Program Overview

School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences

The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences offers a comprehensive program in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, providing students with a foundation for graduate study and career opportunities in the field.

Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (BS)

The Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology program focuses on the development of communicative abilities, the anatomical and physiological mechanisms underlying speech, language, and hearing, and the causes of communication disorders in children and adults. The curriculum includes supervised clinical practicum, providing students with experience in clinical assessment and intervention with persons having communication impairments.

Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

The Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology requires 120 hours of coursework, including:

• Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 hours
  • Communication: 6 hours
    • 3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
    • 3 hours Communication Elective (SPAU 3390)
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences: 15 hours
    • 6 semester credit hours Government (GOVT 2301 and GOVT 2302)
    • 6 hours American History
    • 3 hours Social and Behavioral Science Elective (PSY 2301)
  • Humanities and Fine Arts: 6 hours
    • 3 hours Fine Arts (ARTS 1301)
    • 3 hours Humanities (HUMA 1301)
  • Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning: 6 hours
    • 3 hours College Math (see Advisor for recommended courses)
    • 3 hours Quantitative Methods (PSY 2317 or STAT 1342)
  • Science: 9 hours with at least one lab course
    • 3 hours Science (SPAU 3344)
    • 6 hours Science Elective (Students planning to attend graduate school in speech-language pathology or audiology should take a minimum of one course in the biological sciences and one course in chemistry or physics.)
• Major Requirements: 33 hours
  • Major Preparatory Courses: 3 hours
    • PSY 2301 Introduction to Psychology
  • Major Core Courses: 39 hours
    • SPAU 3301 Communication Disorders
    • SPAU 3303 Normal Language Development
    • SPAU 3304 Communication Sciences
    • SPAU 3340 Articulation Disorders
    • SPAU 3341 Audiology
    • SPAU 3343 Phonetics
    • SPAU 3344 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing
    • SPAU 3345 Neural Basis of Communication or NSC 3361 Behavioral Neuroscience
    • SPAU 3388 Clinical Observation in Speech-Language Pathology
    • SPAU 3390 Clinical Practicum in Speech Language Pathology
    • SPAU 4308 Language Disorders in Children
    • SPAU 4394 Multicultural Aspects of Communication Disorders or SPAU 4393 Language in Culture and Society
    • SPAU elective (3 hour course with SPAU prefix)
• Elective Requirements: 45 hours
  • Free Electives: 45 hours
    • At least 45 hours of lower- or upper-division courses of the student's choice.

Minor in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

The Minor in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology requires 18 credit hours, including 12 required hours of foundation coursework and 6 elective hours. Foundation coursework includes:

• SPAU 3301 Communication Disorders
• SPAU 3303 Normal Language Development
• SPAU 3304 Communication Sciences
• SPAU 3343 Phonetics

Elective courses include:

• SPAU 3340 Articulation Disorders
• SPAU 3341 Audiology
• SPAU 3344 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing
• SPAU 3388 Clinical Observation in Speech-Language Pathology
• SPAU 3390 Clinical Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology
• SPAU 4308 Language Disorders in Children
• SPAU 4393 Language in Culture and Society
• SPAU 4395 Issues in the Management of Persons with Hearing Impairment

Fast Track Baccalaureate/Master's Degrees

The Fast Track Baccalaureate/Master's Degrees program allows undergraduate students to take up to 15 hours of graduate courses that may be used to complete the baccalaureate degree and also to satisfy requirements for the master's degree. Students must earn grades of B or better in graduate courses taken and must have completed at least 90 semester credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree before beginning Fast Track coursework.