Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology

Box 70643
Phone: (423) 439-4272

The field of communicative disorders encompasses the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology. Persons working in the field assist individuals who have difficulties with hearing, balance, speech, and/or language communication. Professionals are skilled in the techniques of evaluation, in (re)habilitation treatment, and in aspects of counseling communicatively handicapped individuals and their families. Audiologists and speech-language pathologists provide services to all age groups. Such services may be located in medical, educational, and private settings.

The Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology graduate programs in audiology and speech pathology are fully accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Undergraduate students may receive preparation for the graduate programs in CDIS by selecting any major with a minor in CDIS. At the graduate level, the Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology offers two program tracks. Students enroll in either a two-year Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology, or a four-year Doctorate in Audiology (AUD). Completion of the graduate programs prepares the student to meet the requirements for professional certification by ASHA. The programs also meet licensure requirements for the Tennessee Board of
Health Related Professions and the Tennessee Board of Education.

Application deadline for the graduate program is mid-February and may be completed while enrolled in prerequisite coursework. (See Graduate Catalog for specific application information.) For students who have completed an undergraduate degree, conditional acceptance to the graduate program will be considered. The prerequisite coursework for the graduate programs in Communicative Disorders includes the following:

At least 6 credit hours in Biological/Physical Science and Mathematics (at least one course in each area). A course in statistics is recommended.

At least 6 credit hours in the Behavioral and/or Social Sciences including study that pertains to understanding normal/abnormal human behavior, developments across the life span, social interaction, and issues of culturally diverse populations.