disorders is a clinical doctorate (Au.D.) for audiology and a master's degree (M.S. or M.A.) in speech-language pathology. It is a pre-professional degree and does not lead to a certificate or license to practice. The primary purpose of the undergraduate program is to provide introductory level knowledge in the field of Speech Pathology and Audiology, within the context of a traditional liberal Arts and Sciences education, which prepares an individual for study in a professional graduate degree program. This liberal education is based on the philosophy that the individual with an educational foundation in the Arts and Sciences has a broad appreciation for society and its values.

Common Undergraduate Majors

While a specific undergraduate major isn't always mandatory for graduate program admission, a background in communicative sciences and disorders (CSD) is highly recommended. Two undergraduate degrees closely aligned with the field include the Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and the Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. However, other degrees (such as a bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, or linguistics) can also prepare you for your eventual graduate education, especially if paired with a relevant concentration.

Preparing for Graduate Coursework

Consider taking classes that will prepare you for the required coursework in an undergraduate or graduate program. Most CSD undergraduate programs will include courses in biological sciences, social/behavioral sciences, physical sciences (i.e., chemistry or physics), and statistics.

Curriculum Overview

The undergraduate major in speech pathology and audiology includes courses in the areas of normal speech production and development, disorders of speech, language and hearing and methods of evaluation and therapy.

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Core Coursework Examples

Introduction to Communication Disorders: This course provides an overview of the various communication disorders, their causes, and their impact on individuals.
Early Language Development in Children: Focuses on the typical stages of language acquisition in children.
Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism: This course delves into the structures and functions of the human body involved in speech production.
Phonetics: Students learn the sounds of language and how they are produced and transcribed.
Hearing Science: The physics of sound, the anatomy and physiology of the auditory system, and the basics of audiology are covered.
Articulation and Phonological Disorders: This course explores the nature, assessment, and treatment of articulation and phonological disorders.
Neurophysiology of Speech and Language: This course explores the neurological underpinnings of speech and language.
Research Methods in Communication Disorders: Introduces students to the principles and methods of research in the field.
Principles of Assessment and Intervention: Covers the basic principles of assessing and treating communication disorders.
Introduction to Childhood Language Disorders: This course focuses on the characteristics, assessment, and intervention of language disorders in children.
Cultural Competence in Service Delivery: Focuses on understanding and appreciating cultural diversity in the context of providing services to individuals with communication disorders.

General Education Requirements

In addition to major-specific courses, students will also need to fulfill general education requirements, which typically include courses in:

English Composition
Public Speaking
Mathematics
Biological Sciences
Humanities
Social Sciences
Cultural Knowledge
Civic Knowledge and Engagement

Building a Strong Foundation

Students should focus on establishing a strong academic record, as graduate programs are highly competitive. Graduate programs look for a GPA of a 3.7+.

Gaining Practical Experience

Clinical practicum involves actual work with children and adults having speech/language/hearing problems under the direct supervision of certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Students majoring in Speech Pathology and Audiology may complete up to 50 clock hours of direct work with individuals with speech/language/hearing problems. The Marquette University Speech and Hearing Clinic serves as a working laboratory for students in the speech pathology and audiology program to gain clinical practicum experience.

Volunteer and Employment Opportunities

Gain employment or volunteer work with populations that would use SLP services - the elderly, children, youth, individuals with disabilities, etc.

Admission to Graduate Programs

A bachelor’s degree is required for admission to graduate programs in either audiology or speech-language pathology. However, each graduate program determines whether applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in CSD-and, if not, whether prerequisite undergraduate courses are required, either before admission or as part of the graduate program.

Prerequisite Coursework

Most undergraduate programs in CSD will require prerequisite coursework that includes statistics, biological sciences, social/behavioral sciences, and physical sciences. Some institutions offer leveling options to complete prerequisite coursework or second bachelor’s degree programs to prepare students to apply for graduate programs. Students without the required coursework will generally take the courses as part of the graduate program.

Accreditation

For your future certification by ASHA, you must complete your graduate coursework and clinical practicum at an institution whose program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA). All CAA-accredited graduate programs in audiology and speech-language pathology must meet the same standards for required coursework and clinical practicum experiences. Each program has flexibility in how they meet those standards and may offer different options for specialty areas.

Fast Track Programs

The Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders has developed a Fast Track program for highly qualified and motivated students providing the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in an accelerated time frame. Complete the department application in March of the junior year (no less than 60 undergraduate hours). Formal application to the graduate program is required by January 15 of the student’s senior year.

Joint Degree Programs

The Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) and the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) offer a joint undergraduate degree program focusing on coursework in the scientific study of human communication sciences and disorders. The 3+1 joint degree program culminates in a Bachelor of Science degree in Audiology and Speech Pathology awarded jointly through the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at UTK and the College of Allied Health at UTHSC.

Admission Requirements for Joint Programs

Once 60 credit hours have been completed with an overall GPA of 3.0 or above, students in the joint degree program will seek conditional admission to UTHSC. Full admission will be granted for those students who have completed 90 hours with a GPA of 3.0 or better and have completed the course, AUSP 300 Introduction to Communication Disorders with a grade of B or better.

Program Examples by State

There are plenty of colleges and universities across the country that offer bachelor’s degrees in communicative sciences and disorders as traditional, campus-based programs, online programs, or hybrid options that combine both. Here are a few examples of speech-pathology bachelor’s programs at schools with CAA-accredited grad programs organized by state:

Alabama

Alabama A&M University-Normal: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Auburn University-Auburn: BS in Speech-Language Pathology
Samford University-Birmingham: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of Alabama Tuscaloosa-Tuscaloosa: BA in Communicative Disorders
University of Montevallo-Montevallo: BS in Speech-Language Pathology
University of South Alabama-Mobile: BS in Speech and Hearing Sciences

Arizona

Arizona State University-Tempe: BS in Speech and Hearing Science
University of Arizona-Tucson: BS in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

Arkansas

Arkansas State University-Jonesboro: BS in Communication Disorders
Harding University-Searcy: BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders-Clinical, BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders-Non-Clinical
University of Arkansas Fayetteville-Fayetteville: BSE in Communication Disorders
University of Arkansas at Little Rock-Little Rock: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of Central Arkansas-Conway: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders

California

Biola University-La Mirada: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
California Baptist University-Riverside: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
California State University-Chico: BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders
California State University East Bay-Hayward: BS in Speech Pathology and Audiology
California State University Fresno-Fresno: BA in Speech-Language Pathology
California State University Fullerton-Fullerton: BS in Communicative Disorders
California State University Long Beach-Long Beach: BA in Speech-Language Pathology
California State University Los Angeles-Los Angeles: BA in Communicative Disorders
California State University Northridge-Northridge: BA in Speech Language Pathology
California State University Sacramento-Sacramento: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
California State University San Marcos -San Marcos: BS in Speech-Language Pathology
Loma Linda University-Loma Linda: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
San Diego State University-San Diego: BA in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
San Francisco State University-San Francisco: BS in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
San Jose State University-San Jose: BA in Communicative Disorders and Sciences
University of Redlands-Redlands: BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of the Pacific-Stockton: BS in Speech-Language Pathology

Colorado

University of Colorado Boulder-Boulder: BA in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
University of Northern Colorado-Greeley: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders

Connecticut

Sacred Heart University-Fairfield: Pre-Speech-Language Pathology Minor, Accelerated BS/MS
Southern Connecticut State University-New Haven: BS in Communication Disorders
University of Connecticut-Storrs: BA in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

District of Columbia

George Washington University-Washington, DC: BA in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) Minor, BS in Cognitive Science of Language

Florida

Florida State University- Tallahassee: BS in Communication Science and Disorders
Jacksonville University-Jacksonville: BS in Communication Sciences
Nova Southeastern University-Ft Lauderdale: BS in Speech Language & Communication Disorders (Fully online BS program offered)
University of Central Florida-Orlando: BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders, BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Undergraduate Certificate in Language Development and Disorders
University of Florida Gainesville-Gainesville: BHS in Communication Sciences and Disorders (Fully online BHS program offered)
University of South Florida-Tampa: BA Speech-Language-Hearing Science, BA Interpreter Training, BA Deaf Studies

Georgia

Georgia Southern University (Formerly Armstrong State University)-Savannah: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of Georgia-Athens: BSEd in Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of West Georgia-Carrollton: BSEd in Speech Pathology
Valdosta State University-Valdosta: BSEd in Communication Sciences and Disorders

Idaho

Idaho State University-Pocatello: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders (Year one of pre-professional CSD courses offered online)

Illinois

Eastern Illinois University-Charleston: BS in Communication Disorders and Sciences, BA in Communication Disorders and Sciences
Elmhurst College-Elmhurst: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders, BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Governors State University-University Park: BHS in Communication Disorders
Illinois State University-Normal: BS in Communication Sciences & Disorders
Northern Illinois University-DeKalb: BS in Communicative Disorders
Northwestern University-Evanston: BS in Human Communication Sciences
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale: BS in Communication Disorders and Sciences
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville: BA in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, BS in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
St. Xavier University: BA in Speech-Language Pathology
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign-Champaign: BS in Speech and Hearing Sciences with Concentrations in Audiology, Cultural-Linguistic Diversity, Neuroscience of Communication, or Speech-Language Pathology
Western Illinois University-Macomb: BS in Speech Pathology and Audiology

Indiana

Ball State University-Muncie: BA in Speech Pathology and Audiology, BS in Pre-Audiology
Indiana State University -Terre Haute: BA in Communication Disorders, BS in Communication Disorders
Indiana University Bloomington-Bloomington: BA in Speech and Hearing Sciences, BS in Speech and Hearing Sciences
Purdue University-West Lafayette: BS in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Saint Mary’s College-Notre Dame: BA in Communicative Sciences and Disorders

Iowa

University of Iowa-Iowa City: BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of Northern Iowa-Cedar Falls: BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders

Kansas

Fort Hayes State University-Hays: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Kansas State University-Manhattan: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of Kansas-Kansas City: BA in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences & Disorders, BGS in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences & Disorders
Wichita State University-Wichita: BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Deafness and Hard of Hearing Concentration

Kentucky

Eastern Kentucky University-Richmond: BS in Communication Disorders
Murray State University-Murray: BS in Communication Disorders, BA in Communication Disorders
University of Kentucky-Lexington: BHS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Western Kentucky University-Bowling Green: BS in Communication Disorders

Louisiana

Louisiana Technical University-Ruston: BA Speech Language Pathology and Audiology
Louisiana State University and A&M College-Baton Rouge: BA in Communication Disorders
Southeastern Louisiana University-Hammond: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Southern University and A&M-Baton Rouge: BS in Speech Pathology
University of Louisiana at Lafayette-Lafayette: BA in Speech Pathology & Audiology
University of Louisiana Monroe-Monroe: BS in Speech-Language Pathology

Maine

The University of Maine Orono-Orono: BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders

Maryland

Loyola University Maryland-Columbia: BA in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences
Towson University-Towson: BS in Speech-Language-Pathology and Audiology, BS in Deaf Studies
University of Maryland, College Park-College Park: BA in Hearing & Speech Sciences

Massachusetts

Boston University-Boston: BS in Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences, BS in Deaf Studies
Bridgewater State University-Bridgewater: BSE in Special Education with Communication Disorders Concentration
Emerson College-Boston: BS in Communication Disorders
Northeastern University-Boston: BS in Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology
University of Massachusetts Amherst-Amherst: BS in Communication Disorders
Worchester State University-Worcester: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders

Michigan

Andrews University-Berrien Springs: BS in Speech-Language Pathology
Calvin College-Grand Rapids: BA in Speech Pathology and Audiology
Central Michigan University-Mount Pleasant: BS in Communication Disorders
Eastern Michigan University-Ypsilanti (currently on probationary status): BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Grand Valley State University-Grand Rapids: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Wayne State University-Detroit: BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Western Michigan University-Kalamazoo: BS in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

Minnesota

Minnesota State University Mankato-Mankato: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Minnesota State University Moorhead-Moorhead: BS in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences
Cloud State University-St. Cloud: BS Communication Sciences and Disorders, BES Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of Minnesota Duluth-Duluth: BAS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of Minnesota-Minneapolis: BA in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences

Mississippi

Jackson State University-Jackson: BS in Communicative Disorders
Mississippi University for Women-Columbus: BS in Speech-Language Pathology
University of Mississippi-University: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
The University of Southern Mississippi-Hattiesburg: BA in Speech Pathology and Audiology

Missouri

Fontbonne University-St. Louis: BS in Speech-Language Pathology
Maryville University-St. Louis: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Missouri State University-Springfield: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Rockhurst University-Kansas City: BS in Speech-Language Pathology
Saint Louis University-St. Louis: BS in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

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