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
Program Delivery
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*
Audiologists
- 13.3% much faster than the average
- 13,800 number of jobs
- $81,030 potential earnings
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- 20.5% much faster than the average
- 254,000 number of jobs
- $99,090 potential earnings
Speech-language pathologists
- 24.9% much faster than the average
- 162,600 number of jobs
- $80,480 potential earnings
* 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
Admission to this major is selective. A minimum 3.000 GPA is required to be admitted to the major. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement at the time of admission for this major will be admitted to the EHHS General non-degree program until which time they have established a Kent State GPA of 3.000. They may then submit a change of program to declare this major.
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.
Admission to the combined bachelor's/master's degree program: Minimum 3.000 GPA (after 90 earned credit hours) and three letters of recommendation.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.
Roadmap
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.
Plan of Study Grid | Semester One |
| UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
| Biology (BSCI) Course from Kent Core | 3-4 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 16 |
| Semester Two |
! | PSYC 11762 | GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) | 3 |
| SPA 10002 | INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION DISORDERS AND DIFFERENCES | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Semester Three |
| PSYC 20651 | CHILD PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) | 3 |
! | SPA 34102 | APPLIED PHONETICS | 3 |
| SPA 34104 | SPEECH AND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Semester Four |
| ENG 31003 | LINGUISTICS | 3 |
| MATH 10041
| INTRODUCTORY STATISTICS (KMCR)
or QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY I | 3-4 |
| SPA 34103 | ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF SPEECH AND HEARING | 3 |
| SPA 34107 | LANGUAGE DISORDERS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS | 3 |
| Chemistry (CHEM) or Physics (PHY) Course from Kent Core (except PHY 11030) | 3-4 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Semester Five |
| Minimum 3.000 overall GPA to be admitted into the professional phase of the major; apply after 60 credit hours are completed or in progress. | |
| PSYC 41043 | BASIC LEARNING PROCESSES | 3 |
! | SPA 33101 | HEARING AND SPEECH SCIENCE | 3 |
| SPA 44111 | NEURAL PROCESSES | 3 |
| General Electives | 6 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Semester Six |
! | SPA 34106 | ARTICULATORY AND PHONOLOGICAL DISORDERS | 3 |
! | SPA 43402 | AUDIOMETRY | 3 |
! | SPA 43405 | CLINICAL PREPARATION IN AUDIOLOGY (ELR) | 2 |
! | SPA 44112 | AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| General Electives | 4 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Semester Seven |
! | SPA 43404 | AURAL REHABILITATION | 3 |
! | SPA 44310 | CLINICAL PROCEDURES IN SPEECH PATHOLOGY | 3 |
! | SPA 44311 | CLINICAL PREPARATION IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY (ELR) (WIC) | 2 |
| General Electives | 7 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Semester Eight |
| General Electives | 14 |
| | Credit Hours | 14 |
| | Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |
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.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the nature of speech, language and hearing processes and disorders in children and adults.
- Demonstrate the skills necessary to be successful speech-language pathologists, audiologists, or other health and human service professionals.
- 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 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, 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.
Student 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.