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University of Central Arkansas
Undergraduate Bulletin 2006 - 2008

Undergraduate Bulletin
Document Number 3.04.13

Speech-Language Pathology

Chair: Dr. John Lowe III, 450-3176
Professors: Dr. Logan, Dr. Lowe, Dr. McNiece
Associate Professors: Dr. Lance, Dr. Moss-Logan, Dr. G. McCullough, Dr. McMurtrey, Mr. Thurman
Assistant Professors: Dr. K. McCullough, Dr. B. Ross, Dr. Smiley
Instructors: Ms. Edwards, Ms. Moore, Ms. McDaniel, Ms. S. Ross

[1] Description

Definition. Speech-language pathology is the health-care profession involved in preventing, evaluating, and treating speech, language, and swallowing disorders in individuals of all ages. Speech-language pathologists hold either a master's or doctoral degree and have earned the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the national professional, scientific, and accrediting organization. Speech-language pathologists work in a wide variety of settings such as public and private schools, hospitals, clinics, health departments, rehabilitation centers, and private practice.

Purposes. The undergraduate program in speech-language pathology provides the academic background necessary for professional education in speech-language pathology or audiology at the graduate level. The master's degree is the entry level for those who plan to pursue careers as speech-language pathologists in schools, hospitals, community centers, university clinics, and other professional settings. The undergraduate program provides basic content courses relating to the processes of speech, language, and hearing, with introductory courses in the disorders of human communication.

Clinical Practicum. The department maintains an on-campus Speech-Language-Hearing Center where student clinicians, under the supervision of faculty who are licensed in speech-language pathology or audiology, complete clinical observations.

[2] Honors in Speech-Language Pathology

Upon completion of 72 hours (with 12 hours in the major), a student may be invited by the faculty of the speech-language pathology department to pursue departmental honors. To be eligible for departmental honors, a student must have a minimum 3.25 overall GPA and a 3.4 in the major. After working with a faculty mentor and completing SPTH 4350 Honors in Speech-Language Pathology, students must submit written evidence of a research paper or project and make a formal presentation to the faculty and students.

[3] Admission and Retention

All students declaring a speech-language pathology major are accepted as tentative candidates to the undergraduate program. Enrollment in SPTH 2300 Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders, SPTH 2322 Applied Phonetics, SPTH 2306 Anatomical and Physiological Bases of Communication I, SPTH 2303 Basic Sign Language, SPTH 4303 Intermediate Sign Language, and SPTH 4310 Assistive Technology is open to all students. All other courses in speech-language pathology require formal admission to the program. Students apply for fall admission to the undergraduate program during the spring or summer prior to beginning the fall semester of their junior year.

Based on academic and personal qualifications of the applicant, admission to the BS program in speech-language pathology is granted without regard to race, color, creed, or national origin. Admission to the program is competitive and selective. To be admitted and matriculate, a student must meet the following minimum requirements:

  1. Junior status with an overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.7.
  2. A major grade point average of 3.0.
  3. A formal interview with the admissions committee.
  4. Three references from outside the department.
  5. Maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 2.7.
  6. Maintain a minimum major grade point average of 3.0.
  7. Observe the fundamental rules of ethical conduct as described in the Code of Ethics of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
  8. Display and maintain satisfactory non-academic criteria that are important to function in the discipline of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Consequently, students are required to meet the following criteria:
    1. Oral communication abilities adequate to function in the discipline of Communication Sciences and Disorders. The program adheres to ASHA’s position statement, "Students and Professionals Who Speak English with Accents and Nonstandard Dialects."
    2. Auditory ability adequate for assessing speech-language problems and providing treatment.
    3. Interpersonal behaviors that are consistent with appropriate clinical skills and professional standards.
    Assessment of non-academic requirements involves the professional judgments of faculty and administrators. It is crucial that client and patient rights to appropriate speech and language services be protected. It is the University's responsibility to protect both students and the clients they serve. The UCA Speech and Hearing Center faculty deals with these issues through regular reviews of student progress during faculty meetings. Potential problems are raised as soon as possible with the student, remediation procedures are suggested, and the student is given time to respond. On rare occasion, it is necessary to counsel students out of the program for non-academic reasons. Before arriving at such a decision, there is extensive discussion, clear feedback to the student regarding the problems, and agreement among faculty as to the course of action. The intention of this policy is to give students a fair opportunity to succeed.
  9. Students are expected to maintain a minimum cumulative overall grade point average of 2.7 and a cumulative grade point average on all major coursework of 3.00. Students who have grade point averages less than these minimums are on academic probation. Once on probation, students will be allowed to continue taking course work in the major. In the next semester or summer term in attendance, students should achieve the minimum grade point averages, or at least show meaningful improvement toward those minimums, in order to continue in the undergraduate Speech-Language Pathology program.

If a student receives a "D" or an "F" in any Speech-Language Pathology course(s), the course(s) must be repeated before the student can graduate.

[4] Baccalaureate Degree: Bachelor of Science

The degree of Bachelor of Science, with a major in speech-language pathology, requires completion of (1) the general education component, (2) degree requirements, (3) major and related requirements, and (4) the option to complete a minor as worked out with the student's minor advisor or the option to choose, in consultation with the student's major advisor, elective courses that would support the major.

Major in Speech-Language Pathology (47 hours)

Major requirements in Speech-Language Pathology (47 hours): SPTH 2300, 2322, 2306, 3300, 3306, 3311, 3320, 3321, 3325, 3326, 4115, 4220, 4230, 4301, 4311, 4330, and 4335.

[5] Masters Degree

See Graduate Bulletin.

[6] Courses in Speech-Language Pathology (SPTH)

Follow this link for SPTH course descriptions: course link.