Audiology and Speech Pathology (B.S.)
The undergraduate program in audiology and speech pathology prepares students for admission to graduate education in either audiology or speech-language pathology. The entry-level credential for speech/language pathology is a master's degree, and a clinical doctorate for audiology. As such, Bloomsburg University does not make recommendations for state certification in either discipline at completion of the undergraduate program.
The preprofessional curriculum provides the student with a broad general education background. The primary emphasis is on general education with a few introductory courses pertaining to the professions of speech pathology and audiology. The required undergraduate courses are prerequisite to graduate school admission and are based on the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association accreditation and certification requirements.
The program, which attracts students from throughout the world, is structured to allow students flexibility in determining career direction toward audiology or speech-language pathology. The undergraduate program has a comprehensive speech science and audiology laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment. Access and familiarity with speech and audiology instrumentation is regarded as an important plus for students applying to graduate programs. Many Bloomsburg students are accepted in nationally recognized graduate programs throughout the country, including Bloomsburg's own CAA accredited master's program in speech pathology and doctoral program in audiology.
As an audiology/speech pathology student, you'll work with your advisor to tailor course options to meet general education requirements of the university and opportunities for electives to support your career objectives.
Then you'll study basic statistics, anatomy and physiology, communication disorders, audiology, phonetics, language acquisition, exceptionalities, auditory training, speech reading, applied speech science, speech pathology in adults and children, psycholinguistics, the science of sound and diagnostics. You'll also participate in a functioning professional clinic.
The university also offers a minor in audiology and speech pathology, which addresses basic processes of communication, development of communicative competence and an overview of the communication disorders. Students can use the minor to enhance preparation in their major or to explore the professions in preparation for graduate education in audiology or speech pathology. Completion of the minor does not qualify the student for certification as an audiologist or speech pathologist, nor does it meet the requirements for a speech-language assistant.
Graduate programs
Clinical Doctoral Program in Audiology (Au.D)
The Au.D. curriculum is a 4 year clinical program. Its primary objective is to produce audiologists who are competent to perform the wide array of diagnostic, remedial, and other services associated with the practice of audiology. The Au.D. places major emphasis on clinical training and the practical application of research, theory, and technology into clinical practice.
The first two years of the program emphasizes didactic instruction and laboratory class work combining theory, practicality and emerging technology. The emphasis in the final two years is on combining the theory with clinical learning experiences. The fourth year is a full year externship with monitoring and advisement by the faculty and staff. Both academic and practicum experience focus on the prevention, identification, evaluation and treatment of individuals with disorders of auditory, balance, communication and related systems.
The program includes academic and clinical training in diagnosis, amplification, electrophysiological testing, aural rehabilitation, educational audiology, assistive devices, cochlear implants, industrial audiology, and private practice.
The program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Upon graduation, the individual is eligible for the certificate of clinical competence issued by the Council for Clinical Certification of the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association. The graduate also meets all requirements for licensure by the Pennsylvania State Board of Examiners in Speech, Language and Hearing.
Speech Pathology (M.S.)
The graduate program in speech pathology prepares students for clinical practice with a variety of communication disorders and in a variety of clinical settings. The program is heavily based on clinical experience both in our in-house clinic and culminating with a full semester of externship practicum in a clinic, hospital and/or school setting.
The graduate speech-language pathology program provides a comprehensive curriculum that prepares the graduate for work in a wide variety of occupational settings. In addition to courses typically offered, Bloomsburg has separate courses in augmentative communication, swallowing disorders, traumatic brain injury and both a preschool and school-age language course. Over the past seven years, 100 percent of the graduates have passed the National Examination in Speech Pathology and Audiology.
Graduates of the master's degree program in speech pathology are eligible for certification in Teaching Speech to Language-Impaired Students granted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Pathology issued by the Council for Clinical Certification of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and licensure in speech pathology issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language-Hearing.
Speech, Hearing and Language Clinic
The Bloomsburg University Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic provides various diagnostic, therapeutic, and counseling services for both children and adult. These services are conducted provided on an out-patient basis and are an extension of the graduate training programs in audiology and speech-language pathology at Bloomsburg University. Services are provided and supervised by certified/licensed staff of the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology.
The Speech-Language pathology clinic offers a broad range of comprehensive evaluations and treatment services for adults and children who have a wide range of communication disorders and differences in the following areas:
- Speech/Articulation
- Language
- Phonology
- Fluency/Stuttering
- Dysphagia/Swallowing
- Voice/resonance
- Augmentative Communication
- Cognition/Memory
- Accent Reduction
The Audiology clinic offers a broad range of services to children and adults, which includes comprehensive evaluations as well as rehabilitation and preventative services.
- Advanced Audiological Services
- Hearing Aid Service
- Basic Comprehensive Audiological Assessment