Admission and Registration
For any questions about admission and registration, please contact One Stop at 513-529-0001 or onestop@miamioh.edu.
Academic Programs
The Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology offers diverse academic opportunities for students interested in communication disorders. These disorders include a wide range of conditions, such as hearing loss, speech and language delays, stuttering, voice disorders, and articulation difficulties. Through our comprehensive clinical service program, students gain valuable hands-on experience providing speech, language, and audiology services to clients from the university and the greater southwest Ohio community.
Major in Speech Pathology and Audiology
Our Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology is designed to prepare students for a professional graduate program in the areas of speech-language pathology or audiology. We strongly encourage students to maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 if they intend to apply to graduate programs in speech-language pathology or audiology.
The degree also prepares students to succeed in a variety of disciplines such as allied health, education, human services, life sciences, and social sciences. Through earning the degree, students also gain transferable skills that can be applied to a variety of careers. Alumni of our undergraduate program can be found working as physician assistants and entrepreneurs, and in fields such as public health, social work, nursing, and recreational therapy. The American Speech-Language Hearing Association provides information about the broad value of the undergraduate degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology.
During your first year of study at Miami University, you will take introductory communication courses. You will also begin taking the College of Arts and Science requirements, which includes a foreign language.
In your sophomore year, you'll enroll in courses such as anatomy and physiology, research methods, and language development. You will also continue to concentrate on Miami Plan courses.
In your junior and senior years, you'll take advanced diagnostic speech and language courses,hearing and speech science, and audiology coursework while obtaining clinical experience at Miami.
Upon completion of your bachelor's degree, you are required to pursue graduate school to become a certified speech-language pathologist or audiologist. Miami's speech pathology graduate program accepts approximately 30 students, including Miami graduates as well as candidates from other universities.
Learning Outcomes for B.S. in Speech Pathology and Audiology
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of basic human neurological, physiological, cognitive, and communicative development across the life span.
- Students will identify key anatomical structures and explain physiological processes related to human communication disorders and differences.
- Students will describe social-emotional as well as cultural impacts on communication differences and disorders.
- Students will demonstrate writing competency through professional clinical reports and research papers.
The SPA curriculum is divided into SPA required major courses and SPA required related courses and is designed to build knowledge and skills over time rather than requiring students to complete required major courses as quickly as possible.
Students who complete the degree in four years typically take only one required major course during their first year, allowing them to focus on general education requirements and explore their interests. As students progress through the program, the number of major-specific courses gradually increases, with the heaviest concentration occurring during the senior year when they have the foundational knowledge needed for advanced coursework.
While some students worry that taking fewer courses early on means they are falling behind, this sequence is intentionally planned to ensure students are best prepared for the more advanced courses that come later in the program.
All SPA required major courses are offered Fall and Spring semesters, except those with an asterisk.
*Fall only: SPA 316, SPA 435
**Spring only: SPA 216, SPA 326
Minors
A minor is not offered through the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology. Though not required, many speech pathology and audiology students choose to complete a minor in programs as diverse as Gerontology, Linguistics, Disability Studies, Spanish, Art Therapy, Business, Dance, and Medical Humanities, among others. Speech pathology and audiology students who are interested in pursuing a minor should speak with their academic advisor.
Miami University’s core curriculum provides students with transferable skills rooted in the four pillars of the Miami Plan. The Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology provides the following Miami Plan course offerings:
- SPA 127 - Introduction to Communication Disorders
- SPA 223 - Theories of Language Development
- SPA/DST 312 - American Deaf Cultures
A Thematic Sequence is a series of related courses (usually three) that focuses on a theme or subject in a developmental way. Each course builds or expands upon knowledge or perspective gained from preceding courses, and some sequences prepare students for Capstone experiences.
We offer the following thematic sequence:
- SPA 2: Exploring Social, Emotional, and Communication Consequences in Special Populations
The Capstone Experience, completed during the senior year, integrates liberal learning with specialized knowledge. Each Capstone emphasizes sharing of ideas, synthesis, and critical, informed reflection as significant precursors to action, and each includes student initiative in defining and investigating problems or projects. The SPA 413 Senior Seminar in Communication Disorders is offered each spring and satisfies the capstone requirement.
Note: Speech Pathology and Audiology majors can satisfy capstone requirements with any capstone offered by Miami University.
- The SPA Department does not offer a study abroad program specifically designed for SPA majors. While academic advisors can help students understand how studying abroad may fit into their degree plan, they do not advise students on selecting a particular study abroad program. Students interested in exploring study abroad opportunities should visit the Education Abroad website and work with Education Abroad staff to identify programs that match their academic, personal, and career goals.
- Studying abroad during the summer or winter terms does not impact a student’s progress through the SPA major.
- SPA students who plan to graduate in four years can successfully study abroad during the academic year with careful planning, flexibility, and by following the recommended departmental advice below.
Rationale: Students can study abroad in the fall and take the following SPA courses in the spring of their sophomore year: SPA 222, SPA 223, SPA 293, SPA 216. Additionally, the SPA 216 equivalents (FSW 295 or SOC 262) are offered both semesters and can sometimes be taken online, in the summer, or shifted to a student’s junior year while still staying on track.
Why is studying abroad in the spring of sophomore year not recommended?
- Rationale: The department cannot guarantee that all sophomore-level SPA courses will be available to every student in the fall semester. Students who are unable to enroll in these courses in the fall can typically take them in the spring. However, students who study abroad during the spring semester may miss the opportunity to complete these required courses, which could delay graduation beyond four years.
Rationale: SPA 316 (Intro to Audiology) is offered in the fall semester only and it is a prerequisite for SPA 326 (Aural Rehabilitation) which is offered in the spring only. Studying abroad in the spring of junior year allows students to complete SPA 316 in the fall and take SPA 326 in the spring of their senior year.
Why is studying abroad in the fall of junior year not recommended?
- Rationale: Students who study abroad during the fall of their junior year will need to complete both SPA 316 and SPA 326 during their senior year. This shifts more required major coursework into the final year of the program, making schedules less flexible and increasing the likelihood of course conflicts.
- In addition, most students apply to graduate programs during the fall of their senior year. Students planning to pursue a graduate degree in audiology may be at a disadvantage because they will not have completed any audiology coursework before submitting their applications. As a result, they may have fewer opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge of and commitment to the field when applying to audiology programs.
Graduate Program
Our graduate program in Speech Pathology (M.S. or M.A.) prepares students for a career as a speech-language pathologist. Our program is nationally accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-language Pathology).
Learn More or Apply
Visit our Graduate Program page for more information about our accreditation or to apply.
Speech and Hearing Clinic
The Miami University Speech and Hearing Clinic is housed within our department offering full speech and audiological services to the community.
Our students benefit from their direct involvement with patients in our clinic.
Miami University Non-Discrimination Statement
Miami University is committed to providing equal opportunity and an educational and work environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, or veteran status. Miami shall adhere to all applicable state and federal equal opportunity/affirmative action statutes and regulations.
The duty of Miami University is to treat all faculty, staff, and students as individuals, to hold them to equal standards, and to provide them equality of opportunity, without regard to those individuals' race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Students and employees should bring questions or concerns to the attention of the Office of Equal Employment and Opportunity, Hanna House, 529-7157 (V/TTY) and 529-7158 (fax). Students and employees with disabilities may contact the Office of Disability Resources, 19 Campus Avenue Building, 529-1541 (V/TTY) and 529-8595 (fax).
For Questions or More Information
Undergraduate Non-Degree Admission
To apply for undergraduate non-degree admission, please visit our Non-Degree Student Application Requirements page.
Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology
Clinical Health Sciences Building
421 S. Campus Avenue
Oxford, OH 45056
