SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING SCIENCES BS

Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are health professionals focused on the processes and disorders of speech, language and hearing.

Speech pathologists work with patients to study the production of speech, mechanisms that influence language skills, and disorders that affect the ability to speak and produce language. Audiologists study the perception of sounds, the physical and psychological characteristics that underlie hearing, and disorders that effect the ability to hear.

The Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences provides the foundation for graduate study leading to clinical certification and career opportunities as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist. A master’s degree is required for clinical certification and state licensure in speech-language pathology. A doctor of audiology degree (AuD) is required for clinical certification and state licensure in audiology. Both graduate degrees are offered at UT Dallas.

Degree Program

A bachelor’s degree in speech, language, and hearing sciences requires 120 credit hours. The minor requires 18 credit hours. This program does not accept students who have previously completed an undergraduate degree program and are seeking this degree as a second bachelor’s degree. Students who have completed an undergraduate degree previously, and are interested in a career in speech, language, and hearing sciences, should apply directly to a master’s degree program.

The UT Dallas undergraduate catalog provides an overview of the speech, language, and hearing sciences program, details the areas of specialization, lists the major and minor requirements, and explains the fast track program, which enables undergraduate students to take up to 15 hours of graduate courses that will count towards both UT Dallas bachelors and graduate degrees. To compile all your academic, campus and extracurricular interests into a presentation you can print out, follow the steps to create your own guide to UT Dallas.

The university’s course look-up site will help you find specific classes and times to fit your degree plan and schedule. The CourseBook site includes links to syllabi, class evaluations, and textbooks for all of UT Dallas courses. The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences’ projected schedule of core classes also will help in your planning.

Students are required to earn two research exposure credits (REC) for each behavioral science core course in which they are enrolled, for a maximum of six total credits each semester.

Advising

Visit with an academic advisor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences to create a degree plan. Freshmen must talk with an advisor before registering. All other students should consult an advisor before registering each semester.

To learn more about the BBS advising and mentoring system, visit our advising website.

Career Preparation

Professions in speech, language, and hearing sciences are consistently rated among the best careers for the changing job landscape. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are employed in a variety of school and healthcare settings, such as schools, clinics and hospitals.

Students completing a bachelor’s degree and who meet specified clinical practicum requirements also are eligible for state licensure as assistants in speech-language pathology and can provide therapy services under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist.

In addition, upper-level students also may be interested in participating in a BBS internship class. Find out more about the internship class.

Undergraduate Scholarship Opportunities

The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences offers two scholarships for students who are full-time or part-time undergraduate students pursuing degrees in BBS. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a FAFSA on file with the UTD Financial Aid Office. Please read the full criteria and requirements for more information.

The $3,000 Helen Small Scholarship and $1,000 Diane Milot Tucker Scholarship will be awarded annually.

Honors Program

Majors in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences who have junior or senior standing and have completed at least 12 credit hours with a GPA of 3.5 or higher may apply to earn BBS school honors.

Incoming freshman with high standardized test scores and a high school GPA of 3.6 or higher should consider applying to Collegium V, a university-wide honors program.

Program Contacts

Program Head

Michelle Aldridge, PhD
Office: CD A107
Phone: 972-883-3142
[email protected]

Program Mailing Address

Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences Degree Program
The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
The University of Texas at Dallas
800 W. Campbell Rd., GR 41
Richardson, TX 75080

Program Resources

Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences BS Fast Facts
This document provides a quick, printable overview of the program.

Create Your Own Guide to UT Dallas
This site allows potential students an opportunity to learn about what matters most to them.

UT Dallas Library Resources in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
This guide explains various resources and search methods available to facilitate study on this topic as provided by the McDermott library.

Organizations

UT Dallas Psi Chi
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA)