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The University of Toledo began an undergraduate degree program in Speech-Language Pathology in 1969 with the first graduate level speech-language pathology curriculum offered in 1987. The program was accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 1993 and was re-accredited in 1998 and 2006. Accreditation of the undergraduate program extends through 2014.
We offer both undergraduate and graduate programs in speech-language pathology. There are over 100 undergraduate majors with class size in the lower division speech-language pathology courses averaging 30 students per class, and the upper division courses averaging 22 students. Clinical practicum courses are individualized.
Employment
Speech-language pathology employment opportunities have been excellent for graduate students. To our knowledge, all graduate students who have graduated from our master's program in good standing are employed in the field of speech-language pathology.
Employment opportunities for speech-language pathologists are in settings which range from public school to medical agencies. Speech-language pathology is continually listed as one of the top jobs in the “50 hottest jobs” by Money Manager and similar publications. Students from The University of Toledo have accepted positions in the public schools, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, university and community clinics, and long term care facilities. The most recent figures for starting salaries which do not include benefits packages, averaged in the $50,000 range.
Meeting Educational and Clinical Requirements
Our program assures that the student will meet the educational and clinical requirements for the ASHA Certification of Clinical Competence (speech-language pathology) through our program. The undergraduate program provides a basis upon which the graduate program is built. If a student obtains his/her undergraduate coursework from another institution, careful scheduling with the assigned graduate advisor will be necessary to be sure that all educational and clinical certification requirements are met through experiences on the graduate level at The University of Toledo.
The Coursework
The curriculum in Speech-Language Pathology refers to both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree program. Upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree, students are eligible to apply to graduate programs at UT as well as other graduate programs. The Master’s degree represents the academic requirement for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) which is granted by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). Other requirements are listed in the ASHA Certification section.
ASHA Requirements
The State of Ohio requires a license in speech-language pathology services within the state. The requirements for the Ohio state license are similar to those for the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence.
The school speech-language pathology licensure is also recommended by the University but issued by the State of Ohio. To meet the coursework and practicum requirements to be eligible for employment in the public school system in Ohio, the student must meet the University requirements for an education focus in speech-language pathology. These requirements include specific coursework in education as well as courses in handicapping conditions, learning disabilities, and American Sign Language. In addition, extensive practicum experience in the public school setting is required. A score of 600 is required on the PRAXIS examination.
Speech Language Pathology Program
Speech-Language Pathology Program Recommended 4 Year Sequence of Courses
Undergraduate Course Descriptions
Be sure to check the published University of Toledo catalog for the official description of courses and accurate information.
Course Descriptions
| Undergraduate Plan of Study: |
Preparation for School Speech-Language Pathology
To obtain an undergraduate degree from the speech-language program as recognized by the College of Health Science and Human Service, a student must complete a minimum of 124 semester credit hours and meet the course work, practicum, and requirements for the degree.
This information is provided as a service to our on-line students. Be sure to obtain the current University of Toledo catalog for the official description of the requirements for the degree in school speech-language pathology.
Core Curriculum
All students must complete the University approved Core Curriculum. We recommend that students enroll in general education course work to meet the ASHA Certification requirements for science, mathematics, social science, and behavioral science. Course work should cover the life span and explore diversity issues.
Educational and Professional Requirements
Each student entering the program at the undergraduate level will be expected to complete a specified program of study of a minimum of 124 credit hours. Upon successful completion of the undergraduate degree, a student must enter a graduate program to complete the necessary requirements for ASHA certification and state of Ohio licensure. After receiving a Master’s degree, the graduate must then pass a national examination and complete the Clinical Fellowship, which involves nine months of sponsored, full time employment, to receive the CCC-SLP.
Practicum
Undergraduate students average 50 hours of practicum at degree completion. Graduate students are required to obtain a minimum of 225 clock hours of supervised practicum before entering their extern experience to obtain further clinical practicum experience.
Although ASHA requires a minimum of 375 appropriately supervised clock hours and 25 hours of observation for initial preparation for certification as a speech-language pathologist, our graduate students generally average over 500 hours of clinical practicum by the time they graduate.
Admission Requirements - An Overview
The following criteria must be met before admission to clinical practicum/methods is granted:
Must have at least a sophomore standing (25-55 hours) with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 in the major.
Students selecting the School Speech Language Pathology Option must also meet the following requirements:Minimum of 45 Hours; Apply for Admission in SLP 3140
Specific course requirements can be located in the Student Check-Off Sheet and the Undergraduate Handbook. Note that there is also a clinical component to the curriculum. You may also want to visit the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic Website to learn more about our clinic.