The Bachelor of Science degree program in Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences has been designed for students interested in studying human communication sciences and disorders, especially those who wish to pursue graduate studies in speech-language pathology or audiology. For the undergraduate degree, coursework is taken in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, and in areas related to human communication, such as linguistics, phonetics, anatomy and physiology, and language acquisition. In professional study, students are introduced to the procedures used in the evaluation and treatment of communication disorders. Electives are chosen according to individual interest.

Undergraduates should note that employment as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist is usually not possible with only a bachelor’s degree. An advanced degree in speech-language pathology or audiology is required for certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The graduate program in speech-language pathology is accredited by the ASHA. The Master of Science program enables students to fulfill the requirements for professional certification by the ASHA in speech-language pathology, as well as prepare them for Massachusetts state licensure and teacher certification.

Degree Requirements

The minimum requirements to enter the junior year are 64 credits and a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 must be achieved for graduation from the four-year program. Students must complete a minimum of 128 semester credits distributed as follows. Courses that fulfill these requirements are listed in the sample curriculum.

• Math and Natural Sciences 16 credits
• Philosophy/Ethics 4 credits
• Statistics 4 credits
• Social Sciences 16 credits
• Humanities 12 credits including expository composition, research writing, and linguistics
• Health and Rehabilitation Sciences 10 credits including SAR HP 151, SAR HP 252, and SAR HP 353 or an SAR elective
• Pre-Professional Courses in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology 42 credits
• Electives 24 credits

Curriculum

Following is a typical four-year curriculum. Each course carries 4 credits unless otherwise noted.

Freshman Year

First Semester

• CAS BI 105 Introductory Biology for Health Sciences
• CAS WR 100 Writing Seminar
• CAS PS 101 General Psychology
• SAR HP 150 Freshman Experience (0)
• SAR SH 531 Introduction to Communication Disorders

Second Semester

• CAS BI 106 Human Anatomy
• SAR HP 151 Introduction to Health Professions (2)
• CAS WR 150 Writing and Research Seminar
• Social science elective (non-Psychology)

Sophomore Year

First Semester

• SAR SH 522 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism
• SAR HP 252 Health and Disability Across the Lifespan
• Social science elective (non-Psychology)
• General elective

Second Semester

• SAR SH 521 Phonetics (2)
• SAR HP 353 Organization and Delivery of Health Care in the U.S. or SAR elective
• CAS MA 118 College Algebra and Trigonometry or
• CAS MA 121 Calculus for the Life and Social Sciences
• CAS PS 205, 231, or 234 Cognition/Learning elective
• General elective

Junior Year

First Semester

• SAR SH 524 Normal Language Acquisition
• SAR SH 535 Introduction to Audiology
• SAR SH 523 Introduction to Speech Science
• General elective

Second Semester

• SAR SH 547 Introduction to Clinical Process
• CAS LX 250 Introduction to Linguistics
• Physical science requirement (Options: PY 100, 105, 231; CC 105; CH 101, 171; AS 100, 101, 102, 117; ES 101, 105, 140)
• General elective

Senior Year

First Semester

• SAR SH 542 Aural Rehabilitation
• SAR SH 548 Introduction to Language Disorders
• Philosophy/ethics requirement
• General elective

Second Semester

• SAR SH 505 Introduction to Phonological Disorders
• SAR SH 640 Senior Seminar, Topics in Speech-Language Pathology
• CAS MA 113 Elementary Statistics or
• CAS MA 115 Statistics I or
• CAS PS 211 Introduction to Experimental Design
• General elective

The Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences minor is offered to undergraduate students at Boston University wishing to enhance their knowledge about human communication disorders. The minor consists of the following five courses (18 credits total):

• SAR SH 521 Phonetics (2)
• SAR SH 522 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism
• SAR SH 524 Normal Language Acquisition
• SAR SH 531 Introduction to Communication Disorders
• SAR SH 535 Introduction to Audiology

Note: There are no prerequisites for any of the minor courses. Students are required to have a GPA of 2.0 or higher to qualify for a minor in speech, language and hearing sciences and must receive a grade of C– or better in each course to complete this minor.

The combined program is offered to highly motivated and talented students wishing to complete an undergraduate degree in speech, language, and hearing sciences and a master’s degree in speech-language pathology in less time than the customary six years of study. The program includes 166 credits overall with 128 for the baccalaureate (BS) degree and 38 for the MS degree. To be admitted to this program, the student will have achieved a GPA of 3.45 (or better) at the end of the sophomore year and will have completed all of their natural science requirements, at least three SH courses, and both of the required psychology courses with a minimum of 54 credits earned at Boston University. A sample course plan is included below:

Freshman Year

First Semester

• CAS BI 105 Human Biology
• CAS WR 100 Writing Seminar
• CAS PS 101 General Psychology
• SAR SH 531 Introduction to Communication Disorders
• SAR HP 150 Freshman Experience

Second Semester

• CAS BI 106 Human Anatomy
• CAS WR 150 Research and Writing Seminar
• SAR HP 151 Introduction to Health Professions (2)
• Social science elective (non-Psychology)
• Optional general elective

Sophomore Year

First Semester

• CAS MA 118 College Algebra and Trigonometry or
• CAS MA 121 Calculus for the Life and Social Sciences
• SAR SH 522 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism
• SAR HP 252 Health and Disability Across the Lifespan
• Philosophy/ethics elective

Second Semester

• SAR SH 521 Phonetics (2)
• Physical science elective (Options: PY 100, 105, 231; CC 105; CH 101, 171; AS 100, 101, 102, 117; ES 101, 105, 140; GE 101, 104)
• SAR HP 353 Organization and Delivery of Health Care in the U.S. or SAR elective
• General elective

Junior Year

First Semester

• SAR SH 535 Introduction to Audiology
• SAR SH 524 Normal Language Acquisition
• SAR SH 523 Introduction to Speech Science
• CAS LX 250 Introduction to Linguistics

Second Semester

• SAR SH 547 Introduction to Clinical Process
• SAR SH 505 Phonological Disorders
• CAS MA 115 Statistics I or
• CAS PS 211 Introduction to Experimental Design
• General elective

Senior Year

First Semester

• SAR SH 542 Aural Rehabilitation
• SAR SH 737 Evaluation and Diagnosis (3)
• SAR SH 700 Research Methods (2)
• SAR SH 708 Models of Language
• SAR SH 740 Clinical Practicum I (1)
• SAR SH 756 Cognition and Neural Bases

Second Semester

• SAR SH 738 Dysphagia (3)
• SAR SH 735 Preschool Language Disorders (3)
• SAR SH 729 School Age Lang. Disorders (3)
• SAR SH 736 Aphasia
• SAR SH 740 Clinical Practicum I (1)
• SAR SH 748 Hearing Testing (1)

Graduate Program

First Semester

• SAR SH 733 Voice Disorders (2)
• SAR SH 703 Counseling (1)
• SAR SH 731 Advanced Topics in Phonological Disorders (2)
• SAR SH 691 AAC (3)
• SAR SH 721 Motor Speech Disorders (2)
• SAR SH 741 Clinical Practicum II (3)
• SAR SH 702 School Seminar (1)

Second Semester

• SAR SH 755 Speech Science (2)
• SAR SH 732 Fluency Disorders (2)
• SAR SH 752 AR Practicum (1)
• SAR SH 734 Acquired Cognitive Disorders (2)
• SAR SH 721, 727, or 739 Specialty elective (2)
• SAR SH 742 Clinical Practicum III (4)
• SAR SH 650 Medical Seminar (1)

Summer

• SAR SH 743 Clinical Practicum Medical (5)

The mission of BU’s Master of Science Degree Program in Speech-Language Pathology is to prepare graduates to meet ASHA clinical certification standards and state licensure requirements necessary for entry-level practice positions. We believe that the study of human communication disorders must be built on a strong foundation in the basic sciences and normal processes related to communication and cognition as well as an understanding and appreciation of scientific inquiry. The program strives to create a learning environment that fosters critical and innovative thinking and encourages the development of future leaders.

The master’s degree program generally requires the equivalent of four semesters of full-time study for those students who have met the prerequisites before entering the program; many students also enroll for one or more summer terms. Course selection depends upon the student’s undergraduate preparation and professional and certification goals. A minimum of 63 graduate credits plus successful completion of a comprehensive written examination are required. For qualified students, a thesis may be substituted for the written examination.

The program prepares students for employment in medical, rehabilitation, private practice, educational, and community settings.

Admission Requirements

A bachelor’s degree is required for admission. The applicant must also complete the following prerequisite speech-language pathology and audiology courses or their equivalents.

These courses may be completed on a nongraduate credit basis concurrently with graduate study. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete some prerequisite coursework during the summer before matriculation.

1. SAR SH 521 Phonetics
2. SAR SH 522 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism
3. SAR SH 524 Language Acquisition
4. SAR SH 531 Introduction to Communication Disorders
5. SAR SH 535 Introduction to Audiology
6. SAR SH 547 Introduction to the Clinical Process

The following courses or their equivalents must be completed prior to graduation:

1. SAR SH 505 Introduction to Phonological Disorders
2. SAR SH 542 Aural Rehabilitation

The applicant must submit evidence of academic and clinical aptitude in the form of previous academic records and aptitude scores on the Graduate Record Examination (institution code 3028) and at least three letters of reference from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic ability.

Combined MS/PhD Program

Exceptional applicants who plan to pursue doctoral studies may request consideration for parallel admission to the PhD program in speech-language pathology. Under this option, the master’s degree student integrates doctoral coursework and supervised research experiences into the plan of study, which is determined by an advisory committee of departmental faculty. It is expected that at the end of three years of full-time study, the student in the combined MS/PhD program will meet all of the coursework and practicum requirements for the master’s degree and all of the coursework requirements for the doctoral degree. Upon successful completion of the doctoral preliminary examination, the student is admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree and begins the dissertation. In addition to the application materials noted above, applicants for the combined MS/PhD program must identify a research faculty mentor and will usually participate in an interview with the doctoral program faculty.

Application Deadline

January 10 is the recommended date for submission of all application materials for fall admission; however, applications are considered as they are received until enrollment capacity is met.

Degree Requirements

Each student’s plan of study must be approved by his or her faculty advisor. Sixty-three credits in courses at the graduate level with at least 55 credits taken at Boston University are required for the degree. At least one semester must be devoted to full-time study and all degree requirements must be completed within five years after initial matriculation in the program.

Satisfactory performance on the comprehensive examination is required unless the faculty approves a thesis as a substitute.

Candidates must maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher, with no more than 8 credits of C or C+ work accepted toward the degree. Required courses receiving grades of C– and below must be repeated; a student may repeat a required course only once.

For prerequisite courses that are being completed by matriculating MS degree students, the first course with a grade of C or below must be repeated. Should a grade of C or below be received in a second course, the student will be terminated from the program.

Matriculation in the graduate program is contingent upon the maintenance of a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students whose GPA falls below 3.0 for more than one consecutive semester will be terminated from the program. This applies to all graduate students enrolled for more than 4 credits in a semester. The acceptability of C or C+ work in required courses is subject to departmental faculty approval.

To count clinical practicum clock and credit hours toward ASHA certification, the student must receive a practicum grade of B– or better. Clinical practicum hours that receive a grade below this level must be repeated.

Curriculum

The sample program below is for students entering with an undergraduate degree in communication science and disorders (course credits shown in parentheses).

First Year

Fall Semester

• SAR SH 700 Research Methods (2)
• SAR SH 708 Models of Language (4)
• SAR SH 737 Evaluation and Diagnosis in Speech Pathology (4)
• SAR SH 740 Introduction to Clinical Practicum: Speech and Language (2)
• SAR SH 748 Hearing Practicum I (1)
• SAR SH 756 Cognition and Neural Bases (4)

Spring Semester

• SAR SH 702 Public School Programming in Speech-Language Pathology (1)
• SAR SH 729 School-Age Language Disorders (3)
• SAR SH 735 Preschool Language Disorders (3)
• SAR SH 736 Aphasia (4)
• SAR SH 738 Dysphagia (3)
• SAR SH 741 Clinical Practicum: Speech and Language (3)

Summer Term

• Electives (optional)

Second Year

Fall Semester

• SAR SH 691 Introduction to Augmentative an Alternative Communication (3)
• SAR SH 703 Counseling (1)
• SAR SH 721 Motor Speech Disorders (2)
• SAR SH 731 Advanced Topics in Phonological Disorders (2)
• SAR SH 733 Voice Disorders (2)
• SAR SH 742 Clinical Practicum: Speech and Language (4)
• SAR SH 752 Hearing Practicum II (1)

Spring Semester

• SAR SH 650 Medical Seminar (1)
• SAR SH 732 Fluency Disorders (2)
• SAR SH 734 Acquired Cognitive Disorders (2)
• SAR SH 743 Clinical Practicum: Speech and Language (5)
• SAR SH 755 Speech Science (2)
• SAR SH 790 Comprehensive Exam (0)
• Elective (2)

This is a 40-credit-hour advanced professional program in speech-language pathology for those interested in pursuing education beyond the master’s level. The program includes academic coursework, research, and advanced practica.

Admission Requirements

A master’s or doctoral degree or the equivalent with a major in speech-language pathology or a related field is required for admission. Applicants must have completed at least one year of successful professional work and preferably will hold a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, or certification or its equivalent in an allied field.

Applicants must submit previous academic transcripts, scores on the Graduate Record Examination General Test (institution code 3028), and three reference letters from individuals familiar with the applicant’s abilities and record.

Application Deadline

January 15 is the recommended date for submission of all application materials for fall admission; October 1 is recommended for spring admission.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 40 credits approved by the student’s faculty advisor is required for the CAGS. A maximum of 12 credits of coursework may be taken below the 700 level.

Curriculum

Since all CAGS programs are individually tailored to the needs and interests of the student, it is not possible to present a sample of a “typical” student’s program. The CAGS program may be completed on a part-time basis.

The Doctoral Program in Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology prepares professionals for leadership positions in the field. The resources of BU and the surrounding area are vast; doctoral students have the opportunity to take courses in psychology, linguistics, medicine, engineering, rehabilitation, education, and public health in the University’s various schools and colleges. Students can also benefit from courses at other universities in the area. Each program is individualized and combines academic work with career development and original research.

The doctoral program in speech-language pathology offers a research track to students who may have previously obtained clinical certification. For post-baccalaureate entrants, clinical training is included in the combined MS/PhD program in speech-language pathology. The graduate program in speech-language pathology is fully accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association. A research track in audiology prepares students for academic and research careers.

Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology

A master’s degree or an AuD from an accredited college or university is required for admission. Applicants must show evidence of high academic achievement in their previous coursework, scores on the Graduate Record Examination (institution code 3028), and at least three letters of reference from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic ability. The admissions committee considers an applicant’s experience, professional certification, and personal statement of goals in its selection process. To ensure that the student will have a suitable mentor, candidates are strongly encouraged to meet with a research faculty member about their research interests prior to submitting an application. A personal interview by the doctoral program faculty is usually required.

Application Deadline

January 15 is the recommended date for submission of all application materials for fall admission with consideration for graduate assistantships; December 1 is recommended for spring admission.

Degree Requirements

Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology

For students entering with a post-master’s or AuD degree, a minimum of 48 credits in graduate-level coursework (700 level or above), a preliminary project, qualifying project, and a dissertation are required. Up to twelve credits of coursework below the 700 level may be allowed with the approval of the student’s doctoral planning committee.

Students entering post-baccalaureate, who are interested in speech-language studies and in obtaining clinical certification, are eligible for the combined MS/PhD program in speech-language pathology.

All candidates for the doctoral degree must demonstrate both content area expertise and basic research skills.

Coursework

Students must complete at least one year of full-time study prior to the preliminary project and beginning the dissertation.

Core courses (24 credits) are chosen by the student in consultation with the advisor.

Research design courses (8 credits) must include advanced statistics and/or research methods.

Research

Directed research (6 credits) must be completed before the qualifying project begins. The student and research mentor will devise a suitable project to include discussion of crucial experimental design issues, as well as focused training in the specific methodologies of the chosen content area. Further topics will include data analysis and interpretation of statistical results with application to models and follow-up studies.

Qualifying project (2 credits) The student will write a paper that meets the standards for peer-reviewed journals in the speech, language, and hearing sciences. The paper may be a comprehensive literature review or may incorporate research findings. The topic and scope are subject to the approval of the student’s advisory committee. The qualifying project must be distinct from the dissertation.

Dissertation research (8 credits) Completion of this requirement includes formulation of a research question, collection and analysis of data, and preparation of a written document that is acceptable to the committee members, as well as a final oral defense. The initial portion of the dissertation defense is open to the BU Sargent College community.

All doctoral candidates must fulfill the residency requirement and submit an acceptable doctoral dissertation. All degree requirements must be completed within five years of beginning the doctoral program (seven years for post-baccalaureate entrants).

Residency Requirement

A minimum of one academic year of residency is required for the doctoral programs in speech- language pathology and audiology. Residence is defined as full-time study via coursework and/or research activities, which can be achieved with registration for a minimum of 8–12 credit hours each semester (including dissertation credits) for two consecutive semesters. Full-time status can be demonstrated by either a combination of coursework and appointments to research and/or teaching assistantships (8 credits) or a full-time course load (12 or more credits).

For the combined MS/PhD program, the first two years of the program (primarily clinical training) cannot be used to satisfy the residency requirement.

The student must be registered during each fall and spring semester while completing the requirements for the degree. To comply with this requirement, a doctoral candidate should become familiar with the University’s reduced tuition provisions for continuing students. Doctoral programs must be completed within five years of initial matriculation (seven years for post-baccalaureate entrants).

Coursework Grade Requirements

Candidates must achieve an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher. No more than 8 credits of C or C+ work will be accepted toward the degree, and the acceptability of any C or C+ work in required courses is subject to program faculty approval. Continued matriculation in the doctoral program is contingent upon the maintenance of the minimum 3.0 grade point average.