School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (BS)
The Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences program offers study in the processes and disorders of speech, language, and hearing. The program provides the foundation for graduate studies in speech-language pathology, audiology, or speech, language, and hearing sciences. For those not pursuing graduate education, the degree also provides initial preparation for assistant certification and alternate careers in health care.
The curriculum in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences focuses on the development of communicative abilities; the anatomical and physiological mechanisms underlying speech, language, and hearing; the causes of communication disorders in children and adults; and theories and techniques of assessment and treatment of communication disorders.
The program offers three areas of focus: speech-language pathology, audiology, and speech, language, and hearing science. All majors take a sequence of core courses followed by electives specific to their interests and career goals. Electives should be chosen based on careful review of the course descriptions provided in the catalog and in consultation with their academic advisor.
Students who plan to attend graduate school in speech-language pathology or audiology should be aware that clinical certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association requires that students complete at least one course in each of the following subject areas: Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences (chemistry or physics is required), Behavioral Sciences (e.g. psychology, sociology), and a stand-alone Statistics course. Completion of this coursework prior to applying to graduate school is strongly advised.
Students who wish to combine Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with Psychology, Neuroscience, or Child Learning and Development should be able to meet requirements in both majors, and, with the approval of the Associate Dean, complete a double major. Students considering a double major should consult with their advisor regarding specific requirements. Students can complete Core Curriculum and Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences major requirements in a minimum of 78 semester credit hours, leaving 42 elective semester credit hours.
Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)1
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Professors: Julia Evans, John Hart Jr., Pamela R. Rollins, Steven Small, Robert D. Stillman, Linda M. Thibodeau
Associate Professors: Roozbeh Behroozmand, Mandy J. Maguire, Andrea Warner-Czyz
Assistant Professors: Kelly Jahn, Yune Lee, Adrianna Shembel, Lei (Pumpki) Su
Professors Emeriti: Thomas Campbell, Christine Dollaghan, Ross J. Roeser, Hanna K. Ulatowska, Anne van Kleeck
Clinical Professors: Jackie Clark, Carol Cokely
Assistant Clinical Professors: Stephanie Fowler, Cornetta Mosley
Professors of Instruction: Michelle Aldridge, Emily Touchstone
Professor of Practice: Diane Garst Walsh
Assistant Professor of Practice: Hannah Pourchot Neale
I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours2
Communication: 6 semester credit hours
COMM 1311 Survey of Oral and Technology-based Communication
COMM 1315 Public Speaking
RHET 1302 Rhetoric
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Communication Core courses (see advisor)
Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours
Select 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics Core courses (see advisor)
Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours
Select 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences Core courses 3
Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours
Select 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture Core courses
Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours
Select 3 semester credit hours from Creative Arts Core courses
American History: 6 semester credit hours
Select 6 semester credit hours from American History Core courses
Government/Political Science: 6 semester credit hours
Select 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Core courses
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours
PSY 2301 Introduction to Psychology
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences Core courses (see advisor)
Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours
PSY 2317 Statistics for Psychology
or STAT 1342 Statistical Decision Making
PSY 2314 Lifespan Development
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Component Area Option courses (see advisor)
II. Major Requirements: 36 semester credit hours
Major Preparatory Courses: 3 semester credit hours (0 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum).
PSY 2301 Introduction to Psychology4
Major Core Courses: 24 semester credit hours
SPAU 3301 Communication Disorders
SPAU 3303 Normal Language Development
SPAU 3304 Communication Sciences
SPAU 3340 Articulation Disorders
SPAU 3341 Audiology
SPAU 3343 Phonetics and Phonology
SPAU 3344 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing
SPAU 3388 Clinical Observation in Speech-Language Pathology
SPAU Choice: 12 semester credit hours
Select at least 12 semester credit hours from the following to meet major requirements:
SPAU 3345 Neural Basis of Communication
or NSC 3361 Introduction to Neuroscience
SPAU 4308 Language Disorders in Children
SPAU 4394 Multicultural Aspects of Communication Disorders
or SPAU 4393 Language in Culture and Society
SPAU 3305 Language and Literacy Development
SPAU 4395 Issues in the Management of Persons with Hearing Impairment
SPAU 3342 Exceptional Children
SPAU 4386 Adult Development and Aging
SPAU 4342 Assessment Procedures in Speech-Language Pathology
SPAU 3390 Clinical Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology
SPAU 4396 Internship
SPAU 4V75 Honors Seminar
SPAU 4V90 Special Topics in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
Courses are frequently offered as special topics in areas that will help students achieve their career goals. Please see advisor.
III. Elective Requirements: 42 semester credit hours
Free Electives: 42 semester credit hours
At least 42 semester credit hours of lower- or upper-division courses of the student's choice. Students are encouraged to explore areas of concentration in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, selecting additional courses with the SPAU prefix, as well as related interests in behavioral and brain sciences.
ASHA requires students to complete a physics or course and a biological science course.
The plan must include sufficient upper-division courses to total 45 upper-division semester credit hours.
Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of BBSU 1100.
Fast Track Baccalaureate/Master's Degrees
UT Dallas undergraduate students with strong academic records who intend to pursue a master's degree in Communication Disorders at the University may consider an accelerated undergraduate-graduate plan of study. If accepted into the program, students may take up to 15 semester credit hours of graduate courses that may be used to complete the baccalaureate degree and also to satisfy requirements for the master's degree. Students must maintain a 3.000 grade point average and earn grades of B or better in graduate courses taken.
Students should apply for Fast Track admission in the semester they reach 90 semester credit hours. To qualify for application, undergraduate students must have completed at least 18 semester credit hours in major core courses at UT Dallas. To be eligible for Fast Track admission, students must have completed at least 90 semester credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree, completed at least 36 hours of the general education core curriculum, and meet program admission requirements, including submission of GRE scores. Apply to the Fast Track program through the graduate Speech Language Pathology program, not through Enrollment Services. Students should consult with a graduate advisor regarding admissions criteria and plans of study. Admission into the Speech Language Pathology Fast Track program is extremely competitive and highly selective and specific GRE and GPA thresholds must be met.
Minors
Students must complete 18 semester credit hours including 9 required semester credit hours of foundation coursework and 9 semester credit hours of guided electives. At least 12 semester credit hours must be upper-division courses, of which at least 9 semester credit hours must have been completed at UT Dallas.
Minor in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
18 semester credit hours
Students interested in communication sciences and disorders may elect to minor in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Students complete 18 semester credit hours including 12 required semester credit hours of foundation coursework and 6 elective semester credit hours. Students who take a minor will be expected to meet the normal prerequisites in courses making up the minor, and should maintain a minimum GPA of 2.000 on a 4.00 scale (C average). No semester credit hours may be used to satisfy both major and minor requirements; however, free elective semester credit hours or major preparatory classes may be used to satisfy the minor. At least one-third of the semester credit hours for a minor must be taken at UT Dallas.
Students majoring in Psychology, Neuroscience, or Cognitive Science, or students with interests in the health sciences may find that a minor in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences adds a valuable interdisciplinary dimension to their overall plan of study and may enhance their opportunities for graduate study.
Foundation Courses: 12 semester credit hours required
SPAU 3301 Communication Disorders
SPAU 3303 Normal Language Development
SPAU 3343 Phonetics and Phonology
SPAU 3344 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing
Elective Courses: 6 semester credit hours
Choose two courses from the following:
SPAU 3304 Communication Sciences
SPAU 3340 Articulation Disorders
SPAU 3341 Audiology
SPAU 3345 Neural Basis of Communication
SPAU 4308 Language Disorders in Children
SPAU 4393 Language in Culture and Society
SPAU 4395 Issues in the Management of Persons with Hearing Impairment
1. Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of UNIV 1010 and the corresponding school-related freshman seminar course. Students, including transfer students, who complete their core curriculum at UT Dallas must take UNIV 2020.
2. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
3. Students planning to attend graduate school in speech-language pathology or audiology should take a minimum of one course in the biological sciences and one course in chemistry or physics.
4. A required Preparatory course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Three (3) semester credit hours are counted in Core Curriculum.