Undergraduate FAQs

For most students the semester abroad would occur in Spring of their Sophomore year or a summer semester. This is a good thing to discuss with your Freshman or Sophomore advisor.

Doing a minor is an individual decision. Some things to think about are: will the effort needed to complete a minor take away from doing well in the core SPA courses? Will the minor become a backup plan if I don't get into grad school or change my mind? What can I do with this minor? If you are thinking about a minor, talk with your advisor in SPA. You should/could also contact a faculty person in the minor area.

Students are encouraged to explore minor degrees. Find out the kinds of minors available within the College of Education, Health, and Human Services.

A minor can enhance the SPA degree because the coursework in the minor may be related to the major. This will ultimately make an SPA major more marketable once a graduate degree is earned and the student is interviewing for positions.

A minor can become a major if the student finds that after 4 years of the undergrad program he/she either can't afford grad school, is very tired of school and needs to work, or if he/she does not get into grad school.

The minor provides an option for the SPA major that enhances the major degree and provides an employable backup plan for the future.

No, people from many different fields, who have worked for some to many years, decide to apply to graduate school to become an SLP. These people still have to apply and get accepted into grad school, but they are considered Post Baccalaureate students. This means that the students will need to take some undergraduate courses from SPA, depending on the prerequisite coursework already completed.

That all depends on the minor selected and the kind of student you are. The minor coursework would fulfill the elective requirements so it would not be in addition to the total credits needed to graduate. It would just pertain to the focus of the types of electives chosen.

Talk with your advisor from SPA. You should also contact the department where you are considering the minor and meet with a faculty person there. Ask this person about the job market in that field. Ask the faculty person what it would take to turn the minor to a major should you decide to do this. Let the faculty person know you are majoring in SPA and ask him/her how a minor in the area you are considering would/could help you.

Talk with faculty, and take a look at the courses within the minors. You might find that some of the coursework is similar across minors. So, take a class that could serve two different minors as you make your decision. This will give you a chance to get to know both fields related to the minor, get to know the different minor programs a bit better. And it will give you information to take back to your SPA faculty advisor as you make your decision.

This depends on the student's interest. However, it isn't advisable for students to complete a minor that could not easily be converted to a major because a Master's degree is needed for employment in the field. For example, psychology would be a good minor. Yet, if a student doesn't get into grad school for SPA, he/she would still need a Masters in psychology in order to get a job.

The combined program applications for graduate school are submitted in the Fall through the CSDCAS (Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application System). If accepted into graduate school at that time, students can begin their graduate studies during the last semester (Spring) of their senior year, and count the graduate coursework towards the total undergraduate credits.  Informational meetings about the combined program will be provided during your junior year. 

Getting into graduate school is competitive. The admission committee evaluates each applicant's ability to succeed in graduate school by examining the student's transcript, GPA, letters or recommendation, GRE scores (if applicable), and student letter of intent.

Students should contact the professor for the class they are taking to talk about how to improve their own performance. Students should also contact their SPA advisor to discuss concerns and get help as soon as possible. There are many resources at Kent State to help students succeed and learn. Students can learn about these on the website and talk this over with an advisor or the class professor.

The courses in SPA build upon each other. The content in one class is used to help students learn the content in the next class. Taking the courses out of sequence can really interfere with learning. Students should discuss any changes they want to make with an advisor.

The Kent CORE coursework and the required courses for the SPA major on the GPS Roadmap (PDF) are required for successful completion of the undergraduate degree in SPA. Be aware that the American Speech Language Hearing Association requires minimum coursework in order to be eligible for clinical certification.

See ASHA Standard IV-A below  

“The applicant must have demonstrated knowledge of the biological sciences, physical sciences, statistics, and the social/behavioral sciences.

Implementation: Acceptable courses in biological sciences should emphasize a content area related to human or animal sciences (e.g., biology, human anatomy and physiology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, human genetics, veterinary science). Acceptable courses in physical sciences should include physics or chemistry. Acceptable courses in social/behavioral sciences should include psychology, sociology, anthropology, or public health. A stand-alone course in statistics is required. Research methodology courses in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) may not be used to satisfy the statistics requirement. A course in biological and physical sciences specifically related to CSD may not be applied for certification purposes to this category unless the course fulfills a university requirement in one of these areas.”

If you have any questions at all about undergraduate courses needed to meet the requirements, please ask your SPA advisor as soon as possible.

The "combined program" is an opportunity available only to KSU undergraduates.  During the fall of your senior year you may apply for admission to the graduate program.  If accepted,  you are then admitted "early" to the Master's program and will begin graduate school during the spring semester of your senior year.   Nine semester hours of the spring semester will "double count" toward completing your undergraduate degree and your master's degree. Students must have a minimum of 90 credit hours to apply. 

A big advantage to being admitted to the combined program is that you know you have a seat in the graduate program, but if you don't make it in that round, you still have the opportunity to apply for the regular Fall admission. Informational sessions will be provided during your junior year.  

Students may declare their major in SPA upon entering Kent State University. Before taking advanced (junior level) SPA courses, students must apply for the professional phase of the major. The progression within the undergraduate program depends upon the student catalog year (the year the student entered Kent State University).

Students with a catalog year of 2013 and prior should apply for the professional phase of the SPA major when they have earned, or will earn by the end of the term, 45 credit hours and a GPA of at least 2.75.

Students with a catalog year of 2014 or after will declare their major in SPA upon entering Kent State University. These students should apply to the professional phase of the SPA major when they have earned, or will earn by the end of the term, 60 credit hours and a GPA of at least 3.0.

Speech language pathology requires you to have a Master's degree to practice, so that is really the only option. Audiology requires you to have an Audiology Doctorate (AuD) to practice.

Where would I work?
Jobs are available in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, private practice, nursing homes, etc. The job market in speech pathology and audiology is outstanding and job satisfaction is high. Our students historically have nearly a 100% job rate after graduation with the Master's or AuD.

Starting salaries vary a lot, depending on geography and type of setting. Median salaries with experience are trending mid $50K to $60K per year, according to the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (2008). Starting salary information is a little harder to find, but you might expect $40K to mid $50K range your first year out of school depending on setting and geographic area. Speech Pathology and Audiology are in high demand, and are anticipated to be so for the next decade. (www.bls.gov, www.asha.org)

The minimum degrees to practice are the M.A. for speech language pathology, and the AuD for audiology. The MA program takes around 6 semesters if all coursework and clinical experience is passed successfully on first try. The typical student takes six semesters to complete all requirements and graduate with the M.A. in speech pathology. The AuD takes around twelve semesters.

It depends on what sort of courses you find difficult. A few students find that the science-oriented coursework in the major may be a little more challenging, e.g., theories, anatomy and physiology and neurology, etc. Expectations for good performance in courses is high and at the graduate level, a C is unacceptable work. Each graduate course in the major has competencies that must be met, usually at 80% or better, and if not met, remediation work must be done by the student.

Prior to beginning a graduate degree in speech-language pathology, students must observe a minimum of 25 clock hours of clinical practice to meet the requirement of the American Speech Language Hearing Association. Students entering graduate school in Audiology are not required to complete observation hours above and beyond those required within coursework. Once students are admitted to graduate school, they would work directly with clients with communication disorders under the close supervision of a licensed, certified speech-language pathologist who is a clinical instructor in our program. Students will also have supervised clinical placements off campus. There are clinical competencies that must be met as you work with each client. You will receive specific feedback and support from clinical instructors to help you meet the clinical competencies. Remediation will be implemented if you have difficulty, including added instructional strategies, more experiences in the area of difficulty, etc. You will have experience with a variety of communication disorders, client ages and placement settings before you graduate. Both SLP and AUD are LIFESPAN fields, so you are trained to work with all ages and the disabilities within our Scope of Practice for SLP and AUD.

Yes! Both professions have a high degree of job satisfaction. Salaries are good, the job market is excellent because the fields are in high demand, and there is a lot of satisfaction from helping others. There is excellent information for students on the website for the American Speech Language Hearing Association.

Find additional information on a career in audiology or speech language pathology.

Prior to beginning a clinical graduate program in speech-language pathology, students will need to observe 25 clock hours in speech-language pathology. Other than those required in major coursework, observation hours are not required of students seeking a graduate degree in audiology. Find information about completing the clinical observation hours. You need to complete all observation hours BEFORE you can begin your clinical experience in graduate school for speech-language pathology. 

Yes, you should consider applying to the combined program.  This program is only available to our KSU undergraduates (i.e., current students and Kent State graduates within 12 months of the application deadline).  During the fall of your senior year you may apply for admission to the graduate program.  If accepted,  you are then admitted "early" to the Master's program and will begin graduate school during the spring semester of your senior year.   Nine semester hours of the spring semester will "double count" toward completing your undergraduate degree and your master's degree. Students must have a minimum of 90 credit hours to apply. 

A big advantage to being admitted to the combined program is that you know you have a seat in the graduate program, but if you don't make it in that round, you still have the opportunity to apply for the regular Fall admission. Informational sessions will be provided during your junior year. 

Please see application procedures.

Examples of behaviors indicative of the desired skills are as follows: a) expressing yourself well in writing and speaking, b) using empathy and understanding of others, c) respecting differences of ideas, beliefs and backgrounds, d) functioning well independently and in groups, e) working hard and being reliable, f) using critical thinking and problem solving, creative thinking, g) be honest and ethical. Find additional information on a career in audiology or speech language pathology here.

Most graduate programs look at a combination of grades, letters of recommendation, graduate record exam (GRE) scores, and student letters of intent when making their decisions about graduate school admission. Below are some tips for improving each component.

a) Grades: A strong grade point average (GPA) tells admission committees that you are hard working, speaks to your intellectual skills, and provides evidence as to how you might perform at the graduate level. If you are struggling in this area, it may help to closely examine your methods of studying. Talk with classmates who are successful and find out what methods work for them. Talk with your instructors. They have lots of experience both giving and taking tests and can also offer useful advice. Access the Student Success Center on campus, which provides help with study strategies and tutoring.

Caveat: Although this is an important part of a student's application, it is important that students do not solely rely on GPA. It is possible for a student with a high GPA but who is very weak in the other areas not to be admitted.

b) Letters of Recommendation: Students will need three letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to the student's ability to perform as a graduate student or as a professional in the field. Examine the recommender rating form for the graduate program to which you are applying. You want your recommenders to know you well enough to rate you on that form. Typically recommenders are asked to comment on your academic record, your leadership skills, your interpersonal communication skills, and various other aspects of your potential for academic and clinical development at the graduate level.

Each recommender may have different requirements for the process to begin. Some may want to meet with you if they do not know you well and most will want to review your resumé or at least a list of your activities over the past few years. Some will ask to see a draft of your letter of intent. Many will ask you to complete a release of information form that allows the faculty member to share information about your academic performance.

A professor with a large class may not be able to comment on a particular student's abilities beyond what is listed in the grade book, and this is not likely to be enough information for that recommender to speak to your fitness for graduate school. Therefore, connect with your potential recommenders so they can see how you interact with others, that you are genuinely interested in the field and the subject matter (not just in getting points), and that you can think about the subject matter in analytical ways.

Of course, if you do connect with a potential recommender, do your best work, demonstrating the skills listed above. Professors can speak to your written communication skills based on your papers or on your email communications. If you are volunteering in research or clinical settings, be punctual, do requested work in a timely manner, demonstrate initiative and leadership, and show that you can problem solve and generate new ideas. Not all of your recommenders have to be in the SPA department. There are many research volunteer opportunities across campus (e.g., psychology, human development and family studies, special education, etc.)

Recommenders who know you from a research lab setting will know you well and will be able to best illustrate how well suited you are for a graduate program. However, if you have not made these connections by the time you are applying to a graduate program, it will be difficult to obtain the best letters.

If you ask for a letter and the potential recommender declines, it is probably because the person either 1) does not know you well enough or 2) would not be able to recommend you based on their knowledge of your skills. Be thankful that the person declined instead of writing you a disappointing letter. Move on and find someone who could speak to your skills more favorably.

c) GRE scores: Not all graduate programs require the GRE.  Kent State University does not require it.  However, if a program that you are interested in does require this test then commercially available study guides are a good place to start with regard to preparing to take the GRE. Be sure to set aside plenty of time to study. You can improve your chances through preparation, so do not neglect to do so. Students may also improve their scores by retaking the GRE, and doing so does not hurt the student's chances. When reading program websites and viewing the average GRE score, remember that the average lies in the middle of a range. Your GRE score may be below the average for the program, but if other aspects of your application are strong, you may be able to overcome a lower score. Some graduate programs look closely at your writing score from the GRE. Therefore, be sure to develop your writing skills during your undergraduate program.

d) Letters of Intent (also called personal statements): These are typically 1-2 page essays that are submitted with your graduate application. Take care to read the instructions for each school to which you apply as they may differ from school to school. Remember that you are asking to study to be a professional in communication sciences. Therefore, it is important that you show the ability to communicate clearly and effectively. More tips on writing the letter of intent for Kent State's application

It is wise to apply broadly. Look at the ASHA graduate program database and identify schools that better match your academic profile. You may want to apply to 1-2 lower acceptance rate schools, 1-2 higher acceptance rate schools, and 1-2 in the middle. If you have particular interests within the field, look for schools that have faculty specializing in those areas.

How do I apply to Kent State's graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology?

View application procedures for our graduate program

Because graduate slots exceed the number of interested, and often qualified, students, many students will not get into graduate school. At this point, the student has several options, a) apply elsewhere, b) re-apply after taking actions to improve components of the application, and c) consider a related field.

a) Apply elsewhere: By searching the ASHA database for graduate programs, students may be able to find programs with higher admission rates. It may be that you did not apply to a wide enough range of schools and that doing so would result in a successful application.

b) Re-apply after taking actions to improve components of the application. Most students are aware of which areas were weakest about their applications. If not, students are encouraged to meet with a faculty member to discuss what areas need the most improvement. Perhaps you need to re-take a few courses to improve GPA. Or maybe the student needs to re-take the GRE after more careful study. It may be that working for a year in a related field would give the student valuable experiences with populations most serviced by speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Although this lag may seem disappointing, it could be an opportunity to do something different, such as work abroad, live in another part of the country, or just have experience working full time.

c) Consider a related field. Speech-language pathology and audiology are fields that involve interpersonal interaction, application of science to human behavior, and helping others to live life more fully. There are many other fields that also include these components. Education, special education, public health, nursing, and many others. One way to look into alternatives is by searching Kent's GPS site. Your academic advisor may also be able to help you assess what careers are best suited to your interests and skills.

Any papers that the professional advisors in White Hall have given you. Examples:

• View the Undergraduate Curriculum Roadmap in the catalog
• List of courses you have taken that meet CORE requirements

Students may declare their major in SPA upon entering Kent State University. Before taking advanced (junior level) SPA courses, students must apply for the professional phase of the major. The progression within the undergraduate program depends upon the student catalog year (the year the student entered Kent State University).

Students with a catalog year of 2013 and prior should apply for the professional phase of the SPA major when they have earned, or will earn by the end of the term, 45 credit hours and a GPA of at least 2.75.

Students with a catalog year of 2014 or after will declare their major in SPA upon entering Kent State University. These students should apply to the professional phase of the SPA major when they have earned, or will earn by the end of the term, 60 credit hours and a GPA of at least 3.0.

Application materials are available through the EHHS advising office. Ms. Kelley Stillwagon (kstillwa@kent.edu ) can assist with the process.

Yes. Set up an appointment with Ms. Stillwagon in the EHHS advising office. She will then initiate a GPS audit for you if you don't already have one, and review it carefully. It can always help to have a professional EHHS advisor spot any problems with non-major course requirements well ahead of graduation deadlines.

You should ask each recommender what their preferences are. Most will want to meet with you if they do not know you well, and perhaps even if they do. Most will want to review your resume or at least a list of your activities over the past few years. Some will ask to see a draft of your letter of intent. Writing a letter of recommendation is a careful and deliberate process for faculty. We are asked to comment on your academic record, your leadership skills, your interpersonal communication skills, and various other aspects of your potential for academic and clinical development at the graduate level. You should find out what your recommender is likely to say in the letter.

Specific to students who have transferred in from other Kent campuses or other (non-Kent) Universities:

Usually, the first step for transfer students is to meet with a College of Education, Health and Human Services advisor who will take care of allocating most of the courses you have taken to their equivalencies here at Kent.

The next step is to meet with the transfer student advisor to discuss any courses the EHHS advisor was not able to match to courses required by the SPA major.

Here are two typical examples:

1. If you took a Biology course at another university, and the EHHS advisor is not sure whether your previous course may be substituted for BSCI 10001 Human Biology, your transfer advisor will review your course's syllabus and make that determination.
2. If you took course(s) in a Speech Pathology & Audiology or Communication Sciences and Disorders program at another university, your transfer advisor will ask you for the syllabus for each of the course(s) in question. Your transfer advisor will then ask Kent State University Speech Pathology & Audiology faculty to determine whether your particular course(s) may be substituted for our required course(s).

Your transfer advisor will also make sure you are on track to take SPA courses in the correct sequence, and to help you seek permission from faculty if you need an exception to the sequence (this is rare, and not recommended). Once you have a written plan and all transfer coursework has been allocated properly, the transfer advisor will turn your advising over to the faculty member to whom those with your grade level and last name letter are assigned. Just as all students do, you will continue to see both your EHHS professional advisor and your SPA faculty advisor as necessary throughout your academic career here.