Speech Pathology and Audiology
M. J. Germani,
ChairpersonSpeech-language pathologists provide diagnostic services and therapy to people with speech or language problems. Audiologists provide diagnostic and rehabilitative services to people with hearing and balance problems. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists work in medical settings, schools, private practice, community and university clinics, long-term care facilities, and industrial settings.
The Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology's programs are accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). To become licensed, certified speech-language pathologists, students must complete both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree. To become licensed, certified audiologists, students must complete both a bachelor's degree and a doctorate degree. As part of their work, students acquire extensive clinical practicum experience working with patients who have speech, language, and hearing problems.
At the undergraduate level, the department offers preprofessional undergraduate majors in speech-language pathology and preaudiology. The majors, combined with an appropriate graduate program, lead to a state professional license, national certification, and school licensure. Admission to the clinical portion of the major is selective. Students should obtain a copy of the department's “Undergraduate Major Admission and Progression Policies” from the department office, Arts and Communications Building, Room 104. For information on the department's Master of Arts (MA) in Speech-Language Pathology and Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree, see the Ball State University Graduate Catalog.
The department operates the Ball State University Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Clinics as campus facilities where students can participate in their initial practicum experiences under the supervision of the department's faculty.
MAJOR IN PREAUDIOLOGY, 65 hours
Completion of the major in preaudiology preparation does not guarantee admission to any Ball State post-baccalaureate program in audiology, nor to other graduate or professional audiology programs. Admission to such programs is usually competitive and typically requires submission of standardized test scores.
Although most students entering AuD programs will have completed a four-year undergraduate program, those with outstanding qualifications may be admitted after only three years. Students who have completed the undergraduate preaudiology preparation major requirements and who have been admitted to an AuD program may be able to use the credit earned in their first year of AuD professional courses to meet the senior-year course requirements for the baccalaureate degree from Ball State.
Admission and progression policies are available from the SPAA office (AC 104). |
PREFIX |
NO |
SHORT TITLE |
CR HRS |
BIO
CHEM
MATHS
PHYCS
SPAA
|
111
112
111
112
161
162
110
112
100
101
161 |
Princ Bio 1
Princ Bio 2
Gen Chem 1
Gen Chem 2
Appl Calc 1
Appl Calc 2
Gen Phycs 1
Gen Phycs 2
Survey SPAA
Clin Phonet
Anat Sp Hr |
4
4
4
4
3
3
4
4
2
3
3 |
| 3 hours from |
|
ECON
MATHS
PSYSC |
221
221
241 |
Bus Stats (3)
Pbty Stats (3)
Statistics (3) |
3
|
| 3 hours from |
|
COMM
CPSY
SOC |
290
470
421 |
Intercul Com (3)
Crs Cul Coun (3)
Minorities (3) |
3
|
| 6 hours from |
|
CS
ISOM |
104
110
125 |
Intro Comp (3)
Intro C S (3)
Micro App (3) |
6
|
| 6 hours from |
|
|
CPSY
EDPSY
FCSFC
PSYSC
SOC
SOCWK |
400
350
265
275
301
367
371
431
230 |
Fundmtl Coun (3)
Child Psych (3)
Inf/Tod Dvlt (3)
Child Dvlpmt (3)
Psych Health (3)
Intro Biopsy (3)
App Bhr Anls (3)
Aging (3)
Behav Envr 1 (3) |
6
|
| 9 hours from |
|
BL
BUSAD
MGT
MKG |
260
101
300
341
200 |
Prin Bus Law (3)
Intro Busins (3)
Mgt Beh Org (3)
Intro Entr (3)
Fundamentals (3) |
9
|
|
65 hrs |
| MATHS 165, 166 may be substituted for 161, 162. Students electing PSYSC 241, 301, 371; SOC 421, should take appropriate UCC courses to meet prerequisites. SOCWK 230 requires SOCWK 100 and permission of the social work department chairperson. |
MAJOR IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY,
65 hours
PREFIX |
NO |
SHORT TITLE |
CR HRS |
CS
ENG
FCSFC
PSYSC
SPAA
SPCED |
104
320
265
or
275
100
241
371
100
101
161
210
260
270
311
312
319
343
344
361
371
418
201 |
Intro Comp
Intr Ling Sc
Inf/Tod Dvlt (3)
Child Dvlpmt (3)
General
Statistics
App Bhr Anls
Survey SPAA
Clin Phonet
Anat Sp Hr
Sp Sd Dis
Spch Acoust
Lang Develop
Cln Proc Obs
Intro Diag
Clin Pract (3)
Intro Aud
Hearing 2
Neuro Anat
Lang Dis 1
Org Sp Disor
Int Ex Needs |
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
6
3
3
3
3
3
3 |
|
65 hrs |
Admission to the clinical portion (SPAA 311, 319) of this major is restricted and selective. Admission and progression policies are available from the SPAA office (AC 104). To be eligible to apply for certification or licensure to work as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist in Indiana (as in most states), it is necessary to complete a master’s degree. By 2007, a doctorate (in some states, a Doctor of Audiology degree will be specified) will be requiredfor certification and licensure (in some states) to work as an audiologist.
For students planning to major in audiology at the graduate level, certain undergraduate course substitutions may be made with the permission of the department chairperson.
One or two years of foreign language study is recommended but not required. |
MINOR IN SPEECH PATHOLOGY AND
AUDIOLOGY, 24 hours
PREFIX |
NO |
SHORT TITLE |
CR HRS |
SPAA |
100
101
161
210
260
270
343 |
Survey SPAA
Clin Phonet
Anat Sp Hr
Sp Sd Dis
Spch Acoust
Lang Develop
Intro Aud |
2
3
3
3
3
3
3 |
4 hours from electives in SPAA |
4 |
|
24 hrs |
SPEECH PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY (SPAA)
100 Survey of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. (2)
Introduction to speech-language pathology and audiology and a survey of communication disorders. Particularly helpful for persons thinking about careers in communication disorders or in related fields (teaching, nursing, gerontology, etc.).
101 Clinical Phonetics. (3)
Study of phonetics as applied to communication disorders. Transcription practice of normal and abnormal speech. Relationship of phonological transcription and analysis to communication disorders.
161 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing. (3)
Study of the anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanisms. Includes respiratory, phonatory, articulatory-resonance, and hearing mechanisms.
210 Speech Sound Disorders. (3)
Overview of articulatory phonetics and normal/disordered phonological development. Discussion of structural, neurologic, and environmental conditions contributing to phonologic disability in children. Assessment and treatment procedures for children with phonological disorders.
Prerequisite: SPAA 101.
260 Speech Acoustics. (3)
Introduction to the physical nature of speech and its relationship to speech production and perception.
Prerequisite: SPAA 101, 161.
270 Language Development. (3)
Overview of language and language development. Consideration of phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Theories of language acquisition. Cultural diversity as related to language.
299X Experimental/Developmental Topics. (3-6)
Topics relevant to the discipline. Course titles will be announced before each semester.
A total of 6 hours of credit may be earned.
311 Clinical Procedures and Observations. (3)
Methods course to prepare speech-language pathology and audiology students for clinical practicum. Overview of professional, ethical, diagnostic, and therapy topics. Observation of therapy is required.
Prerequisite: permission of the department chairperson.
Parallel: SPAA 312.
Open only to approved clinical SPAA majors.
312 Introduction to Diagnosis and Appraisal. (3)
Techniques in the diagnosis of speech and language disorders. Recognizing and understanding the components of differential diagnosis. Practice in administration and interpretation of selected tests.
Prerequisite: SPAA 101, 210; permission of the department chairperson.
Parallel: SPAA 311 or permission of the department chairperson.
Open only to approved clinical SPAA majors.
319 Clinical Practicum. (3)
Clinical practicum in speech-language pathology and audiology/aural rehabilitation. Students perform observations and provide supervised clinical services for persons with various communication disorders. Two hours of clinical practicum and two one hour laboratory periods weekly.
Prerequisite: SPAA 270, 311, 312; permission of the department chairperson.
A total of 6 hours of credit may be earned, but no more than 3 in any one semester or term.
Open only to approved clinical SPAA majors.
342 Audiology for Deaf Education. (3)
Overview of audiology and aural rehabilitation for deaf education majors.
Prerequisite: SPCED 240; SPAA 101.
Open only to deaf education majors or with permission of the department chairperson.
343 Introduction to Audiology. (3)
Overview of the anatomy and physiology of hearing, hearing disorders, hearing assessment, and hearing screening.
Prerequisite: SPAA 161, 260.
344 Aural Rehabilitation. (3)
Overview of aural rehabilitation. Practical implications of various types of hearing losses and appropriate rehabilitative procedures. Amplification, auditory training, speechreading, educational and vocational considerations, and psychosocial implications of hearing loss.
Prerequisite: SPAA 210, 270, 343.
345 Clinical Audiology: Orientation and Visitation. (2)
Orientation to the practice of clinical audiology in various settings and work environments.
Prerequisite: permission of the department chairperson.
Open only to preaudiology preparation majors.
361 Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Speech, Language, and Hearing. (3)
Overview of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology with a concentration on neurological mechanisms related to speech, language, and hearing.
Prerequisite: SPAA 161.
371 Child Language Disorders 1. (3)
Introduction to the nature, cause, and treatment of language disorders in children.
Prerequisite: SPAA 270.
414 Stuttering 1: Research and Theory. (3)
An introduction to the disorder of stuttering with attention directed to its symptoms and development. Reviews the research and theoretical formulations regarding stuttering and its treatment.
Prerequisite: SPAA 210.
418 Organic Speech and Language Disorders. (3)
An overview of speech and language disorders resulting from organic problems. Areas covered include cerebral palsy, aphasia, cleft palate, dysphagia, vocal abuse, head trauma, and laryngectomy.
Prerequisite: SPAA 161.
420 Orientation and Clinical Practicum in School Settings. (2)
Orientation and clinical practicum in speech-language pathology and audiology/aural rehabilitation in school settings.
Prerequisite: SPAA 319; permission of the department chairperson.
Open only to approved clinical SPAA majors on a credit/no credit basis.
492 Directed Study in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. (1-3)
Individual directed study in speech-language pathology and audiology.
Prerequisite: permission of the department chairperson.
A total of 6 hours of credit may be earned, but no more than 3 in any one semester or term.