Pre-Speech Pathology and Audiology Preparation at UHMānoa
(Text compiled from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website www.asha.org, the American Medical Association’s Health Professions Career and Education Directory 2006-2007, the UHM 2005-2006 Catalog, and UHM's Speech Pathology and Audiology website www.hawaii.edu/spauh.)
Speech Pathology and Audiology Programs
Standardized Tests
Contact Information
Additional Information
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Speech Pathology and Audiology refers to two interrelated disciplines: Speech-Language Pathology (SLP), which is the study of human communication and its disorders, and Audiology, which is the study of human hearing and its disorders. Both fields entail evaluating, diagnosing, and treating disorders.
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) address problems with speech production, rhythm and fluency, vocal quality, and cognitive impairment as a result of stroke, brain injury, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, developmental delays, mental retardation, hearing impairment, or emotional problems. They also address swallowing difficulties and work with people who wish to improve their communication skills, by modifying an accent, for example.
Audiologists address problems with hearing, balance, and related ear problems as a result of birth trauma, viral infections, genetic disorders, exposure to loud noise, medications, or aging. Aural rehabilitation often includes counseling, training in the use of hearing instruments, and teaching communication strategies.
Although some specialize, most SLPs and Audiologist treat a wide variety of people, from infants to senior citizens, and often work with other professionals, such a teachers, physicians, social workers, and psychologists. Some Audiologists measure noise levels, develop ways to protect people’s hearing, and conduct hearing protection programs in communities or industry.
Most SLPs and Audiologists work in schools, medical centers, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers. Some work in public or private practice or in administration, and a few go into research or education.
As with many health fields, both SLP and Audiology are growing rapidly, and career opportunities are plentiful nationwide.
Speech Pathology and Audiology Programs
Careers in these fields require 7 to 11 years of education:
- Bachelor degree (4-5 years);
- Master degree (2 years);
- Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) (1 year);
- Doctorate (4 years).
A doctoral degree is usually required for teaching, research, and private practice. Most SLPs enter the workforce after completing a Master of Science (M.S.) plus the clinical fellowship. Most Masters level programs in audiology are transitioning to a clinical doctorate, a Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) or Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.). By 2012, audiology programs will offer only Doctorate level degrees.
UHM offers both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. At the Master level, specialization can be in speech-language pathology. Students should note that standards in the field are changing and that students will be required to meet the national standards in force at the time of graduation.
Students enter UHM's CSD program at the beginning of their Junior level and must have earned a minimum of 54 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 2.6 to be eligible. There are no specific prerequisites for admission, but excellent written and oral communication skills are expected. To declare a CSD major, students submit a College and Curriculum Transfer Request form at any time except during registration periods.
Students who have earned a Masters degree from an accredited program and have completed a one-year internship at an approved setting (the Clinical Fellowhsip Year) are eligible to take a praxis examination administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). Scores are then submitted to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) as part of the application for a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP for speech-language-pathology or CCC-A for audiology).
Most states require SLPs and Audiologists to be licensed and some require a teaching certificate to work in the schools. A license in Hawaii requires a Masters degree, ASHA certification, and a written examination. All SLPs and Audiologists must be licensed to practice in Hawaiʻi.
To maintain certification, speech-language pathologists must meet requirements established by ASHA and pay a yearly certification fee.
John A. Burns Schools of Medicine and the Hawaiʻi Department of Education offer stipends of up to $14,000 for Master-level students who will pursue a career in Hawaiʻi's public schools for a minimum of three years post-graduation.
Standardized Tests
Almost all graduate-level SPA programs require applicants to submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam, or GRE.
The GRE is available only in computer-based format. It can be scheduled for almost any day of the year and appointments are scheduled first-come, first-served basis. You can register three ways: via telephone, at 1-800-529-3590, using a credit card; via mail, by completing the Authorization Voucher Request Form in the GRE Registration Bulletin and mailing it to the designated address along with the registration fee payment; or via online at www.gre.org, using a credit card.
The GRE requires approximately 3-4 hours and tests your verbal, quantitative (math), and analytic writing skills. Some versions include an ungraded, experimental section. Scores for the verbal and quantitative sections range from 200 to 800, with 800 being highest; scores for the writing section range from 0 to 6, with 6 being highest. Your score report will be mailed to you, usually within about two weeks of the test date, and will include not only your scores but also your percentile ranking.
Contact Information
Dorothy Craven, M.A., CCC-SLP/A, Interim Chair
John A. Burns School of Medicine
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Office: 1410 Lower Campus Road, Honolulu, HI 96822
Phone: (808) 956-8279
Email: spauh@hawaii.edu
Website: www.hawaii.edu/spauh
For advising, contact: |
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Additional Information
UHMānoa's Pre-Health/Pre-Law Advising Center (PAC) has reference books, lists of volunteer opportunities, academic planning worksheets, and one-on-one advising by peers who can help you prepare for your speech pathology or audiology program.
| UHM's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders | www.hawaii.edu/spauh |
| National Student Speech-Language and Hearing Association (NSSLHA) | www.nsslha.org |
| American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) | www.asha.org |
| Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Websites | www.slpwebsites.com |
| Hawaiʻi State Licensing Board | www.hawaii.gov/dcca/areas/pvl/boards/speech |