Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

E. W. Testut, Associate Professor and Chair
Christine Cecconi, Associate Clinical Professor and Assistant Chair

Students who select speech-language pathology (SLP) as their major typically pursue a career as practicing speech-language pathologists. The Ithaca College undergraduate program in SLP provides the solid clinical and academic foundation essential for achieving that goal. Students who successfully complete the program earn a B.S. degree that leads to graduate study in speech-language pathology, audiology, teaching students with speech and language disabilities (TSSLD), deaf education, or a related specialty.

Professional coursework fundamentally focuses on basic human communication processes, while introducing students to the study of speech-language and hearing disorders and providing capstone experiences in a clinical practicum. This coursework is complemented by carefully selected, yet flexible, liberal arts and teacher education courses. A master's degree is required for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certification and clinical competence in SLP (CCC-SLP), New York State Education Department (NYSED) professional teaching certificate in TSSLD, and New York State Office of Professions (NYSOP) license to practice SLP. The department's graduate programs meet the academic and clinical requirements for professional certification and licenses as defined by the ASHA, NYSED, and NYSOP.

Unique features of the Ithaca College degree in SLP are (1) experiential learning through clinical practicum experiences during the junior and senior years, affording students an opportunity for supervised clinical practice at the Sir Alexander Ewing-Ithaca College Speech and Hearing Clinic or an approved off-campus clinic site, and (2) the opportunity to enroll in teacher education coursework that is required for New York State TSSLD certification. After completion of the four-year degree, students may enter a graduate degree program in speech-language pathology, audiology, TSSLD, deaf education, or a similar specialization. A master's degree is required for the license to practice speech-language pathology or audiology in the state of New York. The department's graduate programs meet the academic and clinical requirements for professional certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Special Academic Status Policy, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

All required department courses (SLPA-xxxxx), as well as LNGS-23300 Introduction to Linguistics, must be completed with a grade of C- or better. No advanced course may be taken until all prerequisites for it have been completed with a grade of C- or better. In addition, to maintain satisfactory academic standing, a student must

1. maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00,

2. maintain a GPA of 2.00 in all major courses (SLPA-xxxxx) and LNGS-23300 Linguistics, and

3. successfully complete at least 24 credits in any consecutive 12 months.

Academic Warning- A student who fails to meet any of the three requirements for satisfactory standing stated above will be placed on academic warning. When a GPA deficiency exists, the student must subsequently attain grades sufficiently above the 2.00 standard to bring the cumulative GPA up to the required 2.00 or above.

Dismissal - A student who fails to meet the requirements for satisfactory standing for two consecutive semesters will be dismissed from the major and also may be suspended or dismissed from the school and from Ithaca College.

Occasional Study at Another Institution

Students majoring in SLP normally do not receive transfer credit for department courses required for the major (SLPA-xxxxx). Students may request, through their academic adviser, a waiver of this policy. The department considers such requests on a case-by-case basis.

B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology

Requirements for the Major in Speech-Language Pathology - B.S.

Major department requirements

Required courses outside major department

Restricted electives in major department - Choose one of the following:

Electives outside major

Summary:

Minor in Communication Disorders

Open to students majoring in all disciplines except speech-language pathology. The minor is designed to increase students' understanding of communication disorders. Students may be "generalists" (selecting courses that provide an overview of communication disorders) or "specialists" (selecting courses that reflect an area of specific interest, such as science, language, or phonology).

Requirements

Elective - Select four of the following courses:

Guidelines on course sequencing and other requirements are available at the department office, Smiddy Hall 301.

Course Numbering System

• The level-1 and level-2 required courses comprise a core curriculum that emphasizes basic human communication processes and provides introductory information relevant to communication disorders. Students are required to complete courses at this level before attempting the intermediate or advanced ones.

• The level-3 and level-4 courses are intermediate and advanced offerings for majors and minors only.

• The level-5 courses are graduate-level offerings and may be taken by seniors only with approval of the department chairperson and the dean of graduate studies (refer to the Ithaca College graduate catalog for complete graduate course offerings).

Clinical Affiliations

A list of approved sites may be obtained through the Office of Experiential Learning (oel@ithaca.edu).