College of Public Health and Health Sciences
www.kent.edu/phhs

About This Program

The Speech Pathology and Audiology B.S. program at Kent State University offers a dynamic and innovative learning experience for students passionate about helping individuals with communication disorders. With state-of-the-art facilities, expert faculty and a curriculum that emphasizes hands-on clinical experience, this program provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in this rewarding field. Read more...

Contact Information

• Sloane Burgess | sburges8@kent.edu |
  330-672-2512
• Speak with an Advisor
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

Accreditation

The B.S. degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Current Kent State and Transfer Students: Active Kent State students who wish to change their major must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and meet all admission criteria listed above to be admitted. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

Transfer students visit the admissions website for transfer students for more information.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab

Admission to the combined bachelor's/master's degree program: A minimum 3.000 GPA (after 90 earned credit hours) and three letters of recommendation.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill writing-intensive requirement.

²

Students must complete a laboratory from the Kent Core Basic Sciences category.

³

If students complete the American Civic Literacy requirement by taking HIST 12061, the course will apply to the Kent Core Humanities category. If they complete it with POL 10101, the course will apply to the Kent Core Social Sciences category.

⁴

A maximum 9 credit hours may be used toward the major from courses in the M.A. degree for students admitted into the combined bachelor's/master's degree program. Any student interested in the combined program will be required to complete a total of 111 (undergraduate) credit hours prior to entry into the master's degree program.

Progression Requirements

• Minimum 3.000 overall GPA¹ (after 60 credit hours) is required to be admitted into the professional phase of the major.
• Students will not be able to register for professional phase courses until they meet the required GPA.¹ The professional phase includes all SPA courses required in the major with the exception of SPA 10002, SPA 14500, SPA 34102, SPA 34103, SPA 34104, SPA 34107 and SPA 44111.

¹

Undergraduate students who have not completed a minimum of 12 Kent State University credit hours will be evaluated for advanced study and professional phase based on their high school GPA for new freshmen or transfer GPA for transfer students.

Graduation Requirements

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

University Requirements

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.

Kent Core Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the nature of speech, language and hearing processes and disorders in children and adults.
2. Demonstrate the skills necessary to be successful speech-language pathologists, audiologists or other health and human services professionals.
3. Gain entry into graduate programs in speech pathology, audiology and/or related fields, or obtain positions in health and human services-related professions.

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology is a pre-professional program 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 doctorate in audiology.

The curriculum integrates a sequence of coursework designed to provide a strong liberal arts background and understanding of normal and disordered aspects of the human communication process. Specific coursework includes anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanisms, hearing and speech 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 hold a doctorate in audiology. Both are employed in a variety of settings, including rehabilitation centers, hospitals, schools, community clinics, private practice, research laboratories and colleges and universities.

Students may apply early to the Master of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program Policy in the University Catalog for more information.