The B.S. Ed. in Speech Pathology and Audiology, awarded upon completion of a four-year, 120-credit program, is a pre-professional degree. The undergraduate curriculum prepares students who wish to choose one of three career paths in communication disorders: audiology, speech-language pathology, or speech and hearing science. The program includes a minimum of 34 credits of approved course work in the processes of normal speech, language, and hearing as well as an introduction to disorders in communication and a psycholinguistics course. Courses address issues pertaining to normal and abnormal human development and behavior across the life span as well as issues related to culturally diverse populations. General education requirements are also a part of the curriculum. (See the Curry website for additional information: http://curry.virginia.edu/academics/degrees/bachelor-of-science-in-education/b.s.ed.-speech-pathology-and-audiology.)
Students who complete the undergraduate program typically go on to earn a master’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. Graduate-level programs provide students with credentials needed for the provision of clinical services to children and adults with communicative disorders and professional certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
Students at the University who are interested in admission must apply for entry to Communication Disorders by February 1 of their second year of study. The application for admission can be found on the program area website. Students transferring from other universities must apply through the Office of Undergraduate Admission, using the Common Application form.
