Do you have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than communication disorders but want to transition into a rapidly growing career as a Speech-Language Pathologist? According to US News and World Report, Speech-Language Pathology is the #3 in Best Health Care Jobs and #10 in 100 Best Jobs! The Saint Elizabeth University Speech-Language Pathology Prerequisite Track (Pre-SLP) program is designed for students who:
- Desire a career in the field of speech-language pathology and/or audiology but did not major in communication disorders or speech-language pathology as undergraduates
- Do not have the prerequisite coursework necessary for admission to for to a
Speech-Language Pathology graduate program
Summary
This online Pre-SLP track offers prerequisite coursework required by Saint Elizabeth University’s Master of Science program of Speech-Language Pathology (SEU MS SLP program) as well as for other speech-language pathology and audiology graduate programs with similar requirements. This program is ideal for students from various backgrounds who seek a career as an SLP.
Highlights
- 100% online
- Flexible enrollment in Spring and Fall
- Program length of approximately 1 year
Admission
- Interested in taking prerequisite coursework? Find out more using our Request for Information Link or contact the Director of Clinical Education directly at razevedo@steu.edu.
- Ready to start taking the Pre-SLP courses online? You can apply to SEU as an undergraduate
non-degree seeking student using the SEU Application and follow the following steps:
- Continuing studies→ SEU application→ Undergraduate Program→ Program Information (Visiting non-degree seeking)
Curriculum and Timeline
A student can begin the Pre-SLP program in either Spring or Fall. The following Pre-SLP courses are now being offered for Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
Fall
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
SLP 304 |
Phonetics |
3 |
|
SLP 306 |
Speech and Language Development |
3 |
|
SLP 320 |
Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism |
4 |
Spring
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
SLP 220 |
Speech and Hearing Science |
4 |
|
SLP 401 |
Audiology and Aural Rehabilitation |
4 |
Summer
| Summer | Course # | Course Title |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | SLP 306 | Speech and Language Development |
Total Credits: 18 Credits
The following provides a detailed description of courses offered in the Speech-Language Pathology Minor program. All courses are taught online in a mixed synchronous & asynchronous format.
SLP 220 Speech and Hearing Science (4 credits)
Course Description: This course provides students with an introductory knowledge of acoustic principles of hearing and speech, characteristics of speech and physiological correlates, and speech perception. Acoustics and speech analysis, focusing on typical speakers, with an introduction to those with delays and disorders.
SLP 304 Phonetics (3 credits)
Course Description: This course will provide students with an introduction to phonetic transcription of speech sounds using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) emphasizing articulatory phonetics of American English, its dialects, as well as the phonological patterns observed in typical and disordered speech. Students will be expected to read and transcribe broad and narrow phonetic symbols and become familiar with sociolinguistic factors and organic speech disorders that affect pronunciation.
SLP 306 Speech and Language Development (3 credits)
Course Description: This is an introductory course on typical speech, language, and communication development from birth through adolescence. Theories of language acquisition and cognitive and social foundations for language and communication will be explored. Biological, neurological, sensory, psychological, developmental, and cultural influences on language development will be discussed. We will also consider other topics in less detail: the nature and extent of individual and cross-linguistic differences during language acquisition (including bilingual/second language acquisition), the nature of deficits and delays in language acquisition, the development of reading, and changes in linguistic competence and performance at times of life following the primary acquisition period for language. This course also includes guided clinical observation hours relevant to course content.
SLP 320 Anatomy and Physiology the Speech and Hearing Mechanism (4 credits)
Course Description: This course provides students with the information needed to understand how speech is produced and perceived and provides the bases of the anatomy (structure) and understanding of the physiology (function) of the speech and hearing mechanisms including respiration, phonation, articulation, perception, and neurology.Lecture: 3 hours; Laboratory: 3 hours
No pre-requisite courses are needed, although high-school general biology and chemistry courses are recommended.
SLP 401 Introduction to Audiology and Aural Rehabilitation (4 credits)
Course Description: This course provides a basic introduction to the profession of audiology and provides students with the basic understanding of hearing measurement procedures, including screening and basic assessment for hearing loss, acoustic measurements, testing environment, and testing protocol. It also covers an introduction to aural rehabilitation including identification, evaluation, and rehabilitation of auditory pathologies. This course will explore the educational, social, and vocational challenges of hearing-impaired individuals across the lifespan.
Students must earn a B or better in all SLP Minor courses to meet ASHA Certification Requirements and to be eligible for admission to the SLP graduate program.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) requirements for Prerequisites
Students who complete the Pre-SLP track must earn a B- or better in all prerequisite
courses
(2.7 GPA minimum) to meet ASHA Certification Requirements and to be eligible for admission
to the MS-SLP graduate program. General academic coursework required by ASHA as part
of the professional certification process that are not required for the Pre-SLP Track
may also be taken at SEU and include academic coursework in the following areas:
- Biological Sciences
- Physics or Chemistry
- Social/Behavioral Sciences (e.g., Psychology, Sociology, etc.)
- Statistics