Speech Pathology and Audiology
J. Corcoran, Interim Chairperson
bsu.edu/spaa
Speech-language pathologists evaluate and treat individuals across the lifespan with speech, language, voice, cognition and swallowing disorders. Audiologists provide diagnostic and rehabilitative services to people with hearing and balance problems. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists work in medical settings, schools, private practice, community and university clinics, long-term care facilities, and industrial settings. Both professions are ranked in the 100 Best Jobs and Best Health Care Jobs by U.S. News and World Report (2021). Both professions have a projected 10-year job growth of greater than 20%, as predicted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
The Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology's graduate programs are accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). To become licensed, certified speech-language pathologists, students must complete both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree. To become licensed, certified audiologists, students must complete both a bachelor's degree and a clinical doctorate degree. As part of education, students acquire extensive clinical practicum experience working with patients across the lifespan with speech, language, voice, cognition, swallowing and/or hearing impairments.
At the undergraduate level, the department offers preprofessional undergraduate majors in speech pathology and audiology, as well as preaudiology. The majors, combined with an appropriate graduate program, lead to a state professional license and national certification. For information on the department's Master of Arts (MA) in Speech-Language Pathology and Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree, see the Ball State University Graduate Catalog.
The department operates the Ball State University Speech Pathology and Audiology Clinics as campus facilities where students can participate in their initial practicum experiences under the supervision of the department's faculty.