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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
