Speech Pathology and Audiology - B.S. Download to print

Speech Pathology and Audiology is a pre-professional undergraduate major focusing on the basic sciences of human communication, as well as the evaluation and treatment of communication disorders. This program provides a firm foundation for continuing to the master's degree in speech-language pathology, or the doctorate in audiology. The curriculum integrates a sequence of coursework designed to provide a strong liberal arts background and an understanding of normal and disordered aspects of the human communication process. Specific coursework includes: anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanisms, speech science, hearing science, neurology, phonetics, normal speech and language development, speech and language disorders, audiometry, and aural rehabilitation. Speech-language pathologists are required to hold a Master’s degree while audiologists complete a doctorate in audiology. Both are employed in a variety of settings: rehabilitation centers, hospitals, schools, community clinics, private practice, research laboratories, and colleges/universities.

Speech-language pathologists held about 141,000 jobs in 2014. About 50 percent were employed in educational settings. Others were employed in hospitals; nursing care facilities; home health care services; individual and family services; outpatient care centers; and child day care centers. Seventeen percent of speech-language pathologists were self-employed. They contract to provide services in schools, offices of physicians, hospitals, or nursing care facilities, or work as consultants to industry.

Audiologists held about 12,100 jobs in 2014. About 74 percent of all jobs were in health care facilities; offices of physicians; hospitals; and outpatient care centers. About 15 percent of jobs were in educational settings. Other jobs for audiologists were in state and local government.

(Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association)

Admission to the college does not guarantee admission to a major and/or admission to professional coursework for a selective admission program.

For admissions, the College of Education, Health and Human Services considers a student to have established a Kent State University GPA after the student has successfully completed a minimum of 12 Kent State University credit hours. Undergraduate students who have not completed a minimum of 12 Kent State University credit hours will be evaluated for admission into programs, Advanced Study, and the Professional Phase based on their high school GPA for new freshmen, or transfer GPA for transfer students. Once a student has successfully completed a minimum of 12 Kent State University credit hours, only the student’s Kent State overall GPA will be considered for admission into a program, Advanced Study, and Professional Phase.

Students who desire to major in speech pathology and audiology are admitted with a grade-point average of 3.000 or better. Students may apply for the Professional Phase of the major with a minimum 3.000 overall GPA and at least 60 credit hours (earned or in progress).

For more information about admission criteria for transfer, transitioning and former students, please visit the admissions website.

Professional Phase coursework:

• A minimum 3.0000 overall GPA (after 60 hours) is required to be admitted into the professional phase of the major

Minimum 120 credit hours, minimum 39 upper-division credit hours. Students are required to earn a 2.250 GPA in the major and a 2.000 overall GPA. Students who have earned 90 semester hours and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.000 may apply for admission to the combined program. Admission will be based upon GRE scores, three letters of recommendation and completion of the Application for Admission and Combined Baccalaureate and Master’s Program forms.

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Achieve the competencies required for state licensure and certification by the American Speech Language Association.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of basic human communication and swallowing processes, including the appropriate biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, linguistic and cultural bases.
3. Demonstrate understanding and integrating basic human communication and swallowing processes within the individual and the community.

The Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association