GETTING INTO School of Audiology and Speech Science GRADUATE SCHOOL:

1. What courses can I take?
2. What additional courses should I take?
3. How should one go about searching for grad schools?
4. Figuring out admission requirements?
5. What are graduate schools looking for? What do they expect?
6. What can I do with a degree in Speech Science?
7. I am an international student - what do I need to know about getting into programmes in audiology or speech pathology?

THE FIELDS OF AUDIOLOGY & SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

8. Where do Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists work?

9. How can I observe SLPs or AUDs at work? How can I find volunteer work in a related area?

1. What courses can I take?

The courses you should take depend on your major/minor combination
as well as if you are interested in attending a graduate programmes(s):

If you are interested in graduate school:

• Make sure you have their requirements
• Take a few more related courses whenever possible
• Talk to the speech science advisor if you have any questions at
  all

If you are interested in applying here to our UBC graduate programme:

Course Content Minimum Credits for speech language pathology

• Phonology LING 311-3 credits
• Syntax LING 300 3- credits
• Speech Science LING316- 3 credits
• Language acquisition LING451 & LING452 -3 credits
• Phonetics LING317 -3 credits
• Developmental psychology 3 credits
• Cognitive psychology OR Psycholinguistics 3 credits
• Research methods PSYCH 217- 3 credits
• Neuroanatomy AUDI 402- 3 credits
• Neurolinguistics AUDI 403- 1.5 credits

Course Content Minimum Credits for audiology

• Introduction to Physics [energy and waves] 3 credits
• Developmental Psychology 3 credits
• Sensation/Perception 3 credits
• Research Methods 3 credits
• Introduction to Linguistics 3 credits
• Neuroanatomy 1.5 credits

2. What additional courses should I take?

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED COURSEWORK (copied from
www.audiospeech.ubc.ca)

For students majoring in Speech Sciences or Linguistics,
undergraduate preparation could include additional coursework in
Psychology such as Cognitive Psychology, Development,
Psycholinguistics, Adulthood and Aging, and Counselling as well as
Linguistics.

For students majoring in Psychology, additional undergraduate
preparation could include, for example, further courses in Linguistics
such as Speech Science, Semantics, Syntax, Morphology, Discourse,
Sociolinguistics, and/or courses in Psychology such as those listed in
the previous paragraph.

3. How should one go about searching for grad schools?

A few useful websites:

• Grad schools across the English speaking globe:
  http://facstaff.uww.edu/bradleys/cdprograms.html

• Canadian programmes:
  http://www.caslpa.ca/english/profession/conn1.asp

• Australian programmes:
  http://members.tripod.com/Caroline_Bowen/Australia.htm

• U.S. ASHA search tool:
  http://www.asha.org/students/academic/EdFind/default.htm

• U.S. university SLP programme rankings:
  http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/grad/slp/search

4. Figuring out admission requirements?

Go to the website of each school you are interested in:

• Make a spread sheet
• Course work requirements for each school
• Graduate application packet requirements
• Include deadline dates- Canadian site has charts!

http://www.caslpa.ca/PDF/university_survey_%202008_speech.pdf

• Indicates course requirements by university
• Indicates number of seats available by programme
• Lot of other useful information, tables and charts!

5. What are graduate schools looking for? What do they expect?

• Good grades
• Strong letters of reference
• A unique personal statement (not just "My grandma had a hearing
  aid")
• Related volunteer work/ Work experience
  
  Volunteer work does not outweigh the other three however

6. What can I do with a degree in Speech Science?

Well…anything you want, and… with one more year of school…

• Adult ESL teacher
• Communication Disorders Asst./Speech Asst.
• Infant development consultant
• Supported Childcare worker
• Elementary School teacher
• Audiometric Technician

You have the prerequisites to apply for masters’ programmes
in…

• Audiology
• Speech language pathology
• Occupational therapy (need one more course)
• Physiotherapy (need one more course)
• Public Health
• Library and Information science

With proper planning you will have the prerequisites for more than
one avenue to pursue in related health professional fields!

7. I am an international student - what do I need to know about getting into programmes in audiology or speech pathology?

ATTENTION: NOBODY GETS INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL UNLESS THEY MEET FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES REQUIREMENTS FIRST. These requirements must be met first, before departmental requirements.

1. Faculty of Graduate Studies: http://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/international-students
2. Application and Admission: http://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/international-students/appli...

The general 5-step process for applying to a graduate program at UBC is the same for international students as domestic students. Be sure to follow this process.

It is also important that you review the following sections of the FOGS website for information specific to applying as an international student:

• Minimum academic requirements. See requirements for students by country.
• English language proficiency requirements. Students must show evidence of being able to study at the graduate level in English.
• Document requirements. Important information on transcripts, degree certificates and official translations required of international students.

THE FIELDS OF AUDIOLOGY & SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

8. Where do Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists work?

• Public and private schools
• Hospitals
• Rehabilitation centres
• Nursing care facilities
• Community clinics
• College and university clinics
• Private practice office
• Health units
• Centres for the developmentally disabled
• Research laboratories
• Corporate settings

9. How can I observe SLPs or AUDs at work? How can I find volunteer work in a related area?

If you are interested in observing a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) or an Audiologist (AUD) at work, or would like to do some relevant volunteer work-please contact me as often these opportunities become available and I am able to coordinate meetings of sites and students.

This page was created by Dr. P. Bacsfalvi- for any questions
please contact penbacs@interchange.ubc.ca