Understanding ASHA Undergraduate Requirements for Speech-Language Pathology

For individuals aspiring to become speech-language pathologists (SLPs), understanding the prerequisites set by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is crucial. These requirements lay the groundwork for graduate studies in speech-language pathology and ensure that aspiring clinicians have a foundational understanding of the field. This article provides a comprehensive overview of ASHA's undergraduate requirements, offering guidance and insights for prospective SLP graduate students.

Core Prerequisite Areas

ASHA prerequisites encompass four fundamental areas: biological sciences, physical sciences, social/behavioral sciences, and statistics. These courses may not be directly related to SLP, but they build a foundation of understanding of it. These requirements can typically be met during an undergraduate degree, but if not, they can be taken from any accredited institution.

Biological Sciences

This area aims to provide students with a basic understanding of living organisms and biological processes. Examples of courses that may fulfill this requirement include:

General Biology
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Neuroscience

Physical Sciences

The physical sciences component focuses on the principles governing the physical world. A course like "How Things Work," which allows for developing an understanding of the physics of everyday objects and experiences, can fulfill the physical sciences course requirement. It was an easy, yet interesting course that challenged thinking in different ways. Other examples include:

Physics
Chemistry

Social/Behavioral Sciences

This area emphasizes the study of human behavior and social interactions. Courses in this category delve into understanding why a client may be behaving the way they are. It may be that a client is trying to communicate through their behavior, express their emotions, or an underlying factor may even be present. Examples of relevant courses include:

Read also: Education in India

Psychology
Sociology
Anthropology

As an out-of-field major, pursuing a degree in Psychology with a concentration in Human Development can be beneficial. Taking courses similar to child psychology, adolescent psychology, social psychology, abnormal psychology, behavioral problems in children, brain & behavior, and theories of learning & cognition will give an understanding about why a client may be behaving the way they are.

Statistics

A stand-alone statistics course that is not a course in methods (i.e. in the program is required. This requirement equips students with the skills to understand and interpret data, which is essential for evidence-based practice in speech-language pathology. As a prior business major, a business statistics course covered the basic concepts of data analysis, which luckily met this requirement. If you have time over the summer take it at a community college! It is much cheaper and the coursework is just as applicable as any other university.

Additional Recommended Coursework

While the four core areas are mandatory, certain additional courses can significantly benefit aspiring SLPs. These courses provide a more direct introduction to the field and enhance understanding of communication processes.

Speech and Hearing Science

Any course that covers hearing or speech science. & physiology. These courses delve into the anatomy, physiology, and acoustics of speech and hearing, providing a foundation for understanding normal and disordered communication. Aspects of speech and its measurement are reviewed. Principles serve as a framework for understanding abnormal functioning. Specific topics covered may include:

Orientation to a career in speech-language pathology.
Development.
Resonance, articulation, and perception.
Application in the field of communicative disorders.
Science of the production and perception of sound.

Language Development

These courses explore the typical stages of language acquisition and the factors that influence language development. Principles of first and second language acquisition (e.g. (e.g. sounds. of individuals with communication disorders is examined.

Read also: Unlocking Knowledge with ASHA

Phonetics

A phonetics course teaches the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and the transcription of speech sounds. for citation and intelligibility assessment. is incorporated to aid in diagnostic and therapy decisions.

Neurocognitive/Neurolinguistics

Most graduate programs require some type of neurocognitive/neurolinguistic course. A course called “Brain and Behavior” can fulfill this requirement. Understanding brain functioning and the cognitive system is vital for speech and language development, especially for the traumatic brain injury population. Prior exposure and a baseline understanding can be gained by learning how the brain is organized, how its neural networks communicate throughout the body, and the correlation between altered functioning due to traumatic brain injury/disease.

Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism

This course provides a detailed understanding of the structures involved in speech production, including the respiratory, phonatory, and articulatory systems.

Audiology

and central disorders which can affect hearing and balance. on communication. and balance and the results provided by the assessments. an appropriate hearing screening protocol. across the lifespan.

Meeting the Requirements

There are several ways to fulfill ASHA's undergraduate requirements:

Read also: Undergraduate Programs at UNC

Undergraduate Degree in Communication Disorders: Students with an undergraduate degree in communication disorders typically complete all required prerequisites as part of their program.
Prerequisite Coursework: Students with degrees in other fields can complete the necessary prerequisites by taking individual courses at accredited institutions. Fill up your general education courses with these requirements! Go in with a positive mindset!
Post-Baccalaureate Programs: Some universities offer post-baccalaureate programs specifically designed for students who need to complete prerequisite coursework for graduate programs in speech-language pathology.

Important Considerations

Grade Requirements: A "B-" or better is strongly recommended for all ASHA required courses. Some programs may require a higher grade for specific courses. Please note that you must earn a B- or better in communication sciences & disorders coursework. If you do have a grade lower than a B- we expect you to retake the course prior to starting your graduate program. Due to COVID-19, prerequisite coursework with a grade of PASS (or equivalent) will be accepted.
Timeline: Prerequisite coursework for both ASHA and CSD requirements must be completed within the last 10 years, with the exception of courses in Speech-Language Development and Phonetics, which must be completed within the last 5 years. Students applying to our graduate program who do not meet these timelines will need to retake the relevant prerequisite courses.
Completion Before Graduate Program: The prerequisites must be completed before starting the graduate program fall semester (we do not allow master’s students to begin the graduate program other than fall semester). Students cannot take the prerequisites concurrently with the graduate program courses. However, students may apply for admission into the graduate program while taking the prerequisite courses. Because admission to the graduate program is competitive, successful completion of the prerequisite courses does not guarantee admission into the graduate program.
25 Hours Guided Clinical Observation: The Required 25 Hours Guided Clinical Observation portion of ASHA Standard V-C of the 2020 Standards and Implementation procedures MUST be completed prior to any direct contact with clients/patients. During most undergraduate studies or prerequisite coursework, students will take a course that addresses clinical methods and allows them to accrue 25 guided clinical observation hours. The guided observation hours must be within the ASHA Scope of Practice in Speech-Language Pathology and must be under the supervision of a qualified SLP clinician who holds current state licensure, ASHA certification designated by CCC-SLP and has earned a minimum of 2 hours of professional development/continuing education in the area of clinical instruction/supervision. During the observations, there should be communication between the SLP and observer, rather than passive experiences where the student merely views live sessions and/or videos without direct feedback/input. Guided clinical observation discussions/reflections may occur concurrently between student and SLP during the student’s observation or afterwards through review and approval of the student’s written reflections or through an oral debriefing conversation. Guided observation hours must be completed no more than 5 years prior to the start of the graduate program, and the SLP must meet the above-described licensure and certification requirements and 2020 standards for any observations completed in 2020 and later. Students are required to complete and obtain documentation of 25 guided observation hours by August 1. For students who earned an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in Speech Language Hearing Sciences at the University of Cincinnati, your observation and clinical hours have already been verified by the department. If entering UC’s MA SLP program(s) from an outside university, documentation will be accepted via a record form which includes the aforementioned details or through a signed document by an administrator/director of the program on university letterhead, which signifies the required 25 guided clinical observation hours have been met.

Gaining Relevant Knowledge

It is essential to understand the populations you will be working with as a future clinician. Research has shown an interaction between behavior and speech. A past supervisor once told me, “progress cannot be seen without being able to control behavior”…and this is where multidisciplinary collaboration comes into play. Taking courses similar to these will give you an understanding about why a client may be behaving the way they are. I gained evidence-based knowledge during these courses about a wide range of behaviors, typically developing milestone, and learned so much through peer-reviewed research and the DSM-5.

tags: #asha #undergraduate #requirements