The School of Speech Pathology and Audiology offers a pre-professional Bachelor of Science degree. Initially, entering students are enrolled under a pre-major status. Just prior to the completion of 64 credit hours, they apply for admission to the major (Intent to Major form). Students should have a GPA of at least 2.75 in order to become a major..
The total number of required credit hours is 121. This includes:
- one hour for University Orientation
- 36 hours for Liberal Education Requirements (some of which are prescribed)
- 40 hours for courses in the major
- nine hours of other prescribed courses
- 35 hours of electives
Under the electives, students can count up to 12 hours of graduate coursework toward the 35 required elective hours if they are in the combined baccalaureate-master's program (described below). This reduces the number of required elective courses from 35 to 23. In addition to the required courses, undergraduate students accrue a minimum of 25 clinical observation hours in preparation for practicum at the graduate level. While approximately 10 of these hours will occur during the undergraduate courses, students are responsible for obtaining the remaining hours on their own. Procedures for obtaining these hours are posted in the department.
Combined Baccalaureate-Master's Program (CBMP)
Undergraduate students at KSU can apply to our master's program based on graduating with their B.S. degree. However, they can also apply through the CBMP, as long as they have completed 90 or more credit hours.
The CBMP has two advantages:
- Students can begin to take graduate classes prior to completing all of their undergraduate classes. This makes more efficient use of their time.
- Students can apply up to 12 hours of graduate coursework toward the electives section of their undergraduate degree. This saves up to 12 hours worth of tuition costs at the undergraduate level.
Students in the CBMP graduate with their B.S. degree as soon as these requirements are completed (often after their first semester in graduate school). Admission criteria to the master's program are the same for both of these paths.
National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA)
NSSLHA is the national pre-professional organization for undergraduate and graduate students interested in the study of speech pathology and audiology. NSSLHA is the only official national student association recognized by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
Benefits of being national members include:
- significant savings on dues for your first year of ASHA membership and reduced fees for the annual ASHA convention.
The NSSLHA chapter at Kent State University meets three times per month in the School of Speech Pathology and Audiology located in the Music and Speech Building. The organization is committed to informing students in speech pathology and audiology about current topics in the professional world both during and after graduation. The goal is to unite students in the program by involving them in group activities such as fundraising for various organizations and attending conferences in speech pathology and audiology.
If you are interested, please contact the NSSLHA or call the Speech and Hearing Clinic at Kent State University at 330-672-2672.
